Of fact and fiction - Chapter Eight
by Angel Eternal
email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com
URL: http://www.geocities.com/spikes_angel01/index.html
Rating: PG-13
Distribution: So far? Only at my site "In Dreams and Shadows", but it you want to archive
it please let me know first - I kinda like to know where it's going, and plus I find out about
more S/B shipper sites! g
Author's Notes: I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Niriz for beta reading
this chapter, you've made it so much better - thank you so much, you got me
through a very difficult part of the story. ::huggles::
Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is owned by Joss Whedon, several
companies and God knows who else. One thing is certain - I don't own
any of it! Nothing - zip - nada!
The music was divine, flowing smoothly, emotion laced through every note - just as suddenly
the music stopped.
He could feel the tiny hairs on his nape rise in apprehension. Something wasn't right.
There was a light at the end of the hallway, grimacing, he continued to walk.
The sight that greeted him stunned him, and sickened him.
They were completely entwined in each other, oblivious to his presence. Theirs was a passion
that scorched all else.
He watched, hating himself for watching. He watched as she climbed onto his lap, watched as
his hands possessively cupped her waist.
She was a vision, he had never seen her so beautiful.
She wore a gown of spun silver. It clung to her waist as if it was second skin, then dropped
to graceful folds. On her wrists were silver bracelets, and her fingers flashed of silver as well.
Her golden hair was a riot of gold, as the waves gently caressed her back.
She was lost in her passion.
Then he looked up, something flashed in those eyes glazed over with passion. A taunt. He
splayed his fingers around her waist, and his hands drifted over her form to finally bury themselves
in her hair, taunting him with the one thing that he could never have.
He watched sickened, as he kissed her, the passion between them flaring to dizzying heights.
His jaw tightened, he turned to leave...
Then Angel woke up.
He felt cold, colder then usual. He knew if he was human he would be dripping with sweat by
now. But he wasn't.
The image of Spike and Buffy was engraved in his mind - never to leave.
He knew it was dream - he had been dreaming strange dreams, and this was the latest.
He knew he shouldn't follow his instincts. Did he really want to know what was going on
in Sunnydale? But if his dreams were an echo of reality, he knew he had to go back.
He left Sunnydale and her so she could lead a normal life. Falling in love with another
vampire was not normal.
Why he thought that there was a remote chance that Buffy loved Spike was beyond him.
But he knew he had to go.
* * *
Angus paced the halls restlessly, hands clenching. He didn't know what to think.
Twice in his life, William had gotten what Angus wanted. William didn't need Elizabeth's
dowry, not like Angus.
He kept walking, emersed in murderous thoughts. Then he stopped, his head cocked
to the side. He resumed walking; the steps slow, measured. He stopped before the door.
He pushed it open.
The woman inside stood, he could see the conflicting emotions on her face, but he
merely threw enough gold at her feet to hold her tongue.
The woman glanced at the gold at her feet. Her mother was sick, she rationalised, and
who would care what happened in this room anyway?
Swiftly, before she could change her mind, she scooped the coins up, slipping them
into her skirt, and disappearing out of the door.
Angus watched her sleeping. Her slight chest rising and falling.
In his mind's eye the girl on the bed changed. Her hair darkening further, almost black,
her form filling out, but only slightly.
"Desdemona..."
He reached out and touched her hair, running his fingers through the dark strands. For
a few moments he stroked her hair.
He heard her soft cries of pleasure, as she clung to him, in his mind, the woman on William's
lap switched from being a brunette to a blonde, then back again.
He moaned, one hand clutching his head, the other twisting the silken strands and pulling
the girl up.
She cried out, her eyes widening with panic as she recognised him.
Angus shook his head, his eyes clearing as he regarded the girl, he watched with pleasure
as her eyes darkened with fear.
* * *
I was so tired, but I had found her at last.
I move along the floor, swirling to my full height, yet not taking form, I gaze down at her.
She lay with a creature of darkness, her golden hair, spreading out on the pillow, spilling
over the creature's arm.
I look down amazed, I had known this was coming, but to see proof of it. It stunned me.
There she was, all golden light, while he, all silver and shadows cradled her form to his.
It was sunlight meeting moonlight.
I wanted to smile.
At last, the chance I had been waiting for has arrived.
Slowly, I trace ghost-like fingers along one arm and watched as she shivered.
The power that was hers to command stunned me, and as I touched her, I understood her.
I understood the driving need that made her the best.
This one cared. This one loved.
She was the one - the culmination of all my waiting.
I drew back as she stirred.
I had waited an eternity; I could wait a little longer.
* * *
Buffy stirred, her eyes fluttered open. Shivering, she drew the covers closer to her form. She
sat up, checking to make sure that she had closed the windows.
Spike knew the instant she moved, his senses highly attuned to her. "What is it Buffy-love?"
She shook her head. The windows were closed. "Nothing."
Spike tugged on one lock of hair, "Yeah? Well I'm getting cold over here - you're hogging
all the blankets."
Her lips quirked into a grin, "Spike, you're always cold."
He sat up, cupping her neck he kissed her, tongue exploring her mouth, before drawing
back, blue eyes dancing with merriment. "Not for long."
* * *
Anya had been curiously silent for a long time now - no outbursts about how stupid Buffy
was being, or comments about the poofiness of both Angel and Riley.
That fact made several people...uncomfortable.
Dawn bounded up to her side, "Hey An..."
Anya started, then seeing whom it was, quickly pressed the book to her chest, eyes wide.
"Dawn...hi there...you're underage!"
Dawn blinked in confusion, as did the others, but Xander, who knew Anya very well,
stared at her in disbelief.
Anya smiled brightly at Dawn, not paying attention to the others, "Yes, you're underage."
The firm nod, and the bright smile cinched it.
For the second time, since this fiasco, Xander fainted.
* * *
Spike sat up, hissing in pain as the curtains around Buffy's bed drifted open.
One of Buffy's eyes fluttered open, and watched as Spike blew frantically on his hand.
Unable to help herself, she giggled.
Spike turned to look down at her, one eyebrow raised sardonically. "You would find this
bloody amusing wouldn't you?"
Buffy laughed at the rueful expression on his face.
Spike rolled his eyes,"See, you find the idea of my skin getting all toasty amusing, and you don't
get turned on by the chains and all that? I don't get that!"
Buffy grimaced at the reminder, "Please Spike - the idea of being chained up to wall, by anyone,
with their psychotic girlfriend a measly meter or so in front of me - is not appealing."
Spike eyed her, a glint in his eyes, "So what if we took out the psychotic *ex*-girlfriend out
of the equation - would you be amenable to it?"
Buffy grimaced, "Can we just say no kinky bondage stuff?"
Spike laughed, and grabbed her around the waist. "Easily done."
Then he pulled back to stare into her eyes, "So where does this leave us now luv?"
Buffy squirmed beneath his gaze.
She didn't know where this led them now.
"Do we always have to know where everything is leading?" She tried to avoid his gaze.
Spike felt numb, what was she saying, "Well pet, in this case, I would like a little something.
I begged you for a crumb..." he paused to think. "Alright I got more then a crumb - I got a
whole slice. But Buffy, I want the loaf."
Buffy blinked, amusement dancing in her eyes, "What's with the bread metaphors?"
"Buffy..."
Her name came out in a frustrated growl, and she marvelled at the many different ways he
could say her name.
Spike raked a hand through his hair. "Buffy, I can't keep doing this - I know that deep
inside. This is killing me." he sighed, "You still don't get it do you? You are everything."
Buffy was speechless. She knew that Spike loved her, it had taken her time to figure it
out, but she did. She knew that it was love, and not lust, she knew because she saw it
in his eyes. Those eyes which could never lie to her.
His lips twitched up into a grin, "I love you Buffy, you may not want to hear it, you may
not believe it but I do. Everything about you...I love...I crave you more then blood...Baby
no one understands you the way I do."
He bit back the rest of his words, unable to communicate his thoughts, but the sentence
went on in his mind.
Buffy's breath had been caught in her chest as he spoke, his words falling into a soothing
cadence, as his lilting accent stroked the words. Now she slowly expelled her breath,
"I know, I do want to hear it, and I believe it." She shook her head, and placed her finger
on his mouth, "Spike..."
She took a deep breath, she didn't want to rush this, "This isn't sudden, it's not just
the physical..." unconciously she grinned, "Though that part's great."
Spike impulsively grabbed her hand, he started to grin like a simpleton, getting perverse
satisfaction in the thought that she had enjoyed their exertions as much as he did.
Buffy took another deep breath, and held on tightly to his hand, for once not fearing that the
bones beneath her clasp were breaking.
This has been coming for a while but she had refused to see it. Refused to see the love
shining in his eyes that time when he was helping the fallen at the Bronze; the first time
he tried to tell her the at he loved her. The desperation in his eyes, when he was forced to
choose between the woman that he had loved for more then a century, and the woman
who hated his guts, but he loved beyond reason. He had been willing to end the life of
the one thing in this dark world that he truly cared about, for her sake. It would've
wrenched his heart out, would've hurt him beyond words, but had she asked for it, he
would've done it. All to prove his love for her.
She had refused to realise it, she had wasted so much time. In a life that was never destined
to be long, she had just wasted a great portion.
Then it struck her with a force that knocked her breath out of her body - the realisation
that they were alike. She, like him, loved completely, unreservedly - blindly.
"How can I explain?" the relasation, making the attempt to explain more desperate.
Spike shook his head, "You don't have to..."
Again, Buffy hushed him, "I can't put it into words... How can I explain that I..." She stopped,
and shook her head. She sighed, and looked at him pleadingly, "I need time..."
Spike gaped at her, "Bloody hell woman! I've given you time! You can't keep asking
for time! This is verging on the ridiculous!" he thought for a moment, then shook his head,
"Bugger that - it is bloody ridiculous!"
Buffy laughingly held up her hand in protest, "Spike! Would you listen to me?" She shook
her head, and smile gently at him, "I have accepted that I...care about you..."
At that Spike's eyebrow rose, but he knew he shouldn't push it...
"...All I'm saying is that I need time to adjust to the fact that I admit it, and that includes
telling my friends." she cupped his face between her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze.
"I'm scared Spike. I have a history of bad relationships." She held up her hand again to
stop his protests, "I know you are nothing like Angel or Riley. Believe me I know that -
but those experiences..."
Spike nodded, "They've scarred you - I told you that myself Buffy-love."
Buffy nodded, "Then..."
"I understand." His blue eyes glittered with undefinable emotion, "I've always understood
Buffy. I was just waiting for you to realise it." He grinned, "I just wish that whatever this
is will last..."
"What do you mean? Of course it will last!" Was he giving up on them already? The
thought sent chills of panic coursing through her.
Spike laughed. "Hell yes luv - I'll love you even when you're old and toothless."
Buffy grimaced at the thought, "I don't think I'll ever reach that age."
Spike grinned at her, the harsh light of determination lighting up his eyes, "I'll make sure
of it."
Buffy recognised that look, and swiftly stood, pulling the sheets along with her, "Oh no -
I've seen that look before! I am the Slayer Spike! You are not going to 'protect' me or
some such macho crap!"
Spike could see that she had some trouble with this issue before, thinking about the
Great Souled Poofter and Captain Cardboard, he could see why she'd have that problem.
"Hell no Slayer - I wouldn't dream of getting in your way." he grinned at her, the expression
devilishly sensual. "Don't you know that watching you kick-ass turns me on?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Figures."
Spike tried to hide his smile, as he watched her blush furiously. She glanced down at
herself, and tightened her hold on the bed sheets.
He couldn't help himself, sardonic bastard that he was, "Luv, I've seen everything by now -
what's the point?"
Buffy opened her mouth to snap back some retort, but suddenly stiffened.
Watching her, Spike drew up as well.
Buffy's back was lance-straight, eyes wide, and breath coming in shallow gasps.
"Buffy?"
Buffy tried to regain control as her head spun; she clutched the cloth tighter to her shivering
form.
Spike lurched to his knees, grabbing hold of her thin shoulders, "Buffy-love?"
Buffy's body started to shake, her eyes wide and dilated. Her golden head dropped, as did
her shoulders. Spike's hand shook, as worry racked through him. "Buffy? Buffy-love?"
Her head suddenly snapped back, "Spike..."
Before his very eyes, her form was shimmering, and her body slowly becoming translucent.
"Spike?" her voice was a whisper in the air.
"I'm here Buffy - I'm here!" Futilely, he tried to grasp her shoulders harder, but he was left
with air.
"Buffy!"
~ To be continued ~
Am I evil or what???