Part 2 - The Past Revisited
Today was William's tenth birthday. He was excited because today
his parents had given him the best present in the world. His baby
sister. Elizabeth Anne. Born exactly ten years after him.
He quietly entered his sleeping sister's room. On the other side,
she laid in a beautiful crib. It was the same crib William slept
in nine years ago. William was glad to have this time alone with her.
His mother was resting. His father, too. Molly was busy getting
dinner ready for the evening. He was to have his customary birthday
feast. A tradition ever since he could remember.
He walked up to her. Little Elizabeth Anne was dressed in a beautiful
embroidered white gown. She laid comfortably in satiny white sheets.
To William she looked like an angel. His angel. His darling little
sister. He smiled at her sleeping form.
"Hello, Elizabeth. I know you're probably deep in Dreamland and
can't hear me, but I'm going to tell you a few things, okay? So
if you can hear me, pay close attention. Now, let's see. We have
to give you a shorter name. 'Elizabeth's' too long for such a small
girl. How about 'Lizzy?'" William thought for a moment. "Oh, here's
one. It can be my very own nickname for you, little sister. Do you
like 'Little Bit?' I figured you might. So, from here on, you're my
Little Bit.
"Anyway, there's a few things I wanted to let you know. I love you,
Little Bit. You are the best present anyone's ever given me. It is
so neat for the two of us to share the same birthday, don't you think?
I also wanted you to know that I'll always be there for you. And I'll
protect you until the end of the world."
*****
As Spike returned to consciousness, the first sensation that came to
him was the numbness in his shoulders. His arms were suspended above
him. He tried to lower them, but to no avail. He tugged harder.
Still nothing. He looked up. Swell. He was chained to the ceiling.
But Spike wasn't going to up so easily. He tugged and strained
against his shackles. Nothing. Whoever was responsible knew of his
strength. They also removed his shirt. He sighed and gave up the
struggle. If he was going to get out, he'd have to try another tactic.
Instead, Spike settled for surveying the room. If he was going to be
held hostage, he might as well know of the accommodations. It looked
like some kind of abandoned building. A warehouse or factory. It
wasn't the one he, Dru, and Angelus were holed up in four years ago.
He knew that place inside and out. No, this place was different.
Spike also noticed a table near him. And on that table, swords,
crosses, holy water, even a little portable stove, turned on and
consisting of several pokers and...brands... Great, Spike thought,
a torture demon of some sort.
"You're hard to find," a female voice said from the shadows.
Spike twisted his body around as best he could to try to find the
speaker. "Who are you?"
She stepped out of the shadows. He could see in her hand, she held
a long sword. She ignored his question and walked closer, continuing,
"I've been looking for you for years. You really get around. London,
China, New York, Prague, Brazil, Sunnydale. And a few others. But
finally, I've got you where I want you."
Spike looked at her as she stood in front of him, "You never answered
my question. Who the hell are you?"
She smirked, "Guess."
Spike groaned, "I don't bloody know who you are. Otherwise, I wouldn't
be askin', now would I?"
She smiled bigger and stabbed him in the abdomen with her sword. He
cried out in pain as the pointed end pierced his bare flesh. "Guess
again."
*****
"Guess again."
Teenaged William groaned in frustration, looking down at his five-
year-old sister. Lately, the guessing game had been her favorite...
and his most hated. Lizzy had hidden one of his favorite books of
poetry, a collection of poems by Robert Browning."**
"Lizzy, please, just tell me where it is," William tried to reason
with the child.
She grinned her innocent little grin and shook her heard, "Nah-uh,
you have to guess. Otherwise, it's no fun."
William sighed. "Little Bit-"
*****
"Oh, no. Please, no," Spike whispered desperately. No, this couldn't
be. His sweet angelic sister couldn't be a vampire. His eyes looked
at hers, "Little Bit? Lizzy?"
She smiled, "Alive and in the flesh. Well, in the flesh, anyway."
"When?" Spike asked weakly.
Lizzy looked surprised, "Five years after you, dear brother. Surely
you remember because, after all, you were there."
*****
Buffy entered the magic shop. She had just finished a quick sweep
of the cemeteries and was both disappointed and relieved she didn't
come across Spike. Thinking of Spike, she realized how bad she felt
for last night's events. Deep down, Buffy knew Spike did indeed love
her. She told him he didn't, couldn't, because she was afraid. Afraid
of what would happen if she let him in. Every man she'd been in a
serious relationship with left. Left town left. That was bound to
create some reservations, right?
She knew what she was doing to him was wrong. She could no longer
tell herself that he didn't love her. He proved his love too many
times. She knew she was taking advantage of that. She felt horrible.
Felt even worse for the way she treated him after. Last night, after
their little fiasco in the alley which (again) she initiated, she
treated him like the scum of the universe. Told him he was an evil
thing. Called him repulsive. Worthless. She vividly remembered the
pain in his eyes. What she said hurt him. Badly. He didn't deserve
her rage. He did nothing wrong. Perhaps, she thought, I'd better go
apologize to him...later.
"Buffy, have you seen Deadboy Jr.?" Xander asked.
"No. Why do you think I've seen him?" Buffy answered hurriedly,
startled out of her thoughts. She approached the Scoobies and took
a seat next to her sister, Dawn.
"Well, I thought that maybe you came across him while on patrol."
She shook her head, "Nope. And why do you want to know anyway?"
"He was supposed to drop by. Continue to help out."
"Well, I haven't seen him," she turned to her sister, "How are you
doing? How's your arm?"
Dawn lifted her arm that was encased in plaster and bandages about
a couple of inches off the table, "It's fine."
Buffy nodded, "That's good."
"You know, I'm kinda worried about Spike. Maybe something's happened
to him," Anya said, looking down at one of the books before closing it,
"And we're never going to find anything."
"Ahn, honey, how are you worried about Spike?" Xander asked.
"He said he'd drop by tonight to help and, as you can see, he's not
here," she answered in a 'duh' voice.
"So?"
She sighed, "Spike *said* he'd drop by at sunset and he's not here.
In the time that I've known him, he's always kept his word, vampire
or not."
Dawn looked at her sister, fear slowly creeping in, "Buffy, what
if she's right? What if something did happen to Spike?"
Buffy sighed, "Dawn, I'm sure Spike is fine. Maybe he just slept
in." Dawn didn't look convinced. "Alright, if you want me to, I'll
go run by his place real quick."
Dawn nodded.
Buffy quietly entered Spike's crypt. "Spike?"
No response. She sighed and ventured further into his home. In
all honesty, she didn't want to be here. She knew that if he was
home, she'd have to talk to him. And she wasn't ready to do that.
It was too soon. She wasn't finished thinking things through.
He wasn't on the upper level. With trepidation, she made her way
down the ladder to the lower level. When she came by here the first
time after being resurrected, she was surprised to see actual
furniture in the crypt. Guess even vampires need their comforts.
He wasn't on the lower level either. He was nowhere. Buffy tried
to tell herself that the feeling she was expressing was her tremendous
lack of concern. But she couldn't kid herself. As much as she hated
to admit it, she was nervous.
Hey, maybe he's all safe and having a 'jolly good time' at the Bronze
or something, she told herself. Having fun, living it up.
*****
Never in his entire existence had Spike ever endured this much pain.
It was unbearable. After Lizzy revealed her identity, she pretty
much stopped talking and launched an all-out torture attack on him.
But, it didn't matter how much physical pain she dealt, the emotional
trauma he was going through at that very moment outweighed the physical.
My darling sister's a vampire, he thought, I was there? I can't
remember...
Lizzy picked up a hot poker from the little mini portable stove and
walked over to him. Spike looked at the poker and at her. She was
nothing like his sister. Sure, she looked like her, but her eyes...
they weren't Lizzy's. She positioned herself, ready to stab him with
the piece of metal. Spike braced himself for the pain. As she gouged
him, he screamed and blacked out.
*****
William placed a final pair of trousers in his trunk before shutting
it. Today he was leaving home. For the first time in his life. He
was to travel fifty miles north of London. He was going to Cambridge
University. His father was proud of him. His mother, too. He was
also proud. This was quite an accomplishment. He should be happy.
But, truthfully, he was nervous, scared even. He had never been out
of London. He was going to unknown lands. He would be alone. No
one he knew would be there. But he knew that he must be brave. It
was time for him to venture into the great unknown.
He was shaken out of his reverie by a tiny little knock on his door.
He looked up from his suitcase to the entrance. His sister stood
there. Her eyes were wet from recent tears. It ripped straight
through his heart to see his little bit in so much pain.
"Little Bit? Are you okay?"
She sniffled and entered into his room. "I don't you to go,
William."
He sat on his bed and motioned to her to come closer. "Lizzy.
You know I have to."
"Why?"
"Because it is important that I go to Cambridge. I must continue
my education."
"But why can't you do that here?"
William sighed, "I don't want to go either. But I must. It is
expected of me."
"But I'll miss you."
He hugged her. "I'll miss you, too." He stood up and went to his
trunk. He reopened it and pulled out a neatly-wrapped package. He
sat back down next to her. "I know it's still a couple of months
till our birthday and I'll be home then, but I want you to go ahead
to take this." He handed her the present.
She looked at him quizzically. Slowly, she peeled back the paper.
William watched her take great care not to rip it. She always
treated her presents this way. Taking her precious time unwrapping
them while everyone else just ripped them open. Today it seemed she
was taking even longer than usual. Perhaps to prolong their last
moments together for the next few months. He understood her sadness.
He didn't want the moment to end either.
She finally did get it unwrapped. It was a tiny little box. She
opened it. Inside was a locket. She gasped. Opening it, she saw a
tiny picture of her on one side and one of William on the other.
William spoke, "Whenever you're feeling lonely, just look at my
picture and know that wherever you or I am, I'll always be there for
you. I'll never let anything bad happen. Ever."
Lizzy looked at her brother, new tears springing to her eyes. She
hugged him tightly. William smiled and took the necklace from her
hands and put it around her neck.
"William, your ride is here!" his mother shouted up the stairs, "I'll
send up Geoffrey and Ethan to get your trunk."
He and Lizzy stood up. Together, brother and sister made their way
slowly down the stairs.
*****
Lizzy fingered the locket still around her neck all these years.
She sniffled, remembering that day like it was yesterday. She
looked at her unconscious brother hanging by the chains.
"You said you'd never let anything bad happen. But you did nothing.
Nothing. You just stood there and did nothing while my life was
drained out of me."
** I don't know if Robert Browning had a collection of his poems out
in the 1800s or if he even has one now. But by using the power of
writer's purogative, he does now.
End Part 2
Today was William's tenth birthday. He was excited because today
his parents had given him the best present in the world. His baby
sister. Elizabeth Anne. Born exactly ten years after him.
He quietly entered his sleeping sister's room. On the other side,
she laid in a beautiful crib. It was the same crib William slept
in nine years ago. William was glad to have this time alone with her.
His mother was resting. His father, too. Molly was busy getting
dinner ready for the evening. He was to have his customary birthday
feast. A tradition ever since he could remember.
He walked up to her. Little Elizabeth Anne was dressed in a beautiful
embroidered white gown. She laid comfortably in satiny white sheets.
To William she looked like an angel. His angel. His darling little
sister. He smiled at her sleeping form.
"Hello, Elizabeth. I know you're probably deep in Dreamland and
can't hear me, but I'm going to tell you a few things, okay? So
if you can hear me, pay close attention. Now, let's see. We have
to give you a shorter name. 'Elizabeth's' too long for such a small
girl. How about 'Lizzy?'" William thought for a moment. "Oh, here's
one. It can be my very own nickname for you, little sister. Do you
like 'Little Bit?' I figured you might. So, from here on, you're my
Little Bit.
"Anyway, there's a few things I wanted to let you know. I love you,
Little Bit. You are the best present anyone's ever given me. It is
so neat for the two of us to share the same birthday, don't you think?
I also wanted you to know that I'll always be there for you. And I'll
protect you until the end of the world."
*****
As Spike returned to consciousness, the first sensation that came to
him was the numbness in his shoulders. His arms were suspended above
him. He tried to lower them, but to no avail. He tugged harder.
Still nothing. He looked up. Swell. He was chained to the ceiling.
But Spike wasn't going to up so easily. He tugged and strained
against his shackles. Nothing. Whoever was responsible knew of his
strength. They also removed his shirt. He sighed and gave up the
struggle. If he was going to get out, he'd have to try another tactic.
Instead, Spike settled for surveying the room. If he was going to be
held hostage, he might as well know of the accommodations. It looked
like some kind of abandoned building. A warehouse or factory. It
wasn't the one he, Dru, and Angelus were holed up in four years ago.
He knew that place inside and out. No, this place was different.
Spike also noticed a table near him. And on that table, swords,
crosses, holy water, even a little portable stove, turned on and
consisting of several pokers and...brands... Great, Spike thought,
a torture demon of some sort.
"You're hard to find," a female voice said from the shadows.
Spike twisted his body around as best he could to try to find the
speaker. "Who are you?"
She stepped out of the shadows. He could see in her hand, she held
a long sword. She ignored his question and walked closer, continuing,
"I've been looking for you for years. You really get around. London,
China, New York, Prague, Brazil, Sunnydale. And a few others. But
finally, I've got you where I want you."
Spike looked at her as she stood in front of him, "You never answered
my question. Who the hell are you?"
She smirked, "Guess."
Spike groaned, "I don't bloody know who you are. Otherwise, I wouldn't
be askin', now would I?"
She smiled bigger and stabbed him in the abdomen with her sword. He
cried out in pain as the pointed end pierced his bare flesh. "Guess
again."
*****
"Guess again."
Teenaged William groaned in frustration, looking down at his five-
year-old sister. Lately, the guessing game had been her favorite...
and his most hated. Lizzy had hidden one of his favorite books of
poetry, a collection of poems by Robert Browning."**
"Lizzy, please, just tell me where it is," William tried to reason
with the child.
She grinned her innocent little grin and shook her heard, "Nah-uh,
you have to guess. Otherwise, it's no fun."
William sighed. "Little Bit-"
*****
"Oh, no. Please, no," Spike whispered desperately. No, this couldn't
be. His sweet angelic sister couldn't be a vampire. His eyes looked
at hers, "Little Bit? Lizzy?"
She smiled, "Alive and in the flesh. Well, in the flesh, anyway."
"When?" Spike asked weakly.
Lizzy looked surprised, "Five years after you, dear brother. Surely
you remember because, after all, you were there."
*****
Buffy entered the magic shop. She had just finished a quick sweep
of the cemeteries and was both disappointed and relieved she didn't
come across Spike. Thinking of Spike, she realized how bad she felt
for last night's events. Deep down, Buffy knew Spike did indeed love
her. She told him he didn't, couldn't, because she was afraid. Afraid
of what would happen if she let him in. Every man she'd been in a
serious relationship with left. Left town left. That was bound to
create some reservations, right?
She knew what she was doing to him was wrong. She could no longer
tell herself that he didn't love her. He proved his love too many
times. She knew she was taking advantage of that. She felt horrible.
Felt even worse for the way she treated him after. Last night, after
their little fiasco in the alley which (again) she initiated, she
treated him like the scum of the universe. Told him he was an evil
thing. Called him repulsive. Worthless. She vividly remembered the
pain in his eyes. What she said hurt him. Badly. He didn't deserve
her rage. He did nothing wrong. Perhaps, she thought, I'd better go
apologize to him...later.
"Buffy, have you seen Deadboy Jr.?" Xander asked.
"No. Why do you think I've seen him?" Buffy answered hurriedly,
startled out of her thoughts. She approached the Scoobies and took
a seat next to her sister, Dawn.
"Well, I thought that maybe you came across him while on patrol."
She shook her head, "Nope. And why do you want to know anyway?"
"He was supposed to drop by. Continue to help out."
"Well, I haven't seen him," she turned to her sister, "How are you
doing? How's your arm?"
Dawn lifted her arm that was encased in plaster and bandages about
a couple of inches off the table, "It's fine."
Buffy nodded, "That's good."
"You know, I'm kinda worried about Spike. Maybe something's happened
to him," Anya said, looking down at one of the books before closing it,
"And we're never going to find anything."
"Ahn, honey, how are you worried about Spike?" Xander asked.
"He said he'd drop by tonight to help and, as you can see, he's not
here," she answered in a 'duh' voice.
"So?"
She sighed, "Spike *said* he'd drop by at sunset and he's not here.
In the time that I've known him, he's always kept his word, vampire
or not."
Dawn looked at her sister, fear slowly creeping in, "Buffy, what
if she's right? What if something did happen to Spike?"
Buffy sighed, "Dawn, I'm sure Spike is fine. Maybe he just slept
in." Dawn didn't look convinced. "Alright, if you want me to, I'll
go run by his place real quick."
Dawn nodded.
Buffy quietly entered Spike's crypt. "Spike?"
No response. She sighed and ventured further into his home. In
all honesty, she didn't want to be here. She knew that if he was
home, she'd have to talk to him. And she wasn't ready to do that.
It was too soon. She wasn't finished thinking things through.
He wasn't on the upper level. With trepidation, she made her way
down the ladder to the lower level. When she came by here the first
time after being resurrected, she was surprised to see actual
furniture in the crypt. Guess even vampires need their comforts.
He wasn't on the lower level either. He was nowhere. Buffy tried
to tell herself that the feeling she was expressing was her tremendous
lack of concern. But she couldn't kid herself. As much as she hated
to admit it, she was nervous.
Hey, maybe he's all safe and having a 'jolly good time' at the Bronze
or something, she told herself. Having fun, living it up.
*****
Never in his entire existence had Spike ever endured this much pain.
It was unbearable. After Lizzy revealed her identity, she pretty
much stopped talking and launched an all-out torture attack on him.
But, it didn't matter how much physical pain she dealt, the emotional
trauma he was going through at that very moment outweighed the physical.
My darling sister's a vampire, he thought, I was there? I can't
remember...
Lizzy picked up a hot poker from the little mini portable stove and
walked over to him. Spike looked at the poker and at her. She was
nothing like his sister. Sure, she looked like her, but her eyes...
they weren't Lizzy's. She positioned herself, ready to stab him with
the piece of metal. Spike braced himself for the pain. As she gouged
him, he screamed and blacked out.
*****
William placed a final pair of trousers in his trunk before shutting
it. Today he was leaving home. For the first time in his life. He
was to travel fifty miles north of London. He was going to Cambridge
University. His father was proud of him. His mother, too. He was
also proud. This was quite an accomplishment. He should be happy.
But, truthfully, he was nervous, scared even. He had never been out
of London. He was going to unknown lands. He would be alone. No
one he knew would be there. But he knew that he must be brave. It
was time for him to venture into the great unknown.
He was shaken out of his reverie by a tiny little knock on his door.
He looked up from his suitcase to the entrance. His sister stood
there. Her eyes were wet from recent tears. It ripped straight
through his heart to see his little bit in so much pain.
"Little Bit? Are you okay?"
She sniffled and entered into his room. "I don't you to go,
William."
He sat on his bed and motioned to her to come closer. "Lizzy.
You know I have to."
"Why?"
"Because it is important that I go to Cambridge. I must continue
my education."
"But why can't you do that here?"
William sighed, "I don't want to go either. But I must. It is
expected of me."
"But I'll miss you."
He hugged her. "I'll miss you, too." He stood up and went to his
trunk. He reopened it and pulled out a neatly-wrapped package. He
sat back down next to her. "I know it's still a couple of months
till our birthday and I'll be home then, but I want you to go ahead
to take this." He handed her the present.
She looked at him quizzically. Slowly, she peeled back the paper.
William watched her take great care not to rip it. She always
treated her presents this way. Taking her precious time unwrapping
them while everyone else just ripped them open. Today it seemed she
was taking even longer than usual. Perhaps to prolong their last
moments together for the next few months. He understood her sadness.
He didn't want the moment to end either.
She finally did get it unwrapped. It was a tiny little box. She
opened it. Inside was a locket. She gasped. Opening it, she saw a
tiny picture of her on one side and one of William on the other.
William spoke, "Whenever you're feeling lonely, just look at my
picture and know that wherever you or I am, I'll always be there for
you. I'll never let anything bad happen. Ever."
Lizzy looked at her brother, new tears springing to her eyes. She
hugged him tightly. William smiled and took the necklace from her
hands and put it around her neck.
"William, your ride is here!" his mother shouted up the stairs, "I'll
send up Geoffrey and Ethan to get your trunk."
He and Lizzy stood up. Together, brother and sister made their way
slowly down the stairs.
*****
Lizzy fingered the locket still around her neck all these years.
She sniffled, remembering that day like it was yesterday. She
looked at her unconscious brother hanging by the chains.
"You said you'd never let anything bad happen. But you did nothing.
Nothing. You just stood there and did nothing while my life was
drained out of me."
** I don't know if Robert Browning had a collection of his poems out
in the 1800s or if he even has one now. But by using the power of
writer's purogative, he does now.
End Part 2