A/N- Okay..so I'm wrapping this little ficlet up here. The idea for the
sequel, which I am really psyched about, came to me a while ago, but a
message from Misskitiefantastico a few weeks back really inspired me to do
it and made it a bit more in depth. So MAJOR thanks to her! Also a lot of
thanks to Adele Elisabeth, Star and Peyton the Perfecto because they
actually took the time out to review after the last chapter. Guys, if
you're still with me, I dedicate this to the four of you.
Now, After this chapter everyone will have to review and tell me whether you want to read on or not. If not..well..I wont continue and my idea/plan will go to waste. Simple as that. On a happier note, Big Thanks for following me on this one. You're all really great.
Lets hope you actually understood what I was talking about..and on with the show.
PS- This one's pretty long..when typed in size 12 'Times New Roman' font in Word it takes up around 17 pages..(just warning you) but I DO want feedback! I need feedback.
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Everybody has turned and is looking towards Angel in anticipation. I squeeze his hand supportively. He straightens up and takes another step into the centre of the room. And another. Then another. Until finally he has reached a position at which everybody can hear and see him clearly. I have let go of his hand, but am still offering him my support. I know that this has to be hard for him, but he has to do it.
I look over at Buffy, who is waiting patiently for Angel to continue. I give her a tiny smile, which she doesn't see. You see, her gaze is transfixed on the oldest vampire in the room and I know that she understands that what he is about to say must be important.
Angel's eyes dart towards mine and he falters. "Go on.." I practically mouth, whispering at a level that even the vampire might have trouble hearing. "Before they find out for themselves. You can do this." And I just did it again. I invited yet another hopeless cliché into the system. Lets just hope that one slips by..Oh crap..I did it again..that's it..I'm shutting up.
Though on the inside I am chastising myself, externally I keep my cool and smile. Angel nods and clears his throat. "It's a long story actually.." He begins. I shoot him a look that says 'Get it over and done with.' He nods and smiles the tiniest of smiles. "Okay..maybe not that long..It's just.." He's fidgeting. Not a good sign.
"Get on with it." Spike interrupts in his adorable, and kinda tactless, manner.
Angel scowls and tries again. He looks at Buffy, the apologetic gleam in his eyes already in deployment. Also not a good sign. I look over at her again and wonder if she can see it as well. Hopefully she can't..but then now that I've thought that..
I'm cut from my thoughts when she stands up, fully aware that something isn't right. "Angel.." She says, suspicion evident in her voice. "What's going on? Why are you looking at me like you've done something very, very wrong?"
He swallows and I can see him do a double take of his surroundings. I doubt that anybody else caught it..other than Buffy, Spike and myself. Maybe even Cordy..'cos, y'know, demon powers..
"Okay..Last year I went through this..er..phase, so to speak and I started to..uh..drift to the dark side." He says, stopping to gauge Buffy's reaction so far. She nods and he continues uneasily. "See..Wolfram And Hart..They're a bunch of evil lawyers..anyway..they brought something..or someone if you wanna get all technical.. back from the dead to torture me..try to make me become Angelus."
Again he stops to check for her reaction. She nods again..a little slower this time. Before he can continue she asks, "Okay..so its plain to see they didn't turn you..but how was bringing back some dead guy to torture you going to work in the first place?"
"That's the thing." He replies. "It wasn't a guy exactly-"
She gasps. "One of your female victims? That's-"
"Not exactly it either." He finishes for her. She looks a little puzzled, and he motions for her to sit back down. "I think it might be easier if you're sitting while I tell you everything."
That's when her look of confusion becomes one of extreme worry. But she doesn't complain or refute him. "Okay." She responds slowly, obeying and dropping back onto the couch.
He smiles gratefully for her co-operation and takes another unnecessary breath. "So Wolfram And Hart brought her back..only they brought her back human and-"
"Hold on a tic, Peaches." Spike cuts in. "You haven't exactly explained who the *her* of this soddin' fairytale is." I want to hit him. I mean I love the guy..I really do. But he knew about Darla's return. Because on Buffy in season 5 (I can't remember the name of the ep..was it Crush? Never mind..that's not the important part..) Dru came and tried to take him with her. She must have told him all about it..actually, I'm *sure* she did.
Instead of coming up with some witty reply as he usually would, Angel glances down at his feet nervously. "Darla." He murmurs.
Buffy's eyes widen in shock. "Pardon?" She asks, "I could have sworn you just said-"
Angel looks into his ex's eyes sadly. "I did."
Suddenly, Buffy's out of her seat once again. "They brought her back?" She hollers in disbelief. "They brought back the bitch that tried to drain my mom and frame you..not to mention kill us both?"
Angel nods again. "Unfortunately they did..But Buffy," He says, tentatively leading her back into her seat, "That's not the worst part."
"Then what is?" She queries.
"Well..they brought her back human. So she had a soul and wasn't evil." He tells her. Before she can say anything else he adds, "And she was dying. She had syphilitic cancer or something like that..and she was so helpless. They couldn't cure her. Wolfram And Hart brought her back to tempt me..to draw out Angelus one way or another. But their plan backfired and I went through all sorts of torture to get her another chance at life." Buffy looks horrified, but Angel continues, knowing that the hardest part is yet to come. "And when I survived the tests..I was told that because she was already granted her second chance..she couldn't be saved. When I told her she was completely crushed..and I was willing to turn her. I thought..I thought that maybe because I have a soul it might work differently."
"Ange.l." the slayer gasps, "You didn't.."
"No..God No. She wouldn't let me." A small reminiscent smile flashes across his face. "She really was a good person in soul. She was so.." He trails off and I can only imagine that he's remembering the night Connor was 'born'. Yeah..I heard about that. He's probably wondering what he's going to tell the boy when he gets older and starts asking all the adorable little kid type questions, as they do.
"Angel.." I prompt. "You were saying.."
"Right. I was..where was I?"
"Darla was a good person in soul. She was so.. And then you kinda gazed off into nothingness." Buffy says, first mimicking him and then sounding less than impressed.
Oh boy. He hasn't even *started*. How is she gonna take the rest of the story?
Angel clears his throat. "Yeah..she was determined to live out her human existence the way she was supposed to in the first place. We sat on the bed in the motel for hours just talking. I kept thinking that maybe..just maybe I could still help her. But she wouldn't hear of it. Then the lawyers from Wolfram and Hart burst in, held me down and made me watch as Dru turned her. When I wouldn't do it..they did it instead. I mean..they changed tactics in torturing me, but used the same person.." He gazes into nowhere again, only this time he looks so..angry. "So, then I came back here and I started to dwell on it.. a lot. Firstly, I tried to stop her from rising, but that didn't exactly turn out well..and I started to lose it. I mean, *really* lose it. I followed Darla and Dru around, and eventually locked them in a room full of the lawyers that made it all happen. Only two survived the attack." He looks ashamed at his actions, but keeps going. "So..when I came back here..and the guys cracked down on me for my actions..I kinda fired them."
This time a series of murmurs erupted throughout the lobby. I look around at the scooby members. I'm dying to add 'And it gets even more complicated.' But I bite my tongue.
When he's satisfied that everyone has comprehended that, he starts to fidget again. I give him another small smile to let him know its all going to be fine. He looks at me when he starts to tell them this part. After all..this is probably the second hardest part. "So..I kicked them all out and I ended up in a bad place in my unlife. I had no colleagues..no friends..I had allowed two vicious monsters to murder a lot of people.. and I could feel myself slipping. Then I came back one day and Darla was waiting for me. I wasn't in the mood for any of her games..so I threw her through a glass door..and then I.." He swallows. "We.." He makes strange motions with his hands.
Again I watch as Buffy's eyes widen with the realisation. She looks completely horrified. Spike smirks. (He's probably thinking he can score extra points with Buffy now that Angel isn't exactly a saint.) Dawn's jaw drops in shock and Xander has an 'I told you so' look on his face.
Angel looks a little ashamed, but continues to look at Buffy apologetically. "I wasn't exactly thinking.." She moves to speak but he cuts her off. "And I know that gives me no right..but..when I woke up..my soul was back in full force. It had been perfect." He gives her a lopsided smile when she goes to argue the 'soul clause' (hah..I punned.did ya get it? Sole.Soul? I punned..once again, not too well, but I still punned..Pity nobody actually heard it..) of his curse. "Perfect despair. Sleeping with Darla..it didn't make me happy..not in the soul department at any rate.."
This time it's me that's trying not to smirk. I can just remember the ep. of the morning after. I quoted it for ages. Trying to shake the (almost comical) scene from my head I tune into Buffy cutting Angel off.
"Okay..so you slept with Darla. That affects me how?" She questions coldly, giving Angel a stare that makes me think that if looks could stake, he'd be a big pile of dust.
"Well..that wasn't really the end of the whole situation." He sighs. "I told her to get out. That if I ever saw her again, I'd stake her. And she left. I didn't see her again..not for a good 9 months anyhow. See, she came back a few months ago and, well, she was..uh..different. I couldn't stake her..God knows I almost did..but then I heard it. The beating. I couldn't kill her. Not while she was like that.." He drifts off again, stopping his own rambling this time.
I'm waiting for everyone to put it all together. I mean, even if he doesn't finish it, they can work it out anyway. But they don't. Angel looks at me in exasperation..then I get an idea. "Angel.." I whisper carefully, as I walk up and pull him aside, "When was the last time you went upstairs to check on him?"
"I'd say about half an hour ago..maybe a little longer.." He replies, then narrows his eyes at me. "Why?"
"Because..I'm gonna go get him. I'm sure it might make this whole thing easier for you..you know..less with the stakeage if they meet the little cutie." I suggest. Angel goes to protest but I add, "They won't want to see him grow up fatherless.."
He nods and I hug him. "It'll be fine." I state. "I promise."
As I prepare to orb up, he grabs my arm. "You'll bring him back the normal way, right?" Angel asks. I want to laugh. I mean..its soo cute how he's all 'Protecto Man.'
"Sure." I reply.
He looks relieved. "Good."
"Uh..P..I mean, Angel." Spike says. Both of us turn. "You haven't exactly finished the tale.What happened when she came back?"
"Actually," I start before Angel gets a chance. "I'm just about to clear that up now." And then I concentrate on Angel's room and I'm gone before anybody can ask any more questions.
*
"Hey little guy." I coo, picking the baby up into my arms. "We're gonna go and be part of a nice, big awkward moment with your daddy, uncles and aunts and all their friends..not to mention your daddy's mostly annoying ex." I touch his nose with my index finger. "How do you like that idea?" He giggles and it makes me smile. I walk out into the hall. "Thought you would."
*
As I walk into the lobby, every single pair of eyes are on me. The fang gang people and Willow are all smiling at the little tyke. Angel is obviously itching to take his son into his arms, but he just watches me anyway, this goofy grin plastered onto his face. The scoobies, on the other hand, are somewhere between confused and shocked.
I give them a few seconds to process it all. Spike is the first to put it all together. He looks bewildered. I watch as his blue gaze shifts from Connor, to Angel, then back to Connor. He looks at me, his eyes burning with the obvious question. I give him a tiny smile and a nod.
"Bloody hell!" He exclaims. "That's bleedin' impossible, that is!" He looks at Angel. "Is this a joke?"
Angel shakes his head. "Nope."
"But..It's impossible.."
"My reaction exactly." The grandsire replies.
"Would somebody *please* tell me what the hell is going on here?!" Buffy interrupts.
"Here here!" Xander calls. "I think that there's a few of us that have completely missed something."
I throw him a smile. "Well..this little man here.." I stop and look at Angel, who nods. I turn back to the others. "He's Angel's son."
A snort of laughter erupts from Buffy. "That's funny..really..it is. But, seriously, what's going on here?"
I glance towards the vampire in question, shrug, then turn back to Buffy. "I mean it. Darla came back here all pregnant like and not long after Angel ended up with a son."
"You know..you might wanna work on your phrasing." Angel says quietly, "There are a couple of words you're gonna have to learn..like SUBTLETY and TACT."
"Hey!" Cordelia argues, "I never used either and nobody complains about my conversational skills."
"That's because people like you and I are lost causes.." Anya chirps. "Isn't that right Xander?"
He's too busy looking at the kid in my arms. "Whatever.." He manages. Anya seems satisfied with his response and turns to Fred. The two start talking, clearly unfazed by the situation. I guess I didn't expect Anya to be surprised. I mean, the ex-vengeance demon has probably seen far stranger things than a Vampire with a son. And Fred..well, she knows the story, so it's not surprising that she isn't captivated either.
Spike, on the other hand, is still looking like a stunned mullet. He walks over to me and looks Connor over, his eyes gleaming in wonder. I can see Angel from the corner of my eye..and he doesn't trust Spike anywhere near the baby. But, because I'm the one holding the child, he seems okay just watching the interactions at the moment. Although, I can still hear his low growling.
"Angel.." Spike says, his eyes still glued to the little boy in my arms. "I thought us vampires couldn't..you know..Make these things."
"That's what I thought as well.." Angel replies, still obviously torn about allowing the younger vampire near his kid.
A look of terror crosses Spike's face and he glances at Buffy, who is sharing a similar look towards him. Both seem to have reached the same conclusion. "But we *can*?" Spike gulps. At the same time Buffy asks, "But you *can*?"
I wonder if anybody else has noticed their shared uneasiness. Tara seems to have. And Xander is also giving them a funny look. Angel knits his eyebrows together for a brief moment and responds, "Uh..well..his birth was foretold. He's part of a prophecy.." Angel sighs. "But I don't think there are any other cases of fertile vampires..so..no. We're not usually able to. I don't think I can again, either. I mean..I haven't exactly tried..but, I know that Connor's my only chance at having a child, y'know."
Spike looks back at the little boy. "Connor then is it?" He asks, extending his hand. "Spike. I'm your..er.." He stops and look to Angel. "Nancy boy? What would I be to the snack-pack..seein' as you and I are practically family?"
Angel's eyes widen at Spike's new term of affection. "You are *not* going to call my son 'Snack-Pack' again, got it? Otherwise you will be 'William- the pile of dust kept in an urn in the basement' to him."
"But the li'l tyke needs a nickname." Spike pleads playfully. He smiles at the baby in my arms and holds out his hand again. "Well then..whatever you want to be called, I am your.." He pauses and looks horrified. "Hang on! I'm basically his nephew!" He looks at Angel again. " 'Cos Dru's like your daughter..which makes her the snack's sister..and I'm like her son..so he's my uncle. That isn't right!"
Angel smiles. "Yeah..actually..you are pretty much Connor's nephew. Huh..never thought of it actually." He ponders for a second. "You know what? You're right. It is weird."
Unimpressed, Spike turns back to the youngster, "Well then..I am your nephew..but you can still call me *Uncle* Spike. Kay?" Connor giggles and grips onto his finger. Within those few seconds, I see a thousand emotions pass through Spike's eyes. No longer does he look like the type of guy that would be afraid of fatherhood. The incredibly clichéd, though adorable, image of Spike as an overjoyed daddy for Buffy's and his kids flutters into my head..(Know what? I have to curse myself for spending so much time reading fanfiction.) His eyes are suddenly full of hope and he smiles sadly. "You know.." He says to me. "I never thought of havin' kids..I died before I could really think about settlin' down like that. Always had a soft spot for 'em though. Never could stand to let Dru attack the little buggers."
I don't know what to say. I really don't. I just look into his eyes and nod sadly. Buffy has dropped back onto the couch. I look over at her while she finishes processing the information. When she shakes her head clear and looks around the room, her eyes land on Angel. To say the least, she doesn't look happy at all.
"You." She growls at him, "You left me so I could lead a normal life. I remember you *telling* me that you could *never* have kids and you didn't want to prevent *me* from having them. I remember you telling me that you wanted me to be with someone that could. But here you are..with a baby that is biologically yours..while I am *still* longing for that normal life you said I'd get!" He just stands there and takes her abuse, even though she isn't making any sense. I mean, how can she abuse him for things he had no control over?
I sigh and watch as she continues to throw barbs at him. "I mean..I'm happy for you..really I am. But it kills me to think you got your little miracle with Darla!" She hisses the name. "Especially when you were acting so irrationally! You could have unleashed hell on all of your friends..on the entire world! Yet, you got your soul back *and* you became a father! It isn't fair!"
"Buffy..I know.." He says softly. "I don't deserve him. I don't know why the PTBs gave him to me..but I couldn't live without him now. And Darla..she paid her price-"
Buffy looks unimpressed as she cuts him off. "Oh really?" She snaps. "So..she gave birth and then you told her never to see him again? Gave her a light slap on the wrists and-"
"She staked herself Buffy!" Angel yells unable to tolerate it any longer, "The woman did the one good and decent thing she could think of so that he could live! She wasn't evil while he was in her.She was a good person..with a soul and all.. and she couldn't bear the thought of becoming a demon again. There was so much emotional pain for her..And maybe one day you might actually try to understand!"
The slayer looks shocked, and kinda mortified. I think she just realised that Angel isn't all ga-ga over her anymore..and she can't get away with anything like she used to be able to. I ALMOST feel sorry for her..it must hurt to be confronted with this situation..but she kinda needed to be told the truth. And, as the catchphrase of today goes, 'The truth hurts'.
Angel's demeanour softens. "Look..I'm sorry. Once upon a time I would have given anything..bar my soul.. to have a child with you. And some part of me still would have rathered you be Connor's birth mother than Darla..but it had to be her for the prophecy..He wasn't technically born and.." he stops at the puzzled expression on her face. "Okay..I'll explain everything we know properly, okay? All of it. But there's one thing you have to remember..As much as I hated myself for that night with her..I'll never regret it. You understand why, right?" Buffy nods and he takes a seat. "Okay.." He looks around at the group. "Where should I start?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You know..I really am happy for Angel." Buffy tells me as we walk through the streets of downtown LA. I volunteered to patrol with her. No..I'm not crazy. I just thought that we should set some things straight between us. "I mean.." She continues, "He has this beautiful little boy and he's happy..in a non-soul-threatening kinda way. I'm just.."
"Jealous?" I finish for her, exercising extreme caution. (I may be ditzy at times, but I'm not stupid! Ticking off a slayer, an emotionally screwed one at that, is not exactly a smart move, and I don't intend to get killed any time soon.)
She nods. "A little..okay..a lot actually."
I look down at the ground, calculating my reply. "I know. I mean, the whole tragic love story that was you and him..It was painful just to sit back and watch glimpses. And then with him leaving you and all the other stuff that's happened..I understand. He gets to live the life you always dreamed of..kinda..and you're not in it." I stop and look at her. "That came out wrong."
"Nah.." She smiles, "I get it." She sits down on an old park bench and sighs. "My life..is far from great right now. I'm turning 22 in a couple of weeks and everything's a mess. And then I come to LA thinking that at Angel will be the same. But he's not. He's changed as well. He's moved on to a place in his life..unlife..that is so great, I can't help but be jealous."
"You know," I find myself responding. "I'm not going to lie. You aren't in the best place right now. But it will get better. Of course, knowing Joss' track record that might not be for a long, long time but-"
She looks confused. "Joss?"
I shake my head with a small smile. "The writer/creator of the shows. He likes to torture everyone.Like in, say, the musical episode I've heard so much about."
"Oh.." She nods, a little put out by the idea of her singing fiasco being a world-famous event.
I decide to get back to my point before she can say anything to throw me further off course. "But it will get better. Plus, this Spike thing," She blushes a little and I smile, "There are sooo many of us who've been wanting the two of you to hook up for ages. It's not a bad thing. Honest. He's not as awful as you think he is."
"Oh yeah," She responds sarcastically, "This coming from the Vampire obsessed fan."
"Hey!" I respond, knowing that she was only playing. "I can't help it if the characters are designed to be lady-killers..no pun intended."
She chuckles and looks at me, suddenly serious again. "Do you think I'll ever have a close to normal life?" She asks.
I smile at her. "You mean with a Connor-type of your own?" She nods slowly. "I hope so. I really do. Of course, that'll probably only happen if; a) SMG and Freddie start making babies sometime soon or b) Joss ends the show and leaves all the characters to finally get things right."
She looks puzzled, yet again. "Freddie?"
"Oh..right. I kinda forgot to mention your annoying actor persona in my reality." I chuckle. "Sarah Michelle Gellar is you so to speak. Big name. Lotsa movies up her sleeves. And Freddie Prinze Jr. is-"
"I know who that is." Buffy interrupts me.
"Well..he's SMG's fiancé." I reply casually.
Her eyes widen. "Really?" She asks, "Wow..That's..wow."
"Meh." I shrug. "He's not that great."
She looks at me in bewilderment. "What?" Then a tiny smile creeps onto her lips. "I get it..He doesn't play a vampire so-"
I roll my eyes. "Nope. Not it. I just don't find him appealing." She nods and I continue. "There's also the whole 'bad-mouthing' my home city issue as well." Once again she looks puzzled. I sigh and begin to explain. "See..he and Sarah were on the Gold Coast for a few months filming the Scooby-Doo movie..which also brings me to asking whether you still get movies that your Alternate Universe entities have been in, but I'll get to that later..Anyhow, they were on the Coast for ages filming and seemed to really enjoy it, if you actually believe all those cheesy interviews they did and such, and that's even where they got engaged..but the second they were back in the US, all these nasty comments about how pathetic Gold Coasters are and stuff like that from them appeared all over the place. So, long story short, they aren't exactly the most adored people in Australia at the moment." (1) I stop moving and chuckle. "But you can't exactly believe everything you read..so I'm kinda neutral on the issue. I just wasn't their biggest fan to begin with, so I tend to believe that they have snubbed the coast a bit and the media has blown it out of proportion a little."
"Makes sense." Buffy replies. "Wait..you weren't their biggest fan? I should feel insulted for that..I mean, if she's me..then you didn't really like the way she played me.meaning you didn't really like me..if that made any sense."
I laugh. "It didn't. There's a difference between cheesy actresses and the characters they portray. Like, for example, the characters might actually use their brains from time to time." I give her a wry grin. "Joking..kinda. Anyhow, it is possible to think a character is great without caring about the actress." (Except Buffy really isn't one of my favourite characters and I kinda wanted her to stay dead each time she died.. but I leave that piece of trivia out of the discussion. See my previous thoughts about pissing off a slayer as to *why*.)
Now she laughs and rolls her eyes playfully. "Forget I asked.."
I chuckle once more and we fall into a comfortable silence. We continue to walk silently down the streets of downtown LA, pausing every so often to look in a shop window or check out a potential demon-slash- vamp-slash-not very nice thing. After a couple of minutes Buffy stops and looks around.
"You sensing that?" She asks.
I nod slowly, my own heightened senses picking up on something (or someone) behind us. Turning slightly I raise my voice. "Come out, come out, wherever you are.." I look to Buffy and shrug with a smile. "Thought I'd give it a shot. You never know what my chances are in TV land."
She chuckles and shakes her head. "Okay..well..Seeing as it didn't work, hows about we try doing this my way?"
"Yeah.." I grin. "I'm thinking that might be a good idea."
Together we stalk towards the alleyway where our stalker is so obviously hiding. (I'm not even gonna start on how big and uber-predictable this cliché is..) When we reach the entrance we find 3 vamps waiting for us. (Do I need to say anything? I think not.)
Buffy's the first to attack, lunging forward and sending a flying kick to the first vampire's chest. He stumbles back and growls. He's about to say something when I hold up my hands in the classic 'time-out' signal.
"Whoa!" I instruct, truly frustrated. "If the words 'Slayer, prepare to meet thy death' or something like that are about to come out of your mouth- don't. We all get that you are evil and therefore have a right to try to destroy the good guy, in this case the slayer, so save it. I've had enough of stereotypical bad-guy speak for one life-time, thank you very much."
He looks a little puzzled, much like Buffy did before (I seem to have that effect on people, don't I?), and turns to the slayer. "Is this chick for real?" He questions.
We both nod. Buffy decides to add, "Yeah..she's a little cranky right now. I would be too if I were ripped from my home dimension and thrown into a completely different one with a nifty set of magickal powers that I'm only just learning to control."
He looks at me a little uneasily. (How neat is THAT?) "Only Just?"
"Yeah." I smile evilly, "I keep blowing things up by accident.." Okay..so I lied a little..maybe stole a bit more from Charmed, but seeing as the show isn't exactly the best and I'm lying too a bad guy, it doesn't matter. I grin and watch as he and his two cohorts stumble backwards to avoid me. I look at Buffy and wink, "Maybe I should show them 'cos they probably don't believe me."
She nods eagerly, "Oh..yeah..I just hope you can control it this time.I mean, what you did to those last few vamps looked way too painful.." She turns back towards the 3, now almost cowering, vamps. "What do you say guys?"
"Oh..no..its fine. Really. We believe you. Don't we fellas?" The main one answers quickly. The other two nod in unanimous agreement. "In fact.." The main guy speaks up again, "We might just call it a night.Catch up with you later, slayer? Continue our little fight another time?"
"Ummm." Buffy responds. "How about..No?" And then she lunges forward and stakes the first before he can respond. The other two cower back towards the wall until they are pressed up against it and, for lack of a better phrase, trapped.
"Slayer.." The vamp to her right chuckles nervously as she advances on them.
"Vampire." She replies.
He looks for an escape route. "I don't suppose you were planning on just staking him-" he points to the dust particles at his feet "- and letting us go." He finishes optimistically. She shakes her head. He slumps his shoulders in defeat. "I didn't think so."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey!" Fred exclaims, running to greet us when we walk back into the hotel. "Did ya enjoy patrollin' with the Slayer?" She asks me. Before I can reply she's asking, "Did ya stake many vamps? I hope ya didn't get hurt.Oh gosh..did ya get hurt?"
I chuckle. "Uh..yes, no and no."
"Good." She beams.
Buffy looks around the now desolate lobby. "Hey," she starts, "Where'd everybody go?"
"Oh, right." Fred replies in her cheery manner. "Well, lets see..Cordelia, Willow, Tara, Dawn and Anya went to Cordelia's apartment to see where she lives and what it's like.umm.Angel and Charles went to kill some demon, Wes went to meet another client, Lorne and Xander went to get snacks while me and William are-"
Buffy raises and eyebrow. "William?"
"Did I get his name wrong or somethin'?" Fred responds.
Buffy half giggles. "No.Its just kinda strange to hear Spike being called by his real name, that's all."
"Oh." Fred smiles again. "Okay."
"So what are you and Spike up to?" I find myself asking.
"We're lookin' after the baby." She responds
I laugh. "What?!" I exclaim incredulously. "Let me get this straight. *Angel* let *Spike* look after Connor? What the hell did I miss?"
"Oh..no..he wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea." She explains as she and I follow Buffy into the kitchen. "So I told him I'd stay as well. Not that it made much difference to him, but I told him I would anyway."
"I'm sure he was grateful for it." I say. "Knowing how much he doesn't get along with his grandchilde, it's probably a good thing for everyone if Spike stayed here anyway.."
Buffy, who's currently got a mouthful of ice-cream, nods away happily making muffled 'uh huh' noises to show her agreement. I laugh and look at Fred again. "So..he's upstairs with the kid then?" She nods and I smile. "Okay..Well, I might go and see how they're both going." With a smirk I ask, "How do you think he'd take it if I just orbed in unexpectedly?"
She shakes her head. "I don't think that's such a good idea..I mean, you don't exactly have the best of luck when it comes to teleporting around vampires and-"
"Oh so you're in on the joke as well?" I cut her off and ask with a grin. She smiles and I roll my eyes. "Forget I even asked."
As I walk out the kitchen door she calls after me, "So you're takin' the stairs then?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Knock knock." I say quietly, tapping on the door to Angel's room and leaning in. Spike looks up from his seat across the room and smiles. "Can I come in?" I ask.
"Sure pet." He replies quietly, "Mind you don't wake The Snack." He motions towards the crib where Connor is sleeping peacefully. "Took forever to get him to sleep."
I smile and take a seat on the corner of Angel's bed. "Yeah.I've been told he can be a real handful sometimes." I look back over at the peroxided vampire and tilt my head to the side, just observing him.
He's looking back at the crib, but grins. "What?" He asks me quietly.
"Nothing." I reply. He rolls his eyes in my direction and raises an eyebrow in disbelief. "Fine." I sigh. "I was just thinkin'."
Another grin. "Of?" He prods.
"You." I admit. I've got his attention now. He swivels to really look at me, that trademark smirk on his face. I roll my eyes playfully. "Not like that." (Although my goofy smile may tell otherwise.)
"Then?"
I look into his gorgeous blue eyes and lose my smile, trying to show him I'm serious. "Before..when you said you never thought about having kids..you looked so sad. And now..just watching you sit there and look after Connor..It's just so different to the Spike you used to be."
He tries to scowl. "Hey," He protests. "I am *still* the big bad and-"
"Spike." I warn.
He smirks somewhat sadly and looks at the crib again. After a while, he states, "Buffy didn't seem too impressed about all this."
"I know, but it was to be expected. I mean, her past with Angel was complicated, and even though she's better off without him-"
Again he swivels to look at me. "What?" He asks incredulously. "Did you just say that it's a good thing Peaches and her are over?"
I nod. "Yup." At his look of extreme curiosity, I add, "She's got someone that loves her very much in her life right now, and even if she doesn't wanna accept it, she has the opportunity to be happier than ever with this particular blonde vampire. And Angel? Well..Let's just say that he has the chance to have something great as well."
At this, Spike laughs. "The cheerleader, isn't it?"
"I'm not saying anything else that could affect the plot."
Spike nods knowingly and smiles a rare, non-smirking, grateful smile. "Thank you." He murmurs. "You're one of the good ones, luv."
I smile back at him. "You're welcome. And, woohoo! Spike called me 'luv'!" I respond, careful not to wake the baby. "Now, I am officially in paradise."
Oh crap. I had to say that, didn't I? Of course I did.
Wait for it.
3
2
1
The baby starts to whimper and then bursts into a full on wail. Spike moves over and lifts him into his arms. Connor's cries soften, but not by much. We try pulling faces and humiliating ourselves for him, but to no avail.
I look up at Spike and chuckle. "You actually *want* one of these things?"
"Yeah..Can't say I don't." He responds.
"Well..Don't suppose you know where the volume control is?"
He chuckles. "No pet. Sorry to say it."
"What about the off switch?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I don't wanna go!" I cry, throwing my arms around Gunn's neck.
"Girl," He replies, hugging me back. "You know you gotta."
See, Today's the day. I gotta go home for real. No more putting it all off. Wes told me how I can get back, but he's uncertain whether it will definitely work. He thinks there might be something we've missed, but he's not sure. I guess I'll have to wait and see. Anyhow, the Scoobies are going back today as well, so it's goodbyes all round.
We spent a week together, just bonding. Angel is learning to accept Spike's change in personality, although he never found about the whole Buffy/Spike thing. I think it's best he doesn't for a while. Buffy spent a bit of time just talking with the AI members, and things between her and Angel are getting less tense. Fred and Willow are so alike in personality that it's scary, and Anya and Lorne really hit it off. Wes and Gunn accepted Xander and Spike almost instantly, which was a bonus as well. Meanwhile, Dawn and I have been doing the typical teenager things like shopping, eyeing off cute guys on the street and just gossipping. (I *did* talk to her about the Klepto thing, but I don't know if I got through her dense head..)
All I can think of is how weird it's gonna be when I have to watch these guys on the TV. I mean, I have a deeper understanding of their characters now, and I've gotten a little attached to a couple of them as well.
It's going to be strange back in the real world in general, though. Wesley reckons my powers will still be intact, but I might have a little trouble re-harnessing them or whatever. But, aside from them, *I've* changed a lot. I still love my black clothes and stuff, but I think I'm a little more open and outrageous than before. (And I have Gunn, Spike and Xander to blame for that.) I'm a bit more of a 'people person' as well. Which might scare Sarz and my other close friends a little.
Then there's the issue of what Nic has done while posing as me. She could have created an entire new image for me or something. Wesley thinks that I'll be able to remember most of the details of her act as me anyway 'cos we share that cosmic bond and all. I can only hope he's right.
I find myself pulling away from Gunn and moving on to the next person in line. This is how it goes for a while. Me hugging and crying, saying how much I'll miss them and what-not. That is, until I get to Spike.
"Hey," I say, standing in front of him. "I guess this is it."
"Yeah," he nods, "I guess it is."
"I'm gonna miss you a lot, you know that, don't ya?" I add, starting to move forward a little.
"I should bloody well hope so."
I chuckle and wrap my arms around him slowly, savouring the moment. "I don't wanna let go now." I whisper.
He smirks and pulls away. "Listen Peaches Jr, you're gonna have to get goin' and I don't particularly fancy getting' all mopey 'cos that's not my style. So instead, I'm gonna give you a little somethin' else to remember me by."
Now I'm intrigued. "But I'm gonna remember you anyway. You're one of my favourite characters, on one of my favourite shows, remember?"
He nods and leans forward. "That I do, luv. But I figured you might want somethin' more."
"Like?" I smile, genuinely curious now.
He presses his lips to my forehead gently. "Like that."
I try not to blush. Spike just kissed me. On the forehead, yes, but it was a kiss..from *Spike*. Beaming up at him, I throw my arms around his neck again and squeeze him tightly. "Thanks," I whisper into his ear. "Buffy's lucky to have you. She's just gonna take a while trying to see it."
Nodding, he hugs me back and replies, "I'm immortal. I can wait."
I move on to Angel, who looks a little dejected. "Spike took my idea." He whines playfully.
I roll my eyes and realise they're tearing up again. "I'm gonna miss you so much." I say finally, hugging him.
As we pull apart, he kisses me on the cheek and smiles. "Okay, so it wasn't original. Sue me."
I chuckle and allow my eyes to go wide and excited, "Can I get Lindsey to represent me? I liked him." Angel looks mortified and I burst into hysterics. "I was kidding. I'd never sue you."
"What about the whole liking my mortal enemy bit?" Angel queries.
A shrug and spy Connor's bassinette. "Oh look, I haven't said goodbye to Connor yet." I exclaim, bending down and lifting the baby into my arms.
"Angel." The broody one with my name warns. "You didn't answer my question." I smirk at him and he shakes his head. "Never mind."
Kissing Connor on the forehead, I tell the baby to be a good boy for his daddy, then hand him over to the vamp in question. I whisper to Angel, telling him to open up to Cordy about his feelings, then raise my voice again before he can reply. "Be good. Both of you." I instruct, taking one last look at Connor and pecking Angel on the cheek, then turning to walk into the circle drawn on the floor.
I wave at the group assembled in the lobby. "I love you guys." I wave.
They wave back, while Wesley and Tara mutter a few words in Latin. (Tara decided to do it instead of Will 'cos of all the issues they've got involving magick.) An almost undetectable flash of light speeds past and when I look around I'm in the middle of Pac. Fair with Sarz and two guys I don't know (though one of them looks vaguely familiar..)
Then, like a wave rushing over me, Nic's memories of 'my' past few months flood back. I recognise one of the guys as my boyfriend..although there's something else about him.. and the other is a guy I'm apparently trying to set Sarz up with.
"Hey," my best friend says, nudging me in the arm. "You okay? You kinda zoned out there for a second."
"What? Oh..Yeah." I chuckle. "Sorry..I got lost in thought."
My boyfriend (God it's strange to think I've got one of those again) slinks his arm around me and smiles broadly. I tilt my head the side as I look up at him, studying his features. Then I realise where I've seen him before. "Damien?" I ask, unintentionally out loud.
He looks confused. "What? Who the hell is Damien?"
I chuckle, slightly relieved. "No..Nobody. I was just thinking if it was a good name for a character I'm thinking of introducing into one of my stories. I didn't mean to say it out loud."
"Oh..okay." He smiles and hugs me closer to him.
Trust Nicola to find her crazy, evil ex in this reality and then set me up with him! But, the funny thing is, he's really cute in this dimension. A little more buff, a sweet and non-evil smile, and his eyes are shining with laughter. It's like he's the complete opposite to his dead twin guy that tried to kill me a few months back.
Wait a second!
Suddenly it hits me that *months* have gone by in this reality, not just a couple of weeks. I've got memories of the past few *months* running through my brain, which means Ats and Btvs have been back on TV for a while..But I can't seem to remember watching them. I wonder if I've been brought back in time to see the episodes I haven't read spoilers for.
"Hey guys," I say, suddenly itching to go home, "I think I might call it a day."
Everyone stops and looks at their watches. One by one they agree it is getting a little late, and we eventually decide to head off. Michael, my boyfriend, drives me home and walks me to the door. He kisses me gently on the lips and says he'll see me later. I wave him off and walk inside, going straight to my computer and powering up the net.
I've gotta see what's been going on with my inter-dimensional extended family. I hope everyone's okay. I pause and think about the implications of that clichéd line, before realising that this is the *real* world and nothing *that* corny happens here.
I click the link to the spoiler site and wait for the page to load. My optimistic smile fades and my eyes widen in horror as I read.
"OH MY GOD!"
***********************
(1)- that's the truth unfortunately, but I've had my laughs at their expense. There was this really gorgeous article thing in the local paper on my birthday (17th June in case you're wondering.^_^) and it was soo sweet. I loved it. I might just have to type it up and show u guys 'cos it was really witty and I wanna share it. ^_^ Look out for it in either the sequel to this fic, or one of my other stories. ^_^
A/N- tada! The end! And a major thanks to everyone that ever reviewed or gave me feedback on it! I love you all. Now could you kindly leave a review, telling me whether you want the sequel or not? I wont write it if you don't. I don't think I could bother writing if I thought nobody would read it. ^_^
Anywho, over and out for now.
Lotsa luv,
Insane1
PS- I realise that some of the scenes seemed unnecessary and REALLY corny, but they are vital for the sequel if it ends up being written. Byes again.
"Not the fun hell where they chain you up and burn you with hot pokers for all of eternity.but the hardcore one. You know..Nixon and Britney Spears." - Angel, Sleep Tight. (LOVED that line! See.It *completely* verifies my beliefs about the bitca..hehehe..sorry if you're a fan of hers..I'm just *really* not..^_^ )
Now, After this chapter everyone will have to review and tell me whether you want to read on or not. If not..well..I wont continue and my idea/plan will go to waste. Simple as that. On a happier note, Big Thanks for following me on this one. You're all really great.
Lets hope you actually understood what I was talking about..and on with the show.
PS- This one's pretty long..when typed in size 12 'Times New Roman' font in Word it takes up around 17 pages..(just warning you) but I DO want feedback! I need feedback.
************************
Everybody has turned and is looking towards Angel in anticipation. I squeeze his hand supportively. He straightens up and takes another step into the centre of the room. And another. Then another. Until finally he has reached a position at which everybody can hear and see him clearly. I have let go of his hand, but am still offering him my support. I know that this has to be hard for him, but he has to do it.
I look over at Buffy, who is waiting patiently for Angel to continue. I give her a tiny smile, which she doesn't see. You see, her gaze is transfixed on the oldest vampire in the room and I know that she understands that what he is about to say must be important.
Angel's eyes dart towards mine and he falters. "Go on.." I practically mouth, whispering at a level that even the vampire might have trouble hearing. "Before they find out for themselves. You can do this." And I just did it again. I invited yet another hopeless cliché into the system. Lets just hope that one slips by..Oh crap..I did it again..that's it..I'm shutting up.
Though on the inside I am chastising myself, externally I keep my cool and smile. Angel nods and clears his throat. "It's a long story actually.." He begins. I shoot him a look that says 'Get it over and done with.' He nods and smiles the tiniest of smiles. "Okay..maybe not that long..It's just.." He's fidgeting. Not a good sign.
"Get on with it." Spike interrupts in his adorable, and kinda tactless, manner.
Angel scowls and tries again. He looks at Buffy, the apologetic gleam in his eyes already in deployment. Also not a good sign. I look over at her again and wonder if she can see it as well. Hopefully she can't..but then now that I've thought that..
I'm cut from my thoughts when she stands up, fully aware that something isn't right. "Angel.." She says, suspicion evident in her voice. "What's going on? Why are you looking at me like you've done something very, very wrong?"
He swallows and I can see him do a double take of his surroundings. I doubt that anybody else caught it..other than Buffy, Spike and myself. Maybe even Cordy..'cos, y'know, demon powers..
"Okay..Last year I went through this..er..phase, so to speak and I started to..uh..drift to the dark side." He says, stopping to gauge Buffy's reaction so far. She nods and he continues uneasily. "See..Wolfram And Hart..They're a bunch of evil lawyers..anyway..they brought something..or someone if you wanna get all technical.. back from the dead to torture me..try to make me become Angelus."
Again he stops to check for her reaction. She nods again..a little slower this time. Before he can continue she asks, "Okay..so its plain to see they didn't turn you..but how was bringing back some dead guy to torture you going to work in the first place?"
"That's the thing." He replies. "It wasn't a guy exactly-"
She gasps. "One of your female victims? That's-"
"Not exactly it either." He finishes for her. She looks a little puzzled, and he motions for her to sit back down. "I think it might be easier if you're sitting while I tell you everything."
That's when her look of confusion becomes one of extreme worry. But she doesn't complain or refute him. "Okay." She responds slowly, obeying and dropping back onto the couch.
He smiles gratefully for her co-operation and takes another unnecessary breath. "So Wolfram And Hart brought her back..only they brought her back human and-"
"Hold on a tic, Peaches." Spike cuts in. "You haven't exactly explained who the *her* of this soddin' fairytale is." I want to hit him. I mean I love the guy..I really do. But he knew about Darla's return. Because on Buffy in season 5 (I can't remember the name of the ep..was it Crush? Never mind..that's not the important part..) Dru came and tried to take him with her. She must have told him all about it..actually, I'm *sure* she did.
Instead of coming up with some witty reply as he usually would, Angel glances down at his feet nervously. "Darla." He murmurs.
Buffy's eyes widen in shock. "Pardon?" She asks, "I could have sworn you just said-"
Angel looks into his ex's eyes sadly. "I did."
Suddenly, Buffy's out of her seat once again. "They brought her back?" She hollers in disbelief. "They brought back the bitch that tried to drain my mom and frame you..not to mention kill us both?"
Angel nods again. "Unfortunately they did..But Buffy," He says, tentatively leading her back into her seat, "That's not the worst part."
"Then what is?" She queries.
"Well..they brought her back human. So she had a soul and wasn't evil." He tells her. Before she can say anything else he adds, "And she was dying. She had syphilitic cancer or something like that..and she was so helpless. They couldn't cure her. Wolfram And Hart brought her back to tempt me..to draw out Angelus one way or another. But their plan backfired and I went through all sorts of torture to get her another chance at life." Buffy looks horrified, but Angel continues, knowing that the hardest part is yet to come. "And when I survived the tests..I was told that because she was already granted her second chance..she couldn't be saved. When I told her she was completely crushed..and I was willing to turn her. I thought..I thought that maybe because I have a soul it might work differently."
"Ange.l." the slayer gasps, "You didn't.."
"No..God No. She wouldn't let me." A small reminiscent smile flashes across his face. "She really was a good person in soul. She was so.." He trails off and I can only imagine that he's remembering the night Connor was 'born'. Yeah..I heard about that. He's probably wondering what he's going to tell the boy when he gets older and starts asking all the adorable little kid type questions, as they do.
"Angel.." I prompt. "You were saying.."
"Right. I was..where was I?"
"Darla was a good person in soul. She was so.. And then you kinda gazed off into nothingness." Buffy says, first mimicking him and then sounding less than impressed.
Oh boy. He hasn't even *started*. How is she gonna take the rest of the story?
Angel clears his throat. "Yeah..she was determined to live out her human existence the way she was supposed to in the first place. We sat on the bed in the motel for hours just talking. I kept thinking that maybe..just maybe I could still help her. But she wouldn't hear of it. Then the lawyers from Wolfram and Hart burst in, held me down and made me watch as Dru turned her. When I wouldn't do it..they did it instead. I mean..they changed tactics in torturing me, but used the same person.." He gazes into nowhere again, only this time he looks so..angry. "So, then I came back here and I started to dwell on it.. a lot. Firstly, I tried to stop her from rising, but that didn't exactly turn out well..and I started to lose it. I mean, *really* lose it. I followed Darla and Dru around, and eventually locked them in a room full of the lawyers that made it all happen. Only two survived the attack." He looks ashamed at his actions, but keeps going. "So..when I came back here..and the guys cracked down on me for my actions..I kinda fired them."
This time a series of murmurs erupted throughout the lobby. I look around at the scooby members. I'm dying to add 'And it gets even more complicated.' But I bite my tongue.
When he's satisfied that everyone has comprehended that, he starts to fidget again. I give him another small smile to let him know its all going to be fine. He looks at me when he starts to tell them this part. After all..this is probably the second hardest part. "So..I kicked them all out and I ended up in a bad place in my unlife. I had no colleagues..no friends..I had allowed two vicious monsters to murder a lot of people.. and I could feel myself slipping. Then I came back one day and Darla was waiting for me. I wasn't in the mood for any of her games..so I threw her through a glass door..and then I.." He swallows. "We.." He makes strange motions with his hands.
Again I watch as Buffy's eyes widen with the realisation. She looks completely horrified. Spike smirks. (He's probably thinking he can score extra points with Buffy now that Angel isn't exactly a saint.) Dawn's jaw drops in shock and Xander has an 'I told you so' look on his face.
Angel looks a little ashamed, but continues to look at Buffy apologetically. "I wasn't exactly thinking.." She moves to speak but he cuts her off. "And I know that gives me no right..but..when I woke up..my soul was back in full force. It had been perfect." He gives her a lopsided smile when she goes to argue the 'soul clause' (hah..I punned.did ya get it? Sole.Soul? I punned..once again, not too well, but I still punned..Pity nobody actually heard it..) of his curse. "Perfect despair. Sleeping with Darla..it didn't make me happy..not in the soul department at any rate.."
This time it's me that's trying not to smirk. I can just remember the ep. of the morning after. I quoted it for ages. Trying to shake the (almost comical) scene from my head I tune into Buffy cutting Angel off.
"Okay..so you slept with Darla. That affects me how?" She questions coldly, giving Angel a stare that makes me think that if looks could stake, he'd be a big pile of dust.
"Well..that wasn't really the end of the whole situation." He sighs. "I told her to get out. That if I ever saw her again, I'd stake her. And she left. I didn't see her again..not for a good 9 months anyhow. See, she came back a few months ago and, well, she was..uh..different. I couldn't stake her..God knows I almost did..but then I heard it. The beating. I couldn't kill her. Not while she was like that.." He drifts off again, stopping his own rambling this time.
I'm waiting for everyone to put it all together. I mean, even if he doesn't finish it, they can work it out anyway. But they don't. Angel looks at me in exasperation..then I get an idea. "Angel.." I whisper carefully, as I walk up and pull him aside, "When was the last time you went upstairs to check on him?"
"I'd say about half an hour ago..maybe a little longer.." He replies, then narrows his eyes at me. "Why?"
"Because..I'm gonna go get him. I'm sure it might make this whole thing easier for you..you know..less with the stakeage if they meet the little cutie." I suggest. Angel goes to protest but I add, "They won't want to see him grow up fatherless.."
He nods and I hug him. "It'll be fine." I state. "I promise."
As I prepare to orb up, he grabs my arm. "You'll bring him back the normal way, right?" Angel asks. I want to laugh. I mean..its soo cute how he's all 'Protecto Man.'
"Sure." I reply.
He looks relieved. "Good."
"Uh..P..I mean, Angel." Spike says. Both of us turn. "You haven't exactly finished the tale.What happened when she came back?"
"Actually," I start before Angel gets a chance. "I'm just about to clear that up now." And then I concentrate on Angel's room and I'm gone before anybody can ask any more questions.
*
"Hey little guy." I coo, picking the baby up into my arms. "We're gonna go and be part of a nice, big awkward moment with your daddy, uncles and aunts and all their friends..not to mention your daddy's mostly annoying ex." I touch his nose with my index finger. "How do you like that idea?" He giggles and it makes me smile. I walk out into the hall. "Thought you would."
*
As I walk into the lobby, every single pair of eyes are on me. The fang gang people and Willow are all smiling at the little tyke. Angel is obviously itching to take his son into his arms, but he just watches me anyway, this goofy grin plastered onto his face. The scoobies, on the other hand, are somewhere between confused and shocked.
I give them a few seconds to process it all. Spike is the first to put it all together. He looks bewildered. I watch as his blue gaze shifts from Connor, to Angel, then back to Connor. He looks at me, his eyes burning with the obvious question. I give him a tiny smile and a nod.
"Bloody hell!" He exclaims. "That's bleedin' impossible, that is!" He looks at Angel. "Is this a joke?"
Angel shakes his head. "Nope."
"But..It's impossible.."
"My reaction exactly." The grandsire replies.
"Would somebody *please* tell me what the hell is going on here?!" Buffy interrupts.
"Here here!" Xander calls. "I think that there's a few of us that have completely missed something."
I throw him a smile. "Well..this little man here.." I stop and look at Angel, who nods. I turn back to the others. "He's Angel's son."
A snort of laughter erupts from Buffy. "That's funny..really..it is. But, seriously, what's going on here?"
I glance towards the vampire in question, shrug, then turn back to Buffy. "I mean it. Darla came back here all pregnant like and not long after Angel ended up with a son."
"You know..you might wanna work on your phrasing." Angel says quietly, "There are a couple of words you're gonna have to learn..like SUBTLETY and TACT."
"Hey!" Cordelia argues, "I never used either and nobody complains about my conversational skills."
"That's because people like you and I are lost causes.." Anya chirps. "Isn't that right Xander?"
He's too busy looking at the kid in my arms. "Whatever.." He manages. Anya seems satisfied with his response and turns to Fred. The two start talking, clearly unfazed by the situation. I guess I didn't expect Anya to be surprised. I mean, the ex-vengeance demon has probably seen far stranger things than a Vampire with a son. And Fred..well, she knows the story, so it's not surprising that she isn't captivated either.
Spike, on the other hand, is still looking like a stunned mullet. He walks over to me and looks Connor over, his eyes gleaming in wonder. I can see Angel from the corner of my eye..and he doesn't trust Spike anywhere near the baby. But, because I'm the one holding the child, he seems okay just watching the interactions at the moment. Although, I can still hear his low growling.
"Angel.." Spike says, his eyes still glued to the little boy in my arms. "I thought us vampires couldn't..you know..Make these things."
"That's what I thought as well.." Angel replies, still obviously torn about allowing the younger vampire near his kid.
A look of terror crosses Spike's face and he glances at Buffy, who is sharing a similar look towards him. Both seem to have reached the same conclusion. "But we *can*?" Spike gulps. At the same time Buffy asks, "But you *can*?"
I wonder if anybody else has noticed their shared uneasiness. Tara seems to have. And Xander is also giving them a funny look. Angel knits his eyebrows together for a brief moment and responds, "Uh..well..his birth was foretold. He's part of a prophecy.." Angel sighs. "But I don't think there are any other cases of fertile vampires..so..no. We're not usually able to. I don't think I can again, either. I mean..I haven't exactly tried..but, I know that Connor's my only chance at having a child, y'know."
Spike looks back at the little boy. "Connor then is it?" He asks, extending his hand. "Spike. I'm your..er.." He stops and look to Angel. "Nancy boy? What would I be to the snack-pack..seein' as you and I are practically family?"
Angel's eyes widen at Spike's new term of affection. "You are *not* going to call my son 'Snack-Pack' again, got it? Otherwise you will be 'William- the pile of dust kept in an urn in the basement' to him."
"But the li'l tyke needs a nickname." Spike pleads playfully. He smiles at the baby in my arms and holds out his hand again. "Well then..whatever you want to be called, I am your.." He pauses and looks horrified. "Hang on! I'm basically his nephew!" He looks at Angel again. " 'Cos Dru's like your daughter..which makes her the snack's sister..and I'm like her son..so he's my uncle. That isn't right!"
Angel smiles. "Yeah..actually..you are pretty much Connor's nephew. Huh..never thought of it actually." He ponders for a second. "You know what? You're right. It is weird."
Unimpressed, Spike turns back to the youngster, "Well then..I am your nephew..but you can still call me *Uncle* Spike. Kay?" Connor giggles and grips onto his finger. Within those few seconds, I see a thousand emotions pass through Spike's eyes. No longer does he look like the type of guy that would be afraid of fatherhood. The incredibly clichéd, though adorable, image of Spike as an overjoyed daddy for Buffy's and his kids flutters into my head..(Know what? I have to curse myself for spending so much time reading fanfiction.) His eyes are suddenly full of hope and he smiles sadly. "You know.." He says to me. "I never thought of havin' kids..I died before I could really think about settlin' down like that. Always had a soft spot for 'em though. Never could stand to let Dru attack the little buggers."
I don't know what to say. I really don't. I just look into his eyes and nod sadly. Buffy has dropped back onto the couch. I look over at her while she finishes processing the information. When she shakes her head clear and looks around the room, her eyes land on Angel. To say the least, she doesn't look happy at all.
"You." She growls at him, "You left me so I could lead a normal life. I remember you *telling* me that you could *never* have kids and you didn't want to prevent *me* from having them. I remember you telling me that you wanted me to be with someone that could. But here you are..with a baby that is biologically yours..while I am *still* longing for that normal life you said I'd get!" He just stands there and takes her abuse, even though she isn't making any sense. I mean, how can she abuse him for things he had no control over?
I sigh and watch as she continues to throw barbs at him. "I mean..I'm happy for you..really I am. But it kills me to think you got your little miracle with Darla!" She hisses the name. "Especially when you were acting so irrationally! You could have unleashed hell on all of your friends..on the entire world! Yet, you got your soul back *and* you became a father! It isn't fair!"
"Buffy..I know.." He says softly. "I don't deserve him. I don't know why the PTBs gave him to me..but I couldn't live without him now. And Darla..she paid her price-"
Buffy looks unimpressed as she cuts him off. "Oh really?" She snaps. "So..she gave birth and then you told her never to see him again? Gave her a light slap on the wrists and-"
"She staked herself Buffy!" Angel yells unable to tolerate it any longer, "The woman did the one good and decent thing she could think of so that he could live! She wasn't evil while he was in her.She was a good person..with a soul and all.. and she couldn't bear the thought of becoming a demon again. There was so much emotional pain for her..And maybe one day you might actually try to understand!"
The slayer looks shocked, and kinda mortified. I think she just realised that Angel isn't all ga-ga over her anymore..and she can't get away with anything like she used to be able to. I ALMOST feel sorry for her..it must hurt to be confronted with this situation..but she kinda needed to be told the truth. And, as the catchphrase of today goes, 'The truth hurts'.
Angel's demeanour softens. "Look..I'm sorry. Once upon a time I would have given anything..bar my soul.. to have a child with you. And some part of me still would have rathered you be Connor's birth mother than Darla..but it had to be her for the prophecy..He wasn't technically born and.." he stops at the puzzled expression on her face. "Okay..I'll explain everything we know properly, okay? All of it. But there's one thing you have to remember..As much as I hated myself for that night with her..I'll never regret it. You understand why, right?" Buffy nods and he takes a seat. "Okay.." He looks around at the group. "Where should I start?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"You know..I really am happy for Angel." Buffy tells me as we walk through the streets of downtown LA. I volunteered to patrol with her. No..I'm not crazy. I just thought that we should set some things straight between us. "I mean.." She continues, "He has this beautiful little boy and he's happy..in a non-soul-threatening kinda way. I'm just.."
"Jealous?" I finish for her, exercising extreme caution. (I may be ditzy at times, but I'm not stupid! Ticking off a slayer, an emotionally screwed one at that, is not exactly a smart move, and I don't intend to get killed any time soon.)
She nods. "A little..okay..a lot actually."
I look down at the ground, calculating my reply. "I know. I mean, the whole tragic love story that was you and him..It was painful just to sit back and watch glimpses. And then with him leaving you and all the other stuff that's happened..I understand. He gets to live the life you always dreamed of..kinda..and you're not in it." I stop and look at her. "That came out wrong."
"Nah.." She smiles, "I get it." She sits down on an old park bench and sighs. "My life..is far from great right now. I'm turning 22 in a couple of weeks and everything's a mess. And then I come to LA thinking that at Angel will be the same. But he's not. He's changed as well. He's moved on to a place in his life..unlife..that is so great, I can't help but be jealous."
"You know," I find myself responding. "I'm not going to lie. You aren't in the best place right now. But it will get better. Of course, knowing Joss' track record that might not be for a long, long time but-"
She looks confused. "Joss?"
I shake my head with a small smile. "The writer/creator of the shows. He likes to torture everyone.Like in, say, the musical episode I've heard so much about."
"Oh.." She nods, a little put out by the idea of her singing fiasco being a world-famous event.
I decide to get back to my point before she can say anything to throw me further off course. "But it will get better. Plus, this Spike thing," She blushes a little and I smile, "There are sooo many of us who've been wanting the two of you to hook up for ages. It's not a bad thing. Honest. He's not as awful as you think he is."
"Oh yeah," She responds sarcastically, "This coming from the Vampire obsessed fan."
"Hey!" I respond, knowing that she was only playing. "I can't help it if the characters are designed to be lady-killers..no pun intended."
She chuckles and looks at me, suddenly serious again. "Do you think I'll ever have a close to normal life?" She asks.
I smile at her. "You mean with a Connor-type of your own?" She nods slowly. "I hope so. I really do. Of course, that'll probably only happen if; a) SMG and Freddie start making babies sometime soon or b) Joss ends the show and leaves all the characters to finally get things right."
She looks puzzled, yet again. "Freddie?"
"Oh..right. I kinda forgot to mention your annoying actor persona in my reality." I chuckle. "Sarah Michelle Gellar is you so to speak. Big name. Lotsa movies up her sleeves. And Freddie Prinze Jr. is-"
"I know who that is." Buffy interrupts me.
"Well..he's SMG's fiancé." I reply casually.
Her eyes widen. "Really?" She asks, "Wow..That's..wow."
"Meh." I shrug. "He's not that great."
She looks at me in bewilderment. "What?" Then a tiny smile creeps onto her lips. "I get it..He doesn't play a vampire so-"
I roll my eyes. "Nope. Not it. I just don't find him appealing." She nods and I continue. "There's also the whole 'bad-mouthing' my home city issue as well." Once again she looks puzzled. I sigh and begin to explain. "See..he and Sarah were on the Gold Coast for a few months filming the Scooby-Doo movie..which also brings me to asking whether you still get movies that your Alternate Universe entities have been in, but I'll get to that later..Anyhow, they were on the Coast for ages filming and seemed to really enjoy it, if you actually believe all those cheesy interviews they did and such, and that's even where they got engaged..but the second they were back in the US, all these nasty comments about how pathetic Gold Coasters are and stuff like that from them appeared all over the place. So, long story short, they aren't exactly the most adored people in Australia at the moment." (1) I stop moving and chuckle. "But you can't exactly believe everything you read..so I'm kinda neutral on the issue. I just wasn't their biggest fan to begin with, so I tend to believe that they have snubbed the coast a bit and the media has blown it out of proportion a little."
"Makes sense." Buffy replies. "Wait..you weren't their biggest fan? I should feel insulted for that..I mean, if she's me..then you didn't really like the way she played me.meaning you didn't really like me..if that made any sense."
I laugh. "It didn't. There's a difference between cheesy actresses and the characters they portray. Like, for example, the characters might actually use their brains from time to time." I give her a wry grin. "Joking..kinda. Anyhow, it is possible to think a character is great without caring about the actress." (Except Buffy really isn't one of my favourite characters and I kinda wanted her to stay dead each time she died.. but I leave that piece of trivia out of the discussion. See my previous thoughts about pissing off a slayer as to *why*.)
Now she laughs and rolls her eyes playfully. "Forget I asked.."
I chuckle once more and we fall into a comfortable silence. We continue to walk silently down the streets of downtown LA, pausing every so often to look in a shop window or check out a potential demon-slash- vamp-slash-not very nice thing. After a couple of minutes Buffy stops and looks around.
"You sensing that?" She asks.
I nod slowly, my own heightened senses picking up on something (or someone) behind us. Turning slightly I raise my voice. "Come out, come out, wherever you are.." I look to Buffy and shrug with a smile. "Thought I'd give it a shot. You never know what my chances are in TV land."
She chuckles and shakes her head. "Okay..well..Seeing as it didn't work, hows about we try doing this my way?"
"Yeah.." I grin. "I'm thinking that might be a good idea."
Together we stalk towards the alleyway where our stalker is so obviously hiding. (I'm not even gonna start on how big and uber-predictable this cliché is..) When we reach the entrance we find 3 vamps waiting for us. (Do I need to say anything? I think not.)
Buffy's the first to attack, lunging forward and sending a flying kick to the first vampire's chest. He stumbles back and growls. He's about to say something when I hold up my hands in the classic 'time-out' signal.
"Whoa!" I instruct, truly frustrated. "If the words 'Slayer, prepare to meet thy death' or something like that are about to come out of your mouth- don't. We all get that you are evil and therefore have a right to try to destroy the good guy, in this case the slayer, so save it. I've had enough of stereotypical bad-guy speak for one life-time, thank you very much."
He looks a little puzzled, much like Buffy did before (I seem to have that effect on people, don't I?), and turns to the slayer. "Is this chick for real?" He questions.
We both nod. Buffy decides to add, "Yeah..she's a little cranky right now. I would be too if I were ripped from my home dimension and thrown into a completely different one with a nifty set of magickal powers that I'm only just learning to control."
He looks at me a little uneasily. (How neat is THAT?) "Only Just?"
"Yeah." I smile evilly, "I keep blowing things up by accident.." Okay..so I lied a little..maybe stole a bit more from Charmed, but seeing as the show isn't exactly the best and I'm lying too a bad guy, it doesn't matter. I grin and watch as he and his two cohorts stumble backwards to avoid me. I look at Buffy and wink, "Maybe I should show them 'cos they probably don't believe me."
She nods eagerly, "Oh..yeah..I just hope you can control it this time.I mean, what you did to those last few vamps looked way too painful.." She turns back towards the 3, now almost cowering, vamps. "What do you say guys?"
"Oh..no..its fine. Really. We believe you. Don't we fellas?" The main one answers quickly. The other two nod in unanimous agreement. "In fact.." The main guy speaks up again, "We might just call it a night.Catch up with you later, slayer? Continue our little fight another time?"
"Ummm." Buffy responds. "How about..No?" And then she lunges forward and stakes the first before he can respond. The other two cower back towards the wall until they are pressed up against it and, for lack of a better phrase, trapped.
"Slayer.." The vamp to her right chuckles nervously as she advances on them.
"Vampire." She replies.
He looks for an escape route. "I don't suppose you were planning on just staking him-" he points to the dust particles at his feet "- and letting us go." He finishes optimistically. She shakes her head. He slumps his shoulders in defeat. "I didn't think so."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey!" Fred exclaims, running to greet us when we walk back into the hotel. "Did ya enjoy patrollin' with the Slayer?" She asks me. Before I can reply she's asking, "Did ya stake many vamps? I hope ya didn't get hurt.Oh gosh..did ya get hurt?"
I chuckle. "Uh..yes, no and no."
"Good." She beams.
Buffy looks around the now desolate lobby. "Hey," she starts, "Where'd everybody go?"
"Oh, right." Fred replies in her cheery manner. "Well, lets see..Cordelia, Willow, Tara, Dawn and Anya went to Cordelia's apartment to see where she lives and what it's like.umm.Angel and Charles went to kill some demon, Wes went to meet another client, Lorne and Xander went to get snacks while me and William are-"
Buffy raises and eyebrow. "William?"
"Did I get his name wrong or somethin'?" Fred responds.
Buffy half giggles. "No.Its just kinda strange to hear Spike being called by his real name, that's all."
"Oh." Fred smiles again. "Okay."
"So what are you and Spike up to?" I find myself asking.
"We're lookin' after the baby." She responds
I laugh. "What?!" I exclaim incredulously. "Let me get this straight. *Angel* let *Spike* look after Connor? What the hell did I miss?"
"Oh..no..he wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea." She explains as she and I follow Buffy into the kitchen. "So I told him I'd stay as well. Not that it made much difference to him, but I told him I would anyway."
"I'm sure he was grateful for it." I say. "Knowing how much he doesn't get along with his grandchilde, it's probably a good thing for everyone if Spike stayed here anyway.."
Buffy, who's currently got a mouthful of ice-cream, nods away happily making muffled 'uh huh' noises to show her agreement. I laugh and look at Fred again. "So..he's upstairs with the kid then?" She nods and I smile. "Okay..Well, I might go and see how they're both going." With a smirk I ask, "How do you think he'd take it if I just orbed in unexpectedly?"
She shakes her head. "I don't think that's such a good idea..I mean, you don't exactly have the best of luck when it comes to teleporting around vampires and-"
"Oh so you're in on the joke as well?" I cut her off and ask with a grin. She smiles and I roll my eyes. "Forget I even asked."
As I walk out the kitchen door she calls after me, "So you're takin' the stairs then?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Knock knock." I say quietly, tapping on the door to Angel's room and leaning in. Spike looks up from his seat across the room and smiles. "Can I come in?" I ask.
"Sure pet." He replies quietly, "Mind you don't wake The Snack." He motions towards the crib where Connor is sleeping peacefully. "Took forever to get him to sleep."
I smile and take a seat on the corner of Angel's bed. "Yeah.I've been told he can be a real handful sometimes." I look back over at the peroxided vampire and tilt my head to the side, just observing him.
He's looking back at the crib, but grins. "What?" He asks me quietly.
"Nothing." I reply. He rolls his eyes in my direction and raises an eyebrow in disbelief. "Fine." I sigh. "I was just thinkin'."
Another grin. "Of?" He prods.
"You." I admit. I've got his attention now. He swivels to really look at me, that trademark smirk on his face. I roll my eyes playfully. "Not like that." (Although my goofy smile may tell otherwise.)
"Then?"
I look into his gorgeous blue eyes and lose my smile, trying to show him I'm serious. "Before..when you said you never thought about having kids..you looked so sad. And now..just watching you sit there and look after Connor..It's just so different to the Spike you used to be."
He tries to scowl. "Hey," He protests. "I am *still* the big bad and-"
"Spike." I warn.
He smirks somewhat sadly and looks at the crib again. After a while, he states, "Buffy didn't seem too impressed about all this."
"I know, but it was to be expected. I mean, her past with Angel was complicated, and even though she's better off without him-"
Again he swivels to look at me. "What?" He asks incredulously. "Did you just say that it's a good thing Peaches and her are over?"
I nod. "Yup." At his look of extreme curiosity, I add, "She's got someone that loves her very much in her life right now, and even if she doesn't wanna accept it, she has the opportunity to be happier than ever with this particular blonde vampire. And Angel? Well..Let's just say that he has the chance to have something great as well."
At this, Spike laughs. "The cheerleader, isn't it?"
"I'm not saying anything else that could affect the plot."
Spike nods knowingly and smiles a rare, non-smirking, grateful smile. "Thank you." He murmurs. "You're one of the good ones, luv."
I smile back at him. "You're welcome. And, woohoo! Spike called me 'luv'!" I respond, careful not to wake the baby. "Now, I am officially in paradise."
Oh crap. I had to say that, didn't I? Of course I did.
Wait for it.
3
2
1
The baby starts to whimper and then bursts into a full on wail. Spike moves over and lifts him into his arms. Connor's cries soften, but not by much. We try pulling faces and humiliating ourselves for him, but to no avail.
I look up at Spike and chuckle. "You actually *want* one of these things?"
"Yeah..Can't say I don't." He responds.
"Well..Don't suppose you know where the volume control is?"
He chuckles. "No pet. Sorry to say it."
"What about the off switch?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I don't wanna go!" I cry, throwing my arms around Gunn's neck.
"Girl," He replies, hugging me back. "You know you gotta."
See, Today's the day. I gotta go home for real. No more putting it all off. Wes told me how I can get back, but he's uncertain whether it will definitely work. He thinks there might be something we've missed, but he's not sure. I guess I'll have to wait and see. Anyhow, the Scoobies are going back today as well, so it's goodbyes all round.
We spent a week together, just bonding. Angel is learning to accept Spike's change in personality, although he never found about the whole Buffy/Spike thing. I think it's best he doesn't for a while. Buffy spent a bit of time just talking with the AI members, and things between her and Angel are getting less tense. Fred and Willow are so alike in personality that it's scary, and Anya and Lorne really hit it off. Wes and Gunn accepted Xander and Spike almost instantly, which was a bonus as well. Meanwhile, Dawn and I have been doing the typical teenager things like shopping, eyeing off cute guys on the street and just gossipping. (I *did* talk to her about the Klepto thing, but I don't know if I got through her dense head..)
All I can think of is how weird it's gonna be when I have to watch these guys on the TV. I mean, I have a deeper understanding of their characters now, and I've gotten a little attached to a couple of them as well.
It's going to be strange back in the real world in general, though. Wesley reckons my powers will still be intact, but I might have a little trouble re-harnessing them or whatever. But, aside from them, *I've* changed a lot. I still love my black clothes and stuff, but I think I'm a little more open and outrageous than before. (And I have Gunn, Spike and Xander to blame for that.) I'm a bit more of a 'people person' as well. Which might scare Sarz and my other close friends a little.
Then there's the issue of what Nic has done while posing as me. She could have created an entire new image for me or something. Wesley thinks that I'll be able to remember most of the details of her act as me anyway 'cos we share that cosmic bond and all. I can only hope he's right.
I find myself pulling away from Gunn and moving on to the next person in line. This is how it goes for a while. Me hugging and crying, saying how much I'll miss them and what-not. That is, until I get to Spike.
"Hey," I say, standing in front of him. "I guess this is it."
"Yeah," he nods, "I guess it is."
"I'm gonna miss you a lot, you know that, don't ya?" I add, starting to move forward a little.
"I should bloody well hope so."
I chuckle and wrap my arms around him slowly, savouring the moment. "I don't wanna let go now." I whisper.
He smirks and pulls away. "Listen Peaches Jr, you're gonna have to get goin' and I don't particularly fancy getting' all mopey 'cos that's not my style. So instead, I'm gonna give you a little somethin' else to remember me by."
Now I'm intrigued. "But I'm gonna remember you anyway. You're one of my favourite characters, on one of my favourite shows, remember?"
He nods and leans forward. "That I do, luv. But I figured you might want somethin' more."
"Like?" I smile, genuinely curious now.
He presses his lips to my forehead gently. "Like that."
I try not to blush. Spike just kissed me. On the forehead, yes, but it was a kiss..from *Spike*. Beaming up at him, I throw my arms around his neck again and squeeze him tightly. "Thanks," I whisper into his ear. "Buffy's lucky to have you. She's just gonna take a while trying to see it."
Nodding, he hugs me back and replies, "I'm immortal. I can wait."
I move on to Angel, who looks a little dejected. "Spike took my idea." He whines playfully.
I roll my eyes and realise they're tearing up again. "I'm gonna miss you so much." I say finally, hugging him.
As we pull apart, he kisses me on the cheek and smiles. "Okay, so it wasn't original. Sue me."
I chuckle and allow my eyes to go wide and excited, "Can I get Lindsey to represent me? I liked him." Angel looks mortified and I burst into hysterics. "I was kidding. I'd never sue you."
"What about the whole liking my mortal enemy bit?" Angel queries.
A shrug and spy Connor's bassinette. "Oh look, I haven't said goodbye to Connor yet." I exclaim, bending down and lifting the baby into my arms.
"Angel." The broody one with my name warns. "You didn't answer my question." I smirk at him and he shakes his head. "Never mind."
Kissing Connor on the forehead, I tell the baby to be a good boy for his daddy, then hand him over to the vamp in question. I whisper to Angel, telling him to open up to Cordy about his feelings, then raise my voice again before he can reply. "Be good. Both of you." I instruct, taking one last look at Connor and pecking Angel on the cheek, then turning to walk into the circle drawn on the floor.
I wave at the group assembled in the lobby. "I love you guys." I wave.
They wave back, while Wesley and Tara mutter a few words in Latin. (Tara decided to do it instead of Will 'cos of all the issues they've got involving magick.) An almost undetectable flash of light speeds past and when I look around I'm in the middle of Pac. Fair with Sarz and two guys I don't know (though one of them looks vaguely familiar..)
Then, like a wave rushing over me, Nic's memories of 'my' past few months flood back. I recognise one of the guys as my boyfriend..although there's something else about him.. and the other is a guy I'm apparently trying to set Sarz up with.
"Hey," my best friend says, nudging me in the arm. "You okay? You kinda zoned out there for a second."
"What? Oh..Yeah." I chuckle. "Sorry..I got lost in thought."
My boyfriend (God it's strange to think I've got one of those again) slinks his arm around me and smiles broadly. I tilt my head the side as I look up at him, studying his features. Then I realise where I've seen him before. "Damien?" I ask, unintentionally out loud.
He looks confused. "What? Who the hell is Damien?"
I chuckle, slightly relieved. "No..Nobody. I was just thinking if it was a good name for a character I'm thinking of introducing into one of my stories. I didn't mean to say it out loud."
"Oh..okay." He smiles and hugs me closer to him.
Trust Nicola to find her crazy, evil ex in this reality and then set me up with him! But, the funny thing is, he's really cute in this dimension. A little more buff, a sweet and non-evil smile, and his eyes are shining with laughter. It's like he's the complete opposite to his dead twin guy that tried to kill me a few months back.
Wait a second!
Suddenly it hits me that *months* have gone by in this reality, not just a couple of weeks. I've got memories of the past few *months* running through my brain, which means Ats and Btvs have been back on TV for a while..But I can't seem to remember watching them. I wonder if I've been brought back in time to see the episodes I haven't read spoilers for.
"Hey guys," I say, suddenly itching to go home, "I think I might call it a day."
Everyone stops and looks at their watches. One by one they agree it is getting a little late, and we eventually decide to head off. Michael, my boyfriend, drives me home and walks me to the door. He kisses me gently on the lips and says he'll see me later. I wave him off and walk inside, going straight to my computer and powering up the net.
I've gotta see what's been going on with my inter-dimensional extended family. I hope everyone's okay. I pause and think about the implications of that clichéd line, before realising that this is the *real* world and nothing *that* corny happens here.
I click the link to the spoiler site and wait for the page to load. My optimistic smile fades and my eyes widen in horror as I read.
"OH MY GOD!"
***********************
(1)- that's the truth unfortunately, but I've had my laughs at their expense. There was this really gorgeous article thing in the local paper on my birthday (17th June in case you're wondering.^_^) and it was soo sweet. I loved it. I might just have to type it up and show u guys 'cos it was really witty and I wanna share it. ^_^ Look out for it in either the sequel to this fic, or one of my other stories. ^_^
A/N- tada! The end! And a major thanks to everyone that ever reviewed or gave me feedback on it! I love you all. Now could you kindly leave a review, telling me whether you want the sequel or not? I wont write it if you don't. I don't think I could bother writing if I thought nobody would read it. ^_^
Anywho, over and out for now.
Lotsa luv,
Insane1
PS- I realise that some of the scenes seemed unnecessary and REALLY corny, but they are vital for the sequel if it ends up being written. Byes again.
"Not the fun hell where they chain you up and burn you with hot pokers for all of eternity.but the hardcore one. You know..Nixon and Britney Spears." - Angel, Sleep Tight. (LOVED that line! See.It *completely* verifies my beliefs about the bitca..hehehe..sorry if you're a fan of hers..I'm just *really* not..^_^ )
