Title: Beneath the Veil of Darkness
Chapter Title: Theories of the Mind
Author: Baby Blues
E-mail: purely_blissful@hotmail.com
Rated: R
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, but the story is.
Summary: Angel takes care of Buffy and the LA Team make their own theories and conclusions of the miracle that brought Buffy Summers back.
Dedication: To Spike . . . just 'cause.
Excerpt:
~Cordelia: I knew something big was gonna happen . . . Buffy and Angel have defied death a bunch of times . . . They just can't stay dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That was some work out," Cordelia commented as they drove back to the hotel after the ordeal in the alley.
"Oh, yeah," Gunn rolled his eyes, "And the whole mating thing was a great bonus too."
"I knew it," she teased with a sigh. "Anything that has to do with sex, men of all species go crazy. Even mating between demons can be a turn on."
"Not always," Gunn said truthfully. "I mean, that thing we just witnessed was just gross. Too slimy and just . . . well . . . weird and totally freaksome. Porno is way better than watching demons goin' at it like a bunch of rutting animals . . . which they're basically are."
The two gazed at each other for a moment, and quickly looked away when Wesley raised a curious brow. He mentally shook his head. Why couldn't they just kiss and get it over with? For months now, he had to endure the constant ogling, the daydreaming, and of course the drooling.
"Porno, huh?" Cordelia remarked quickly.
"The real thing's better though," Gunn replied.
The ex-Watcher rolled his eyed when they cleared their throats, trying hard not to look at each other again. He didn't understand what was wrong with them. Kids. If they liked each other so much, why continue denying themselves of the happiness they could have with the other. It was just to confusing. They should just go on a date, kiss, and get it over with.
"I can't wait to get into the shower," Fred giggled in the passenger seat, "To get all this gunk off of me would be pretty nice."
"I agree," Cordelia yawned.
Angel listened to their conversation without much concern. He just wanted to get home, sleep, and hopefully dream of the times when Buffy was still alive . . . and when they were still together, happy and innocent . . . in love and believed in forever. They had been naive back then . . . completely oblivious with what fate had in stored for the two of them.
But those times were long gone. Destiny's cruelty caused the both to grow up when it came to their relationship . . . and it forced Buffy to mature even faster, especially with Slaying was added to it.
He closed his eyes and took a deep unneeded breath before opening them again. How he had survived three months knowing that Buffy was gone, he didn't quite understand. The pain inside him should've killed him the moment he saw Willow sitting on that couch with tears streaming down her cheeks. He should've died at that moment, but sadly, he didn't.
He saw the hotel building and frowned slightly. Something seemed off. Something just didn't feel right.
He parked the car by the sidewalk as the entire gang got out of the car, chattering away. Fred was the only one kept quite . . . which was no surprise at all, considering the fact that she was still a newbie within their family . . . a bit on the crazy and not-all-there side as well.
As they bounded up the steps, an powerful feeling rushed roughly through Angel's body, singing loudly in his vein as a tingling sensation worked its way up to his heart, calling out to his soul.
His frown deepened as they came nearer to the door . . .
"Can we order some pizza?" Gunn asked out loud as Angel opened the door.
"Chinese," Cordelia argued.
"I'm actually up for anything right now," Wesley shrugged his indifference, "Starvation will do that to any person."
Angel flicked the lights on, his eyes quickly landing on the form that squirmed on the floor in the middle of the lobby.
"Good God," Wesley muttered as the vampire quickly ran down the steps.
Angel's entire world came into a slow motion as he skidded across the floor towards the naked body. Good God. Buffy was here. He stared down at her form as bile rose up in his throat as his eyes widened at the sight of bruises and cuts all over her exposed flesh. Blots of blue, purple, green, and yellow . . . an artwork of hatred and carnality.
Someone would pay for this.
"Angel?" she asked in a weak whisper.
"Shhh," was his only reply as he placed his jacket on her nude form and scooped her up in his arms before heading up the stairs without a second glance nor a word to his friends and colleagues.
Buffy was in his arms, beaten and weak, but real . . . and breathing. The way she held onto him, her small and warm hands burning his icy cold flesh. She stared at his face with sleepy hazel eyes as she tried to grasp at wakefulness, and his heart cried out for her as she touched his cheek with such tenderness it felt as though he was being touched by the wind instead of her hand.
The thought of how or why she returned didn't even cross his mind as he reached his room in a daze. All he knew was that Buffy was in his arms, and his soul felt complete once again.
He gently placed her on his bed as he sat by her, caressing her face with the back of his hand. He grabbed a few blankets from his closet and placed it on top of her shivering form. She had to chock back a scream at the welts and bruises that covered her body. He didn't know how she got them, wasn't sure why either, all he knew was that someone would die for it.
He took a deep unneeded breath. She was real, so real, and she was here. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he slowly began to cry in relief as she gazed up at him with sleepy hazel eyes.
"Angel," she said softly, her voice shaking from the effort of simply saying his name.
"It's okay," he told her, tear dripping down from his eyes like a rainfall of grief. "I'm right here."
She smiled slightly, her lips quivering. "I've missed you so much," she told him, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. "It feels like a lifetime since I last saw you."
"I know," he said, closing his eyes as he brought up her hand towards his cheek, relishing her warm touch, and promising himself that he will never let her go ever again. "I know," he said.
"Oh, God . . . Angel," she sobbed as she reached for him, wanting him to be near her, touching her.
"Shhh," he soothed as his voice rumbled in a purring sort of tone. He slowly pulled the covers away, ignoring her nudity, before he slid into the bed, taking in Buffy his arms and kissing her sweaty crown. "It's alright . . . I'm right here," he whispered as she clutched him, "And I'm going to stay," he added.
Buffy slept on, the only thought in her mind was the fact that the man she loved was in her arms . . . and staying that way.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"I knew something big was gonna happen," Cordelia nodded as the entire Bat Pack sat together in the kitchen, sipping their own cups of coffee. "Buffy and Angel have defied death a bunch of times," she insisted, looking at her friends she now considered her family, "They just can't stay dead."
"That quite an enlightening thought, Cordelia," Wesley said as he flipped through a book about reincarnation and restoration. "A very sensitive way to put it as well," he said sarcastically.
"Well it's true," she snorted and then looked at Gunn and Fred. "First of all, Angel died during 1700's and became a vampire. A death and a rebirth all in one," she tried to explain, "Then he received his soul, and voila, Angelus becomes Angel . . . another revival ordeal, right?"
They just looked at her in silence.
"Then, he looses his soul and then goes to hell . . . death," she said simply, "But then, in some weird 'First Evil' sort of way, he returns to earth. Not basically 'alive' in that sense, but there none the less."
Wesley quirked an eyebrow.
"And then there's Buffy," Cordelia chuckled. "Died for a minute after practically being drained by the Master, but was brought back to life by my ex-boyfriend who did CPR. That one minute death activated another Slayer that's how we have psycho Faith in our hands," she shook her head. "Then there's THIS whole fiasco," she snorted again, "I swear . . . it's just something about those two."
"Thank you for that interesting . . . monologue," Wesley smiled.
Cordelia glared at him. "Laugh it up, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of them died and came back . . . AGAIN, may I add," she said, "This shouldn't be a shock anymore so I don't know why we're sitting here doing nothing."
"We are doing something, Cordy," Fred piped in as she indicated the open books that each of them had.
The Seer had the heart to blush as she grabbed a book herself and began flipping through it. "So exactly what are we looking for?" she asked.
"Spells, legends concerning reincarnation," Wesley answered, "Prophecies, if there are any concerning a Slayer and an en-souled vampire."
"You think it's a prophecy?" Gunn asked.
"It may be," Wesley answered, "But only The Powers That Be have the answer to that. We can only guess and try to find those answers."
"They might need Buffy for something," Cordelia added, "Future fights and all that jazz."
"That's a possibility," Wesley nodded.
"What if it's just because of love?" Fred suggested.
Everyone stared at her for a moment as she fidgeted nervously from the attention. "I mean . . . that could be one of the reasons," she tried to explain. "Just as simple as . . . love . . . "
Continued . . .
Chapter Title: Theories of the Mind
Author: Baby Blues
E-mail: purely_blissful@hotmail.com
Rated: R
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, but the story is.
Summary: Angel takes care of Buffy and the LA Team make their own theories and conclusions of the miracle that brought Buffy Summers back.
Dedication: To Spike . . . just 'cause.
Excerpt:
~Cordelia: I knew something big was gonna happen . . . Buffy and Angel have defied death a bunch of times . . . They just can't stay dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That was some work out," Cordelia commented as they drove back to the hotel after the ordeal in the alley.
"Oh, yeah," Gunn rolled his eyes, "And the whole mating thing was a great bonus too."
"I knew it," she teased with a sigh. "Anything that has to do with sex, men of all species go crazy. Even mating between demons can be a turn on."
"Not always," Gunn said truthfully. "I mean, that thing we just witnessed was just gross. Too slimy and just . . . well . . . weird and totally freaksome. Porno is way better than watching demons goin' at it like a bunch of rutting animals . . . which they're basically are."
The two gazed at each other for a moment, and quickly looked away when Wesley raised a curious brow. He mentally shook his head. Why couldn't they just kiss and get it over with? For months now, he had to endure the constant ogling, the daydreaming, and of course the drooling.
"Porno, huh?" Cordelia remarked quickly.
"The real thing's better though," Gunn replied.
The ex-Watcher rolled his eyed when they cleared their throats, trying hard not to look at each other again. He didn't understand what was wrong with them. Kids. If they liked each other so much, why continue denying themselves of the happiness they could have with the other. It was just to confusing. They should just go on a date, kiss, and get it over with.
"I can't wait to get into the shower," Fred giggled in the passenger seat, "To get all this gunk off of me would be pretty nice."
"I agree," Cordelia yawned.
Angel listened to their conversation without much concern. He just wanted to get home, sleep, and hopefully dream of the times when Buffy was still alive . . . and when they were still together, happy and innocent . . . in love and believed in forever. They had been naive back then . . . completely oblivious with what fate had in stored for the two of them.
But those times were long gone. Destiny's cruelty caused the both to grow up when it came to their relationship . . . and it forced Buffy to mature even faster, especially with Slaying was added to it.
He closed his eyes and took a deep unneeded breath before opening them again. How he had survived three months knowing that Buffy was gone, he didn't quite understand. The pain inside him should've killed him the moment he saw Willow sitting on that couch with tears streaming down her cheeks. He should've died at that moment, but sadly, he didn't.
He saw the hotel building and frowned slightly. Something seemed off. Something just didn't feel right.
He parked the car by the sidewalk as the entire gang got out of the car, chattering away. Fred was the only one kept quite . . . which was no surprise at all, considering the fact that she was still a newbie within their family . . . a bit on the crazy and not-all-there side as well.
As they bounded up the steps, an powerful feeling rushed roughly through Angel's body, singing loudly in his vein as a tingling sensation worked its way up to his heart, calling out to his soul.
His frown deepened as they came nearer to the door . . .
"Can we order some pizza?" Gunn asked out loud as Angel opened the door.
"Chinese," Cordelia argued.
"I'm actually up for anything right now," Wesley shrugged his indifference, "Starvation will do that to any person."
Angel flicked the lights on, his eyes quickly landing on the form that squirmed on the floor in the middle of the lobby.
"Good God," Wesley muttered as the vampire quickly ran down the steps.
Angel's entire world came into a slow motion as he skidded across the floor towards the naked body. Good God. Buffy was here. He stared down at her form as bile rose up in his throat as his eyes widened at the sight of bruises and cuts all over her exposed flesh. Blots of blue, purple, green, and yellow . . . an artwork of hatred and carnality.
Someone would pay for this.
"Angel?" she asked in a weak whisper.
"Shhh," was his only reply as he placed his jacket on her nude form and scooped her up in his arms before heading up the stairs without a second glance nor a word to his friends and colleagues.
Buffy was in his arms, beaten and weak, but real . . . and breathing. The way she held onto him, her small and warm hands burning his icy cold flesh. She stared at his face with sleepy hazel eyes as she tried to grasp at wakefulness, and his heart cried out for her as she touched his cheek with such tenderness it felt as though he was being touched by the wind instead of her hand.
The thought of how or why she returned didn't even cross his mind as he reached his room in a daze. All he knew was that Buffy was in his arms, and his soul felt complete once again.
He gently placed her on his bed as he sat by her, caressing her face with the back of his hand. He grabbed a few blankets from his closet and placed it on top of her shivering form. She had to chock back a scream at the welts and bruises that covered her body. He didn't know how she got them, wasn't sure why either, all he knew was that someone would die for it.
He took a deep unneeded breath. She was real, so real, and she was here. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he slowly began to cry in relief as she gazed up at him with sleepy hazel eyes.
"Angel," she said softly, her voice shaking from the effort of simply saying his name.
"It's okay," he told her, tear dripping down from his eyes like a rainfall of grief. "I'm right here."
She smiled slightly, her lips quivering. "I've missed you so much," she told him, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. "It feels like a lifetime since I last saw you."
"I know," he said, closing his eyes as he brought up her hand towards his cheek, relishing her warm touch, and promising himself that he will never let her go ever again. "I know," he said.
"Oh, God . . . Angel," she sobbed as she reached for him, wanting him to be near her, touching her.
"Shhh," he soothed as his voice rumbled in a purring sort of tone. He slowly pulled the covers away, ignoring her nudity, before he slid into the bed, taking in Buffy his arms and kissing her sweaty crown. "It's alright . . . I'm right here," he whispered as she clutched him, "And I'm going to stay," he added.
Buffy slept on, the only thought in her mind was the fact that the man she loved was in her arms . . . and staying that way.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"I knew something big was gonna happen," Cordelia nodded as the entire Bat Pack sat together in the kitchen, sipping their own cups of coffee. "Buffy and Angel have defied death a bunch of times," she insisted, looking at her friends she now considered her family, "They just can't stay dead."
"That quite an enlightening thought, Cordelia," Wesley said as he flipped through a book about reincarnation and restoration. "A very sensitive way to put it as well," he said sarcastically.
"Well it's true," she snorted and then looked at Gunn and Fred. "First of all, Angel died during 1700's and became a vampire. A death and a rebirth all in one," she tried to explain, "Then he received his soul, and voila, Angelus becomes Angel . . . another revival ordeal, right?"
They just looked at her in silence.
"Then, he looses his soul and then goes to hell . . . death," she said simply, "But then, in some weird 'First Evil' sort of way, he returns to earth. Not basically 'alive' in that sense, but there none the less."
Wesley quirked an eyebrow.
"And then there's Buffy," Cordelia chuckled. "Died for a minute after practically being drained by the Master, but was brought back to life by my ex-boyfriend who did CPR. That one minute death activated another Slayer that's how we have psycho Faith in our hands," she shook her head. "Then there's THIS whole fiasco," she snorted again, "I swear . . . it's just something about those two."
"Thank you for that interesting . . . monologue," Wesley smiled.
Cordelia glared at him. "Laugh it up, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of them died and came back . . . AGAIN, may I add," she said, "This shouldn't be a shock anymore so I don't know why we're sitting here doing nothing."
"We are doing something, Cordy," Fred piped in as she indicated the open books that each of them had.
The Seer had the heart to blush as she grabbed a book herself and began flipping through it. "So exactly what are we looking for?" she asked.
"Spells, legends concerning reincarnation," Wesley answered, "Prophecies, if there are any concerning a Slayer and an en-souled vampire."
"You think it's a prophecy?" Gunn asked.
"It may be," Wesley answered, "But only The Powers That Be have the answer to that. We can only guess and try to find those answers."
"They might need Buffy for something," Cordelia added, "Future fights and all that jazz."
"That's a possibility," Wesley nodded.
"What if it's just because of love?" Fred suggested.
Everyone stared at her for a moment as she fidgeted nervously from the attention. "I mean . . . that could be one of the reasons," she tried to explain. "Just as simple as . . . love . . . "
Continued . . .