Author's Note: the words in italics is an original
poem by me.
Echo's
From the Past
Chapter
7
Buffy could feel herself slowly coming back to consciousness. She looked over at the clock beside the bed, 9:30am. She wasn't used to sleeping so late but then since she started spending more time with Liam she found things that used to plague her before had vanished now.
Buffy reached over wanting to snuggle with Liam but
found his side of the bed empty. Buffy sat up and looked around the room. When
there was no sign of Liam there she ventured out of the bedroom.
"Liam? Liam? Are you here."
Buffy wandered into the kitchen only to find it
empty but she did find a note on the table.
Hope you slept well; I couldn't bear to wake you.
There is breakfast in the fridge and coffee on the counter. I have gone over to
the Majick Shop so when you wake up meet me there.
Always,
Liam
Buffy smiled to herself and shuffled over to the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. She took her coffee into the living room and settled onto the couch. She sat there perfectly content with the way things were. She had Angel and all was right with the world.
A flashing light caught Buffy's eye and she turned
to see it was the answering machine message light. She pressed the play button
and listened as Giles' voice filled the room.
****Buffy we have the memory restoration spell
ready to go whenever you are. I will be at the shop all afternoon so…
…Hello? Hello? Giles?…
…Liam, is that you?…
…Yes. What's this about a memory restoration
spell…****
Buffy hadn't stuck around to hear how the recorded
conversation ended as Buffy was out the door and on her way to Giles' before
anything happened she couldn't undo.
You're the cause
You're the cure
You're love infinite
What is it about you
~*~*~*~*~*~
Giles' apartment about an hour before Buffy wakes
up
Liam arrived at the Majick Shop and wasn't
surprised at all to find both Willow and Tara already there. When he had
intercepted the phone message that was presumably for Buffy but directly
affected him and he couldn't help but want to go over and find out what exactly
was involved in restoring his memories.
"Liam you do understand that you may not like what
you remember and things between you and Buffy could be altered and not
necessarily for the best."
"Giles I look in Buffy's eyes and I can see that
she wants her Angel back. It means a lot to her."
"Yes Liam but this is still your life."
"True but Buffy is my life, she has been for the
past decade. I feel in my heart and soul that it's been longer than that and I
want to remember what it is we shared, what we went through. I want to be able
to grow old with Buffy and have this bank of memories to draw from, to tell to
our children."
"All right if you are certain then."
"Yes I am."
Giles, Willow and Tara began preparing for the
start of the ritual. They had made a circle on the floor in which Liam was too
stand. They had lit several ceremonial candles and each of the three had taken
of their positions around Liam, creating a triangle.
"Guardian of light hear my plea
Take of my
offering and heed my request
Lift the
veil from your child's eyes
As it
once was again so shall…"
"NOOOOOO GILES STOP."
Buffy came into the room like a tornado almost
knocking Giles down in her attempt to get to Liam. She crossed over the protective
circle that encompassed him and she brought her hands to his face.
"Did you do it? Did you change him?"
Buffy frantically searched Liam's eyes for the
answers she wasn't getting from …well anyone.
"Buffy I don't understand. I thought you wanted
this for Liam."
"I did until I realized that in all the ways that
matter Liam is Angel. So what if we don't have a past what's important is that
we have a future and …(Buffy choked back a sob) I love him."
Buffy nuzzled into Liam's embrace and she visibly
relaxed almost melted further into him when she felt his arms wrap around her.
"Buffy I'm curious about what brought this change
of attitude?"
"Well Giles it's simple. It was Angel."
Buffy giggled when she looked round at four stunned
and confused faces.
"I had a dream last night with Angel, my Angel and
we talked. Well actually we argued in classic Buffy Angel style. He made me
realize what we had and what Liam and I have and although Liam doesn't remember
the first time we met or what happened the first time we kissed, I do. I
cherish those memories but I want to make new memories with you. I don't want
to lose him again, no matter what he remembers."
Liam gave a chuckle as he stroked Buffy's hair.
"How could I possibly forget the day we met when
you attacked me in that alley behind the Bronze. God the look on your face was
priceless."
Buffy pulled back and stared at Liam incredulously.
Liam noted that Willow and Giles had the same look of stunned shock on their
faces.
"How…I thought…huh…you r-re-remember?"