Title: Rain Falls On The Just (17/?)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Duh!
Description: If you don't know by now, I'm not telling!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a pair of alligator golf shoes and an Easy-Bake Oven. Buffy and all related characters are own by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB. They get the fame. I settle for the feedback.
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The Host finished explaining his unique gifts to the Slayer just as Xander came into the room with a small CD player.
"Got those little speakers, Oz?" Xander asked.
"Right here," Oz said, helping him set up.
Buffy stood to her feet and approached her boyfriend. "Are you really gonna do this?"
"If that's what it takes," Xander said with a smile. "I want you to be sure... to believe me."
"What are you gonna sing?"
"I doubt you've ever heard it," Xander said. "My musical taste is as varied as my collection of boxers."
"Well, I look forward to the performance," the Host said. "My money's on the kid for telling the truth. He doesn't strike me as the game playing type." The Host took Buffy by the arm and led her to the sofa. "Let's have a seat over here where we can enjoy the show."
Xander glanced nervously at the door leading to the bedroom, where Cordelia stood with Alex while Anya whispered softly to him. He didn't want to hurt Cordy, but he wasn't going to lose Buffy over one panicked kiss.
"Track 5, Oz," he said.
The music started. Everyone passed looks around the room. Clearly, none of them was familiar with his song selection. The bass line drove the song. Buffy leaned forward, curious as Xander sang.
"We were fumbling for words on that strange, desperate night.
My brain turned to sand when your hair caught the light.
I laughed so hard. A little too much.
Then we dropped off the edge with only a touch.
Now I am out in the cold
without you
Now I am out in the cold
without you, without you.
Buffy smiled. His voice was pleasant, even over the vocals from the CD. He clearly knew the song well. She glanced at the Host to find some clue as to what he was thinking, but he was caught up in the performance. Everyone, including the normally stone-faced Oz, wore a look of surprise as Xander continued.
"I was under some spell, and I'm hung over now.
On those treacherous curves where I lost you somehow.
Was it a dream? Was I such a fool?
I was your saint, so bitter so cruel.
Now I am out in the cold
without you
Now I am out in the cold
and I'm looking for some grace to pull me through."
The music continued with a guitar solo, but Buffy didn't notice. She turned to the Host and asked, "Well?"
The Host smiled at her. "Do I really need to tell you what you already know in you heart?"
She returned his smile. "No. I know he loves me. I always have."
"Then go get him."
Before Xander could get out another note, Buffy's lips were pressed roughly to Xander's. A small cheer went up from Oz, Giles, Faith and the Host, while Cordelia, Willow and Anya remained consumed by their losses. Even in the happiness of the moment, Xander wondered how many more of his friends would be lost in the coming days.
"Is that them?" the vampire asked.
"It is," Angel said, looking down from a rooftop at the light in a window across the street.
"Then I'll get the others," the vamp said.
"Not yet," Angel said. "Our orders are to wait until they make a move on Wolfram and Hart. They'll leave the baby behind. Only then do we go in. If Lindsay wants the others, he can have them. I want that baby. It must be something special to have Lindsay risking everything like this. The child could prove to be a good bargaining chip."
"But... but Lindsay said to bring HIM the baby."
"And I will," Angel said. "For a price, that is."
"You let him go after the baby?" the voice from the mirror asked.
"It'll be fine," Lindsay said. "He'll try to keep the child for himself, of course. Even the white hat Angel was a swindler and a cheat. But he'll have no way of knowing what he has."
"I do not agree with your logic," the voice said. "If Angelus discovers the boy's true nature..."
"He won't. I'll see to it personally."
"See that you do. For your life hangs in the balance as well."
"I wish there was some place where we could be alone," Buffy said. "It's been days since we..."
"Don't remind me," Xander whined.
"As soon as we get back," Buffy promised. "You and me... a jacuzzi suite at a hotel with room service..."
"Okay, stop," Xander begged. "You're killing me here."
"With my Slayer stamina, I can go for hours," she whispered in his ear.
"Oh God," he mumbled. "Uh, look... Changing subjects now. Cordelia."
"You really want to change the subject to Cordelia?"
"Well, now that you know where my heart is, I think I should talk to her before we get hip deep in planning."
Buffy smiled at him. "You're quite the human being."
"Oh, I know. I'm a peach."
"Go on," she said, playfully shoving him toward the other room. She watched as he passed the Host, who made his way toward her.
"Glad to see you two love birds reunited."
"And it feels so good," Buffy joked.
"Cute. There's just one thing that bothers me about you two."
Buffy looked suddenly uncomfortable. "Wh-what's that?"
"Xander serenaded us with that interesting little number of his, so now you know exactly how much he loves you. That boy is devoted. Gonesville."
"And the problem is?"
"I don't think he's as sure of YOUR devotion. That was the other thing I got from the song. Even though my buddy Angel has moved on to the next level, Xander seems to think he still owns a major continent on the world map of your heart. What's more is that he figures himself as Rhode Island in the scheme of things."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it? From what I gathered, you spent the better part of your time in beautiful Sunnydale ignoring the fact that our little prince existed. You don't forget that stuff overnight. He wants to believe it's all good, but he's been burned too many times."
"And just what do you suggest I do about this?"
"My dear girl," the Host said with a smile. "I never thought you'd ask."
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Duh!
Description: If you don't know by now, I'm not telling!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a pair of alligator golf shoes and an Easy-Bake Oven. Buffy and all related characters are own by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB. They get the fame. I settle for the feedback.
******************************************************************************************
The Host finished explaining his unique gifts to the Slayer just as Xander came into the room with a small CD player.
"Got those little speakers, Oz?" Xander asked.
"Right here," Oz said, helping him set up.
Buffy stood to her feet and approached her boyfriend. "Are you really gonna do this?"
"If that's what it takes," Xander said with a smile. "I want you to be sure... to believe me."
"What are you gonna sing?"
"I doubt you've ever heard it," Xander said. "My musical taste is as varied as my collection of boxers."
"Well, I look forward to the performance," the Host said. "My money's on the kid for telling the truth. He doesn't strike me as the game playing type." The Host took Buffy by the arm and led her to the sofa. "Let's have a seat over here where we can enjoy the show."
Xander glanced nervously at the door leading to the bedroom, where Cordelia stood with Alex while Anya whispered softly to him. He didn't want to hurt Cordy, but he wasn't going to lose Buffy over one panicked kiss.
"Track 5, Oz," he said.
The music started. Everyone passed looks around the room. Clearly, none of them was familiar with his song selection. The bass line drove the song. Buffy leaned forward, curious as Xander sang.
"We were fumbling for words on that strange, desperate night.
My brain turned to sand when your hair caught the light.
I laughed so hard. A little too much.
Then we dropped off the edge with only a touch.
Now I am out in the cold
without you
Now I am out in the cold
without you, without you.
Buffy smiled. His voice was pleasant, even over the vocals from the CD. He clearly knew the song well. She glanced at the Host to find some clue as to what he was thinking, but he was caught up in the performance. Everyone, including the normally stone-faced Oz, wore a look of surprise as Xander continued.
"I was under some spell, and I'm hung over now.
On those treacherous curves where I lost you somehow.
Was it a dream? Was I such a fool?
I was your saint, so bitter so cruel.
Now I am out in the cold
without you
Now I am out in the cold
and I'm looking for some grace to pull me through."
The music continued with a guitar solo, but Buffy didn't notice. She turned to the Host and asked, "Well?"
The Host smiled at her. "Do I really need to tell you what you already know in you heart?"
She returned his smile. "No. I know he loves me. I always have."
"Then go get him."
Before Xander could get out another note, Buffy's lips were pressed roughly to Xander's. A small cheer went up from Oz, Giles, Faith and the Host, while Cordelia, Willow and Anya remained consumed by their losses. Even in the happiness of the moment, Xander wondered how many more of his friends would be lost in the coming days.
"Is that them?" the vampire asked.
"It is," Angel said, looking down from a rooftop at the light in a window across the street.
"Then I'll get the others," the vamp said.
"Not yet," Angel said. "Our orders are to wait until they make a move on Wolfram and Hart. They'll leave the baby behind. Only then do we go in. If Lindsay wants the others, he can have them. I want that baby. It must be something special to have Lindsay risking everything like this. The child could prove to be a good bargaining chip."
"But... but Lindsay said to bring HIM the baby."
"And I will," Angel said. "For a price, that is."
"You let him go after the baby?" the voice from the mirror asked.
"It'll be fine," Lindsay said. "He'll try to keep the child for himself, of course. Even the white hat Angel was a swindler and a cheat. But he'll have no way of knowing what he has."
"I do not agree with your logic," the voice said. "If Angelus discovers the boy's true nature..."
"He won't. I'll see to it personally."
"See that you do. For your life hangs in the balance as well."
"I wish there was some place where we could be alone," Buffy said. "It's been days since we..."
"Don't remind me," Xander whined.
"As soon as we get back," Buffy promised. "You and me... a jacuzzi suite at a hotel with room service..."
"Okay, stop," Xander begged. "You're killing me here."
"With my Slayer stamina, I can go for hours," she whispered in his ear.
"Oh God," he mumbled. "Uh, look... Changing subjects now. Cordelia."
"You really want to change the subject to Cordelia?"
"Well, now that you know where my heart is, I think I should talk to her before we get hip deep in planning."
Buffy smiled at him. "You're quite the human being."
"Oh, I know. I'm a peach."
"Go on," she said, playfully shoving him toward the other room. She watched as he passed the Host, who made his way toward her.
"Glad to see you two love birds reunited."
"And it feels so good," Buffy joked.
"Cute. There's just one thing that bothers me about you two."
Buffy looked suddenly uncomfortable. "Wh-what's that?"
"Xander serenaded us with that interesting little number of his, so now you know exactly how much he loves you. That boy is devoted. Gonesville."
"And the problem is?"
"I don't think he's as sure of YOUR devotion. That was the other thing I got from the song. Even though my buddy Angel has moved on to the next level, Xander seems to think he still owns a major continent on the world map of your heart. What's more is that he figures himself as Rhode Island in the scheme of things."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it? From what I gathered, you spent the better part of your time in beautiful Sunnydale ignoring the fact that our little prince existed. You don't forget that stuff overnight. He wants to believe it's all good, but he's been burned too many times."
"And just what do you suggest I do about this?"
"My dear girl," the Host said with a smile. "I never thought you'd ask."