**Until Forever**
A/n: The next chappy has arrived! Yay! Woohoo! I finally decided what course of action I wanted to take for this story, and I can tell you that there will only be a few parts left *sniffle*, but it's been good while it lasted. But let's not dwell on that, there are chapters to read and reviews to be written. Oh and by the way, I'm in a total perma-high from all the bloody great reviews I'm getting. You guys rock ass man, totally.
*Okay, I really hate to do this, but I will anyways. Now I know that my story wasn't copyrighted, and that I don't even own any of the characters besides a select few, but I would really appreciate if people didn't take my story ideas. I know that some of the stories I'm talking about are only half-similar, it still really peeves me off. I hate being a bitch (actually, I love it usually *g*), but I felt that I should say this. Thanks, and thanks again.
Now before you all leave cause you're so bored with my little speech, let's head to the story.
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"So, wait a minute, let me get this straight. . . you two are back together? As in, Angel-Buffy coupledom again?"
Buffy nodded emphatically, huge smile dimming a little bit at the identical dumb-founded expressions worn by both Cordelia and Willow. The three young women sat at a table in one of the hottest restaurants in L.A. during one of their very rare breaks. Both Buffy and Willow were going to film some scenes that afternoon, but Cordelia had the day off. They had decided to spend some lazy gossiping time together, and Buffy had thought it would be the perfect opportunity to break the good news. Well, I thought it was good. Apparently not.
"What? Why do you two have those dumb ass expressions on your faces? Well, in Cordy's case, her plastic-surgerized face?" Buffy asked them quickly, mouth quirking. She looked expectantly at the two.
Cordelia's mouth dropped and she sputtered indignantly, forgetting her shock momentarily. "For your information, Buffy, my nose is the only plastic thing on my whole body. Everything else is 100% pure Cordy goodness. Okay? Let's get that straight first."
Buffy rolled her eyes and muttered, "Cordy goodness my ass," but the other two were still too surprised by her admission about Angel to retort. They looked at each other sideways, then back at Buffy in unison. Buffy fidgeted in her chair, uncomfortable at the looks they were giving her. Like she was crazy or something. She picked up her mug and took a sip of the foamy liquid, still waiting for them to speak. Finally Cordelia broke the silence.
"How did it happen? I mean, you guys broke up on really, really bad terms. Two days ago you hated him for breaking your heart and humiliating you in front of the whole world, and suddenly you two are back together like nothing ever happened. Forgive us for being confused." Cordelia said defensively, and Buffy softened. They were right. Things did happen suddenly, and it would seem strange to her too if she were an outsider. She sighed and looked down, swirling her spoon into her cup. Finally she looked back up, ready to tell them the story.
"I know that me and him, well, hated each other just like last week. But yesterday night he comes to my house and we talk. He tells me that I was the best thing ever to happen to him, and he was stupid to let me go over something as trivial as the Xander thing. We talked some more, I tell him that I'm sorry and I feel the same way, and the rest is history. He's even coming to the set today to see some of the scenes and meet Sylvio. It's so great! We were meant to be together, and our getting back together just proves that."
Buffy sighed again, this time in happiness, eyes looking into space as she drifted off into thoughts of her Angel. Cordy snorted, and Willow looked at her, small smile on her face. Willow knew that Cordy was a pessimist, but even she had to say the story seemed suspicious. Her best friend had been heartbroken over the things Angel had said to her, and suddenly everything was peachy between the two again.
"What, Cordy? What's wrong this time? Not that I don't agree with you," Willow said quietly to Cordelia. Buffy was to wrapped up in her daydreams to hear either of them. Cordelia leaned closer to Willow, glancing at Buffy once before she gazed into Willow's eyes.
"I heard that Angel just broke up with some teenybopper actress named Dawn Winters, and that she left him pretty publicly, and I'm thinking he's trying to get back with Buffy to save face. And he probably heard about the movie she's doing, and how everyone's saying she going to be absolutely huge after this one, so he doesn't want to be left behind. You follow?" Cordelia asked Willow seriously, dark eyes sympathetic for her love struck friend.
Willow leaned back in her chair, her forehead creased as she thought it over. Finally her face dropped, and she nodded to Cordelia in agree. Cordelia looked over to Buffy, who had snapped out of her Angel reverie. Buffy looked at the two of them, and the sad, pensive looks on their faces.
"What?" Buffy asked them. The two pulled on fake smiles, so bright they rivaled that of those on a Crest commercial.
"Nothing," they sounded. Buffy smiled back, satisfied that they were happy with her and Angel getting back together. "You think this time it will last, Buff?" Willow asked her friend, eyes sad. Buffy didn't notice, and she just beamed back at them.
"Of course. We'll spend the rest of our lives together," she gushed. Cordelia banged her head down on the table loudly, Willow looking to the heavens for help.
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Buffy sat beside Angel, listening while he went on and on about his new penthouse apartment in San Francisco. She tried to care, she really, really did, but she could only care so much about new leather couches and great views. Eventually, as much as she loved him, she had tuned out and focused on the people around her. Specifically the people around her that included a Faith-free Spike, who was goofing off with Xander in the area behind them. Still when she looked at him she could taste his lips on hers, feel that amazing tingle run down her spine, and that feeling of perfection in his arms. No matter how much she hated him, and how much she loved Angel, it seemed that those feelings weren't going anywhere.
Maybe I thought that as soon as I was with another guy again the feelings would disappear instantly. I wanted them to be gone, done with, but I should especially know that it just won't happen because I want it too. But I have Angel now. I . . . love Angel. I do, I really do. Don't I?
Buffy sat upright in her chair, deeply contemplating her thoughts. Oblivious, Angel kept talking. She looked over at him, eyes distraught, trying to remember why exactly she loved him. Suddenly she was struck with a revelation.
I cheated on Angel in the first place because things were bad between us. I just didn't want to face the problems. And when he broke up with me, I was heartbroken because I thought that I had to be. And now we're back together. It's a good thing I guess, but is it what I really want? Do I really want to be with him anymore? You can't make yourself be loved. You can't make yourself love, either. And maybe whatever love I had for him is gone.
Buffy felt her eyes well up. It couldn't be. She loved Angel, and she always would. She was just going a little cuckoo because Spike had her confused. Really, it was all Spike's fault. Everything bad that had happened to her lately was also his fault. Her break-up, her public feud with the Brit, her crazy feelings toward him, and now her confusion over Angel. She wouldn't let that smug bastard ruin her life anymore. She loved Angel, and that was final.
Who are you trying to convince? Yourself, maybe? Angrily, Buffy pushed her thoughts away, and instead reassured herself again. Her life was great, perfect in fact, and she had no reason to change any aspect of it.
She sniffled, her tears drying up. She turned back to Angel again, who seemed to be finished his bragging session. He smiled down at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Buffy gazed up at him happily, beating down her inner doubts with one huge mental stick. She sat upward in her seat, and whispered, "I love you, sweetie."
As she met him in a deep kiss, she didn't let the fact he hadn't said those three words back to her register in her brain. But her heart felt the blow, and it didn't hurt as much as it should have. She didn't want to think about what that meant, either.
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Spike laughed loudly at Xander's perfect impersonation. His laughter finally died down, and he shook his head with a smirk on his face. "You're a bloody piss, mate." He told the brunette.
Xander took a deep bow, smiling himself from the impersonation of his girlfriend Cordelia's hissy fits, that he had just done. It was all good fun of course . . . after all, no matter how much Cordy loved him she would still kick his ass if she ever found out about his little show. He stopped smiling and stood straight up, clearing his throat and looking down at the floor.
"Uh, Spike, how about we don't mention that to Cordy, ever."
Spike started laughing again as he nodded, feeling sorry for his whipped friend. Correction, majorly, completely whipped friend. But he simply said, "Sure, Xander, whatever you say." He turned away to the sound of someone calling his name. He was about to answer when his eyes caught the sight of something that made him want to retch. His blue eyes blazed, and he turned back to Xander and grabbed him around the arm tightly. Xander looked up at him curiously, cracker half way to his open mouth.
"What the hell's wrong with you, man?" Xander asked Spike. Spike just beckoned, and Xander's eyes followed the sight. When he spotted the reason Spike had gotten so tense, his own dark eyes bulged comically, and he dropped the cracker quickly. He tugged his arm out of Spike's grasp and looked around him, searching for the nearest exit.
Spike watched him in amusement, but then he remembered what he had scene. "Xander, what the hell is wrong with you? And why the fuck is he here?" Spike asked him sharply, his voice impatient. Spike didn't know why, but he felt jealously consuming him. It was illogical, and he tried to brush it off, but it burned through him along with anger.
What the hell is wrong with me? I don't even like the stupid bint. I just want to know why the hell he's on the soddin' set. Yeah, yeah that's it. Nothing about me an' her.
Spike closed his eyes and tried to shake off the feelings coursing through him. It was ridiculous, thinking anything but dislike for Buffy. And any other feelings besides hate that he had been feeling for the girl lately were just side effects from some bad Mexican, or something. And now this jealously was really just dislike also for the man she was with. Nothing else.
Xander was still pacing the area, looking like he was scared shitless. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes. Xander was muttering to himself, and wringing his hands. Finally Spike smacked him in the shoulder roughly, and it seemed to snap Xander out of it. He looked at Spike angrily, rubbing his shoulder.
"What was that for, asswipe?" Xander asked Spike accusingly. Spike just brushed off his comment and said, "What is wrong with you? Why you acting like a nancy boy who's going to get a visit from the school bully?" Xander scowled at his comment.
"Spike, are you freakin' slow? Angel is here. Here. After I cheated with his girlfriend on him. I haven't seen him since, well, before the whole thing, and now he might decide to show me a little gift for my troubles with his girlfriend. And hmm, let's see, I don't feel like getting the shit kicked out of me at the moment. This is all your fault, anyways! You're probably going to get some ass-whooping too." Xander said, then he went back to his wringing of hands, shooting the macking couple on the chairs nervous looks.
Spike just glared at him. Xander really was a wuss. Spike glanced at the couple once more before he put a calming hand on his friend's arm. "Look Xander, he won't do anything. He might shoot you some dirty looks, but that's about it, for god sakes. He's a mature bloody adult, and besides, he can't take both of us anyways. At least not at the same time."
Spike grinned, and Xander rolled his eyes but smiled back. He seemed to calm down, and his brown eyes lost their crazy quality.
"That's true. And it was his girlfriend that decided to cheat on him. I was merely the one she . . . strayed with." Xander pointed out, the two men both turning to watch the couple. Buffy and Angel were currently too involved in deep tongue throating to notice their audience. Spike didn't know why, but it bothered him to no end. He thought for a moment, then questioned Xander.
"Why the bloody hell is he here then, if they broke up?"
"I dunno." Xander shrugged, eyes still cautiously watching Angel. The tall man had at least fifteen pounds on Xander. Shit. "Maybe they got back together," was all he said aloud. He looked thoughtful for a moment, than nodded. "Yeah, Cordy did say something about the two making up. At least he won't be that mad at me anymore. Good for us, then." Xander sighed in relief. He turned back to the snack table, picking up his lost cracker and munching on it happily.
But Spike was grinning widely. More like smirking evilly. He looked at the couple once more before saying, "Then it makes it all the more fun for me." He patted Xander on the back once, before sauntering toward Buffy and Angel. Xander started choking on his cracker.
"Where the hell are you going Spike?" Xander sputtered, hoping to God the blonde wasn't going to answer what he thought Spike was going to answer. Spike just turned his head and said, "Damage control mate, that's all."
Xander looked at the retreating Spike, who was cheerfully swaggering over to the couple, before he bolted out of the nearest door, into safer area. Spike whistled a jaunty tune, knowing that things were going to get fun very soon.
*To be continued. . .
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A/n: The next chappy has arrived! Yay! Woohoo! I finally decided what course of action I wanted to take for this story, and I can tell you that there will only be a few parts left *sniffle*, but it's been good while it lasted. But let's not dwell on that, there are chapters to read and reviews to be written. Oh and by the way, I'm in a total perma-high from all the bloody great reviews I'm getting. You guys rock ass man, totally.
*Okay, I really hate to do this, but I will anyways. Now I know that my story wasn't copyrighted, and that I don't even own any of the characters besides a select few, but I would really appreciate if people didn't take my story ideas. I know that some of the stories I'm talking about are only half-similar, it still really peeves me off. I hate being a bitch (actually, I love it usually *g*), but I felt that I should say this. Thanks, and thanks again.
Now before you all leave cause you're so bored with my little speech, let's head to the story.
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"So, wait a minute, let me get this straight. . . you two are back together? As in, Angel-Buffy coupledom again?"
Buffy nodded emphatically, huge smile dimming a little bit at the identical dumb-founded expressions worn by both Cordelia and Willow. The three young women sat at a table in one of the hottest restaurants in L.A. during one of their very rare breaks. Both Buffy and Willow were going to film some scenes that afternoon, but Cordelia had the day off. They had decided to spend some lazy gossiping time together, and Buffy had thought it would be the perfect opportunity to break the good news. Well, I thought it was good. Apparently not.
"What? Why do you two have those dumb ass expressions on your faces? Well, in Cordy's case, her plastic-surgerized face?" Buffy asked them quickly, mouth quirking. She looked expectantly at the two.
Cordelia's mouth dropped and she sputtered indignantly, forgetting her shock momentarily. "For your information, Buffy, my nose is the only plastic thing on my whole body. Everything else is 100% pure Cordy goodness. Okay? Let's get that straight first."
Buffy rolled her eyes and muttered, "Cordy goodness my ass," but the other two were still too surprised by her admission about Angel to retort. They looked at each other sideways, then back at Buffy in unison. Buffy fidgeted in her chair, uncomfortable at the looks they were giving her. Like she was crazy or something. She picked up her mug and took a sip of the foamy liquid, still waiting for them to speak. Finally Cordelia broke the silence.
"How did it happen? I mean, you guys broke up on really, really bad terms. Two days ago you hated him for breaking your heart and humiliating you in front of the whole world, and suddenly you two are back together like nothing ever happened. Forgive us for being confused." Cordelia said defensively, and Buffy softened. They were right. Things did happen suddenly, and it would seem strange to her too if she were an outsider. She sighed and looked down, swirling her spoon into her cup. Finally she looked back up, ready to tell them the story.
"I know that me and him, well, hated each other just like last week. But yesterday night he comes to my house and we talk. He tells me that I was the best thing ever to happen to him, and he was stupid to let me go over something as trivial as the Xander thing. We talked some more, I tell him that I'm sorry and I feel the same way, and the rest is history. He's even coming to the set today to see some of the scenes and meet Sylvio. It's so great! We were meant to be together, and our getting back together just proves that."
Buffy sighed again, this time in happiness, eyes looking into space as she drifted off into thoughts of her Angel. Cordy snorted, and Willow looked at her, small smile on her face. Willow knew that Cordy was a pessimist, but even she had to say the story seemed suspicious. Her best friend had been heartbroken over the things Angel had said to her, and suddenly everything was peachy between the two again.
"What, Cordy? What's wrong this time? Not that I don't agree with you," Willow said quietly to Cordelia. Buffy was to wrapped up in her daydreams to hear either of them. Cordelia leaned closer to Willow, glancing at Buffy once before she gazed into Willow's eyes.
"I heard that Angel just broke up with some teenybopper actress named Dawn Winters, and that she left him pretty publicly, and I'm thinking he's trying to get back with Buffy to save face. And he probably heard about the movie she's doing, and how everyone's saying she going to be absolutely huge after this one, so he doesn't want to be left behind. You follow?" Cordelia asked Willow seriously, dark eyes sympathetic for her love struck friend.
Willow leaned back in her chair, her forehead creased as she thought it over. Finally her face dropped, and she nodded to Cordelia in agree. Cordelia looked over to Buffy, who had snapped out of her Angel reverie. Buffy looked at the two of them, and the sad, pensive looks on their faces.
"What?" Buffy asked them. The two pulled on fake smiles, so bright they rivaled that of those on a Crest commercial.
"Nothing," they sounded. Buffy smiled back, satisfied that they were happy with her and Angel getting back together. "You think this time it will last, Buff?" Willow asked her friend, eyes sad. Buffy didn't notice, and she just beamed back at them.
"Of course. We'll spend the rest of our lives together," she gushed. Cordelia banged her head down on the table loudly, Willow looking to the heavens for help.
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Buffy sat beside Angel, listening while he went on and on about his new penthouse apartment in San Francisco. She tried to care, she really, really did, but she could only care so much about new leather couches and great views. Eventually, as much as she loved him, she had tuned out and focused on the people around her. Specifically the people around her that included a Faith-free Spike, who was goofing off with Xander in the area behind them. Still when she looked at him she could taste his lips on hers, feel that amazing tingle run down her spine, and that feeling of perfection in his arms. No matter how much she hated him, and how much she loved Angel, it seemed that those feelings weren't going anywhere.
Maybe I thought that as soon as I was with another guy again the feelings would disappear instantly. I wanted them to be gone, done with, but I should especially know that it just won't happen because I want it too. But I have Angel now. I . . . love Angel. I do, I really do. Don't I?
Buffy sat upright in her chair, deeply contemplating her thoughts. Oblivious, Angel kept talking. She looked over at him, eyes distraught, trying to remember why exactly she loved him. Suddenly she was struck with a revelation.
I cheated on Angel in the first place because things were bad between us. I just didn't want to face the problems. And when he broke up with me, I was heartbroken because I thought that I had to be. And now we're back together. It's a good thing I guess, but is it what I really want? Do I really want to be with him anymore? You can't make yourself be loved. You can't make yourself love, either. And maybe whatever love I had for him is gone.
Buffy felt her eyes well up. It couldn't be. She loved Angel, and she always would. She was just going a little cuckoo because Spike had her confused. Really, it was all Spike's fault. Everything bad that had happened to her lately was also his fault. Her break-up, her public feud with the Brit, her crazy feelings toward him, and now her confusion over Angel. She wouldn't let that smug bastard ruin her life anymore. She loved Angel, and that was final.
Who are you trying to convince? Yourself, maybe? Angrily, Buffy pushed her thoughts away, and instead reassured herself again. Her life was great, perfect in fact, and she had no reason to change any aspect of it.
She sniffled, her tears drying up. She turned back to Angel again, who seemed to be finished his bragging session. He smiled down at her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Buffy gazed up at him happily, beating down her inner doubts with one huge mental stick. She sat upward in her seat, and whispered, "I love you, sweetie."
As she met him in a deep kiss, she didn't let the fact he hadn't said those three words back to her register in her brain. But her heart felt the blow, and it didn't hurt as much as it should have. She didn't want to think about what that meant, either.
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Spike laughed loudly at Xander's perfect impersonation. His laughter finally died down, and he shook his head with a smirk on his face. "You're a bloody piss, mate." He told the brunette.
Xander took a deep bow, smiling himself from the impersonation of his girlfriend Cordelia's hissy fits, that he had just done. It was all good fun of course . . . after all, no matter how much Cordy loved him she would still kick his ass if she ever found out about his little show. He stopped smiling and stood straight up, clearing his throat and looking down at the floor.
"Uh, Spike, how about we don't mention that to Cordy, ever."
Spike started laughing again as he nodded, feeling sorry for his whipped friend. Correction, majorly, completely whipped friend. But he simply said, "Sure, Xander, whatever you say." He turned away to the sound of someone calling his name. He was about to answer when his eyes caught the sight of something that made him want to retch. His blue eyes blazed, and he turned back to Xander and grabbed him around the arm tightly. Xander looked up at him curiously, cracker half way to his open mouth.
"What the hell's wrong with you, man?" Xander asked Spike. Spike just beckoned, and Xander's eyes followed the sight. When he spotted the reason Spike had gotten so tense, his own dark eyes bulged comically, and he dropped the cracker quickly. He tugged his arm out of Spike's grasp and looked around him, searching for the nearest exit.
Spike watched him in amusement, but then he remembered what he had scene. "Xander, what the hell is wrong with you? And why the fuck is he here?" Spike asked him sharply, his voice impatient. Spike didn't know why, but he felt jealously consuming him. It was illogical, and he tried to brush it off, but it burned through him along with anger.
What the hell is wrong with me? I don't even like the stupid bint. I just want to know why the hell he's on the soddin' set. Yeah, yeah that's it. Nothing about me an' her.
Spike closed his eyes and tried to shake off the feelings coursing through him. It was ridiculous, thinking anything but dislike for Buffy. And any other feelings besides hate that he had been feeling for the girl lately were just side effects from some bad Mexican, or something. And now this jealously was really just dislike also for the man she was with. Nothing else.
Xander was still pacing the area, looking like he was scared shitless. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes. Xander was muttering to himself, and wringing his hands. Finally Spike smacked him in the shoulder roughly, and it seemed to snap Xander out of it. He looked at Spike angrily, rubbing his shoulder.
"What was that for, asswipe?" Xander asked Spike accusingly. Spike just brushed off his comment and said, "What is wrong with you? Why you acting like a nancy boy who's going to get a visit from the school bully?" Xander scowled at his comment.
"Spike, are you freakin' slow? Angel is here. Here. After I cheated with his girlfriend on him. I haven't seen him since, well, before the whole thing, and now he might decide to show me a little gift for my troubles with his girlfriend. And hmm, let's see, I don't feel like getting the shit kicked out of me at the moment. This is all your fault, anyways! You're probably going to get some ass-whooping too." Xander said, then he went back to his wringing of hands, shooting the macking couple on the chairs nervous looks.
Spike just glared at him. Xander really was a wuss. Spike glanced at the couple once more before he put a calming hand on his friend's arm. "Look Xander, he won't do anything. He might shoot you some dirty looks, but that's about it, for god sakes. He's a mature bloody adult, and besides, he can't take both of us anyways. At least not at the same time."
Spike grinned, and Xander rolled his eyes but smiled back. He seemed to calm down, and his brown eyes lost their crazy quality.
"That's true. And it was his girlfriend that decided to cheat on him. I was merely the one she . . . strayed with." Xander pointed out, the two men both turning to watch the couple. Buffy and Angel were currently too involved in deep tongue throating to notice their audience. Spike didn't know why, but it bothered him to no end. He thought for a moment, then questioned Xander.
"Why the bloody hell is he here then, if they broke up?"
"I dunno." Xander shrugged, eyes still cautiously watching Angel. The tall man had at least fifteen pounds on Xander. Shit. "Maybe they got back together," was all he said aloud. He looked thoughtful for a moment, than nodded. "Yeah, Cordy did say something about the two making up. At least he won't be that mad at me anymore. Good for us, then." Xander sighed in relief. He turned back to the snack table, picking up his lost cracker and munching on it happily.
But Spike was grinning widely. More like smirking evilly. He looked at the couple once more before saying, "Then it makes it all the more fun for me." He patted Xander on the back once, before sauntering toward Buffy and Angel. Xander started choking on his cracker.
"Where the hell are you going Spike?" Xander sputtered, hoping to God the blonde wasn't going to answer what he thought Spike was going to answer. Spike just turned his head and said, "Damage control mate, that's all."
Xander looked at the retreating Spike, who was cheerfully swaggering over to the couple, before he bolted out of the nearest door, into safer area. Spike whistled a jaunty tune, knowing that things were going to get fun very soon.
*To be continued. . .
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