Title: Some Wishes
Author: babyxeyes
Rated: PG13
Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss. Grr....Argh, and all that stuff.
Timeline: Buffy-S5. Shortly after Joyce's death.
Pairings: X/A. W/T. B/A with some B/S undertones.
Feedback: Keep it coming!!
A/N: I'm a little unsure about how good this chapter is, so please let me know what you think. Thanks. :D
--------------------------------------
Chapter Eight:
Dawn looked down, playing with the hem on her shirt, clearly avoiding eye contact. Angel could see the tears glistening in her eyes, and he felt so much of her pain, he could have screamed. This was what he did. Day after day, week after week, back in LA. He helped people. Random strangers with whom he had no feelings for or history with.
This time, it was Buffy. The woman he would give anything for, without a moment's hesitation. Her memory, the sole reason he opened his eyes and got out of bed day after day. And he couldn't even help her. Couldn't prevent Dawn from crying or Giles from feeling like a failure, or all of her friends from feeling like they were useless. If Buffy wasn't in this life, then he had nothing to push for. He swallowed, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room.
It was time to tell them the real reason he had come.
"I have to go in after her."
"What?" Willow looked up, shocked. "Angel, you can't do that."
"If you go in, we have no guarantee that you'll be able to get back. And then we'll be even worse off than we were before." Giles said.
"Right now, Buffy is trapped. She's strong, but she's not strong enough to make her way back to you. If you don't let me get to her now, you're leaving her to die. Now you can either help me do the spell, or let me do it on my own. Take your pick." Angel said slowly, pent up anger firmly lacing his every word.
"The well-toned vampire has a point." Anya piped up, from where she had been sitting quietly next to Xander.
"Angel, I understand your need to help Buffy. But it's a rather unstable plan." Giles looked at him seriously. "I want Buffy back as well, but there must be something els-"
"There's no other way." Angel cut him off, "She'll die otherwise."
"And since when are you Mr. Experienced when it comes to all this? How do you know Buffy can't handle it? She's Buffy!" Xander exclaimed.
Dawn sighed. "He knows." She exchanged a look with him, telling him she understood. "If none of you will help him, I will."
"Angel-"Giles began, but stopped when he saw the look of resolve on the vampire's face. When it came to Buffy, Angel was absolutely blinded. Arguing over this was like fighting a losing battle. "Ah..the book says you'll need to select a scent. I think we still have enough ingredients here to perform the spell again." He finished with a sigh.
"The Slayer's trapped in an alternate dimension, and our best shot at getting her back is practically committing suicide." Xander mumbled to himself. "Great plan, everybody!"
--------------------------------------
I had been lying there for hours.
I assume that I was unconscious the entire time I was in the portal, because I woke up on a hard white floor. It felt cold from under me, and I briefly remember wondering if I had been kidnapped. After a few moments of- to be completely honest-sheer terror, it all hit me. The book, and my mom, and the spell. All at once I felt incredibly foolish, and very afraid. I was lost, all by myself, in an alternate dimension. I had no clue what to do next, or how to get back home. Looking down hopefully, I realized that the book hadn't made it through the trip. In fact, it was probably still sitting on my living room table. Useless to me now. As I examined my legs, however, I realized that I was now also wearing a thin white dress.
They stole my CLOTHES?!
My body was aching. Like I had been run over by a truck a couple of times. My head throbbed, and my legs felt especially heavy. I had a distant memory of Giles talking to me about portals. He said they took a lot out of the human body. Energy. Groaning, I spent the next fifteen minutes trying to lift my head off the ground. Finally, I had managed to get myself in an upright position. Apparently Slayer strength was useless here.
"Ugh. Memo to self: next time you decide to go dimension-hopping; pack an Advil." I muttered, looking around.
The entire room was all white. There didn't appear to be any windows or doorways. Everything was smooth, and empty. Hence the white dress, I realized. I camouflaged perfectly.
"Ah. You're awake." A masculine voice from behind me spoke. Snapping my head around, my eyes fell onto a figure dressed-shocker-all in white, who was holding a heavy-looking book. He smiled at me. "You needn't fear me. I just have to ask you a couple of questions and then you're free to go on ahead."
"Ahead?" I repeated, my voice sounding raspy. He opened the book, turning the pages slowly before stopping.
He grinned once more before taking a step towards me. "What's your name, Slayer?"
"How did you-"I paused, mid-question. Of course he knew. They always knew. I sighed. "Buffy. And you are?"
He shook his finger at me, "How many apocalypses have you faced in your lifetime, Buffy?"
"Um.."
Well, let's see. There was the Master, and then Angelus. We faced those snake guys, and then there was the Mayor. Riley helped with a couple, and- oh what the hell?!
"A lot. Too many to count. And honestly, my brain isn't exactly functioning right now."
He nodded, almost as if he had known I would say this. There was something about this guy that gave me the creeps. "Alright. Now, last one."
"Before what, exactly?"
He paved on ahead, looking like I had never even spoken. Flipping another page over in the book, his eyes scanned across the text, before he looked up at me again. "Do you think it's your fault your Mother is dead?"
My face burned as I glared at him. "What gives you th-"
He winked at me, "Great answer." He closed the book, and then everything was black once again.
Figures. MORE passing out.
--------------------------------------
Angel's entrance was a bit different.
For starters, he was conscious. He stood in the center of the room-this one was completely black-adjusting his eyes in no time. He could probably see more in the darkness then he could in the light. This, of course, was not surprising.
When his eyes adjusted, however, they didn't see..anything. There was absolutely nothing in the room. Nothing but vast, black, distance.
"Well, this should be fun." Angel mumbled, taking a few steps forward.
"I'm very intrigued." A voice rang out from behind him. Turning around, Angel could clearly make out a man, covered entirely in all black, a large book in his arms. "You're the first one I've seen in a long time who isn't out cold right about now."
"Send me to the next level."
The man chuckled. "And he brings knowledge of the ritual. Very intriguing, indeed. But, I'm getting off track! There are questions to be asked.." He trailed off, muttering to himself as he opened the book and began leafing through it.
"Hurry up and ask them. I don't have time to play games."
"Don't rush me, vampire." He said easily, his eyes coming away from the page he appeared to be reading. "What year were you born?"
Angel sighed loudly, "1727. Don't you guys already know this stuff?"
"Well, well..you're very well-preserved. Why are you here?" He shifted topics so swiftly, Angel almost missed it.
"You know why I'm here." He said, taking a step closer to the man. "I need you to take me to her."
He stared at Angel for a moment, "You feel love for her. It's pure and everlasting, but there's no place for it here. We grant wishes. That's all."
"If I can't be there to bring her back, you know the ritual will kill her."
"As it has killed many before, and will kill others again. It's the way, Angel." Angel knew he hadn't given his name, but this man knew everything about him anyway. It was all written, right there in the book.
"Not for her. It's not going to happen to her." He promised, through gritted teeth.
"Would you die for her?"
"Yes." Angel replied, with no hesitation.
The man smiled genuinely at Angel for the first time, "Be strong for her." He closed the book, and then everything was black.
And this time, with no power over it, Angel fell into a deep sleep too.
--------------------------------------
The next room was a gray one.
This time, when I opened my eyes, I instantly remembered where I was. Something clicked in my brain, and instant of mind-numbing fear, all I felt was excruciating pain. Score, right?
It took me a few seconds to realize that something was off. The whole vibe of the room was wrong. It felt..nice. Smooth and calm. Nothing like the scratchy room before. It wasn't until I turned my head that I realized why.
Because lying just a few feet away from me, was Angel.
I could have cried I was so happy to see him next to me. Everything rushed at me and I realized I hadn't seen him since the funeral. He had held me under that tree, promising to stay, and then leaving me again. It seemed like the Powers weren't too fond of putting us together in the most pleasant situations, but..he was still here.
He stirred then, opening his eyes slowly and letting them fall over me. They immediately softened, and I felt that familiar stirring in my tummy. That feeling I got whenever he would look at me like I was the only person he had in the world. I realized then, that he was the only person I had, and would ever, meet that made me feel like this. The revelation actually startled me, and I mentally chided myself for thinking about this stuff when there was obviously a much more important situation at hand.
Like, for example, how he got here.
"Buffy." He whispered as he tried to sit up, "Are you alright?"
"I think so." I said stupidly, watching him get into a sitting position, wincing at the pain. Looking down at myself, I realized with an immense amount of relief that I was back in my regular clothing. "Angel..what are you doing here?"
He stood then, his legs shaky but strong, and walked up to me. Taking my small hands in his larger ones, he lifted me onto my feet. "You shouldn't have to go through this on your own."
"What am I going to go through?" I cried, "What exactly is happening?!"
There was a flash of light, and Angel grabbed me to him, covering my face with his jacket. Even through the heavy material, I could see the bright light flickering as the floor from beneath us began to rumble. All at once everything stopped, and I could hear the sound of raggedy, pained breathing.
It took me a moment to realize that the noise was coming from me.
As I slowly brought my head up, brushing my fingers against the soft fabric of Angel's shirt along the way, I could hear a gasp catch in his throat.
"Buffy.." His voice was frantic, begging me not to look at whatever was before us now, but I couldn't help myself.
And there she was. Glowing, and more beautiful than I had ever seen her before. She wore something flowy and light, sparkling out from in front of me.
"Hello Buffy."
Mommy.
--------------------------------------
TBC..
Author: babyxeyes
Rated: PG13
Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss. Grr....Argh, and all that stuff.
Timeline: Buffy-S5. Shortly after Joyce's death.
Pairings: X/A. W/T. B/A with some B/S undertones.
Feedback: Keep it coming!!
A/N: I'm a little unsure about how good this chapter is, so please let me know what you think. Thanks. :D
--------------------------------------
Chapter Eight:
Dawn looked down, playing with the hem on her shirt, clearly avoiding eye contact. Angel could see the tears glistening in her eyes, and he felt so much of her pain, he could have screamed. This was what he did. Day after day, week after week, back in LA. He helped people. Random strangers with whom he had no feelings for or history with.
This time, it was Buffy. The woman he would give anything for, without a moment's hesitation. Her memory, the sole reason he opened his eyes and got out of bed day after day. And he couldn't even help her. Couldn't prevent Dawn from crying or Giles from feeling like a failure, or all of her friends from feeling like they were useless. If Buffy wasn't in this life, then he had nothing to push for. He swallowed, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room.
It was time to tell them the real reason he had come.
"I have to go in after her."
"What?" Willow looked up, shocked. "Angel, you can't do that."
"If you go in, we have no guarantee that you'll be able to get back. And then we'll be even worse off than we were before." Giles said.
"Right now, Buffy is trapped. She's strong, but she's not strong enough to make her way back to you. If you don't let me get to her now, you're leaving her to die. Now you can either help me do the spell, or let me do it on my own. Take your pick." Angel said slowly, pent up anger firmly lacing his every word.
"The well-toned vampire has a point." Anya piped up, from where she had been sitting quietly next to Xander.
"Angel, I understand your need to help Buffy. But it's a rather unstable plan." Giles looked at him seriously. "I want Buffy back as well, but there must be something els-"
"There's no other way." Angel cut him off, "She'll die otherwise."
"And since when are you Mr. Experienced when it comes to all this? How do you know Buffy can't handle it? She's Buffy!" Xander exclaimed.
Dawn sighed. "He knows." She exchanged a look with him, telling him she understood. "If none of you will help him, I will."
"Angel-"Giles began, but stopped when he saw the look of resolve on the vampire's face. When it came to Buffy, Angel was absolutely blinded. Arguing over this was like fighting a losing battle. "Ah..the book says you'll need to select a scent. I think we still have enough ingredients here to perform the spell again." He finished with a sigh.
"The Slayer's trapped in an alternate dimension, and our best shot at getting her back is practically committing suicide." Xander mumbled to himself. "Great plan, everybody!"
--------------------------------------
I had been lying there for hours.
I assume that I was unconscious the entire time I was in the portal, because I woke up on a hard white floor. It felt cold from under me, and I briefly remember wondering if I had been kidnapped. After a few moments of- to be completely honest-sheer terror, it all hit me. The book, and my mom, and the spell. All at once I felt incredibly foolish, and very afraid. I was lost, all by myself, in an alternate dimension. I had no clue what to do next, or how to get back home. Looking down hopefully, I realized that the book hadn't made it through the trip. In fact, it was probably still sitting on my living room table. Useless to me now. As I examined my legs, however, I realized that I was now also wearing a thin white dress.
They stole my CLOTHES?!
My body was aching. Like I had been run over by a truck a couple of times. My head throbbed, and my legs felt especially heavy. I had a distant memory of Giles talking to me about portals. He said they took a lot out of the human body. Energy. Groaning, I spent the next fifteen minutes trying to lift my head off the ground. Finally, I had managed to get myself in an upright position. Apparently Slayer strength was useless here.
"Ugh. Memo to self: next time you decide to go dimension-hopping; pack an Advil." I muttered, looking around.
The entire room was all white. There didn't appear to be any windows or doorways. Everything was smooth, and empty. Hence the white dress, I realized. I camouflaged perfectly.
"Ah. You're awake." A masculine voice from behind me spoke. Snapping my head around, my eyes fell onto a figure dressed-shocker-all in white, who was holding a heavy-looking book. He smiled at me. "You needn't fear me. I just have to ask you a couple of questions and then you're free to go on ahead."
"Ahead?" I repeated, my voice sounding raspy. He opened the book, turning the pages slowly before stopping.
He grinned once more before taking a step towards me. "What's your name, Slayer?"
"How did you-"I paused, mid-question. Of course he knew. They always knew. I sighed. "Buffy. And you are?"
He shook his finger at me, "How many apocalypses have you faced in your lifetime, Buffy?"
"Um.."
Well, let's see. There was the Master, and then Angelus. We faced those snake guys, and then there was the Mayor. Riley helped with a couple, and- oh what the hell?!
"A lot. Too many to count. And honestly, my brain isn't exactly functioning right now."
He nodded, almost as if he had known I would say this. There was something about this guy that gave me the creeps. "Alright. Now, last one."
"Before what, exactly?"
He paved on ahead, looking like I had never even spoken. Flipping another page over in the book, his eyes scanned across the text, before he looked up at me again. "Do you think it's your fault your Mother is dead?"
My face burned as I glared at him. "What gives you th-"
He winked at me, "Great answer." He closed the book, and then everything was black once again.
Figures. MORE passing out.
--------------------------------------
Angel's entrance was a bit different.
For starters, he was conscious. He stood in the center of the room-this one was completely black-adjusting his eyes in no time. He could probably see more in the darkness then he could in the light. This, of course, was not surprising.
When his eyes adjusted, however, they didn't see..anything. There was absolutely nothing in the room. Nothing but vast, black, distance.
"Well, this should be fun." Angel mumbled, taking a few steps forward.
"I'm very intrigued." A voice rang out from behind him. Turning around, Angel could clearly make out a man, covered entirely in all black, a large book in his arms. "You're the first one I've seen in a long time who isn't out cold right about now."
"Send me to the next level."
The man chuckled. "And he brings knowledge of the ritual. Very intriguing, indeed. But, I'm getting off track! There are questions to be asked.." He trailed off, muttering to himself as he opened the book and began leafing through it.
"Hurry up and ask them. I don't have time to play games."
"Don't rush me, vampire." He said easily, his eyes coming away from the page he appeared to be reading. "What year were you born?"
Angel sighed loudly, "1727. Don't you guys already know this stuff?"
"Well, well..you're very well-preserved. Why are you here?" He shifted topics so swiftly, Angel almost missed it.
"You know why I'm here." He said, taking a step closer to the man. "I need you to take me to her."
He stared at Angel for a moment, "You feel love for her. It's pure and everlasting, but there's no place for it here. We grant wishes. That's all."
"If I can't be there to bring her back, you know the ritual will kill her."
"As it has killed many before, and will kill others again. It's the way, Angel." Angel knew he hadn't given his name, but this man knew everything about him anyway. It was all written, right there in the book.
"Not for her. It's not going to happen to her." He promised, through gritted teeth.
"Would you die for her?"
"Yes." Angel replied, with no hesitation.
The man smiled genuinely at Angel for the first time, "Be strong for her." He closed the book, and then everything was black.
And this time, with no power over it, Angel fell into a deep sleep too.
--------------------------------------
The next room was a gray one.
This time, when I opened my eyes, I instantly remembered where I was. Something clicked in my brain, and instant of mind-numbing fear, all I felt was excruciating pain. Score, right?
It took me a few seconds to realize that something was off. The whole vibe of the room was wrong. It felt..nice. Smooth and calm. Nothing like the scratchy room before. It wasn't until I turned my head that I realized why.
Because lying just a few feet away from me, was Angel.
I could have cried I was so happy to see him next to me. Everything rushed at me and I realized I hadn't seen him since the funeral. He had held me under that tree, promising to stay, and then leaving me again. It seemed like the Powers weren't too fond of putting us together in the most pleasant situations, but..he was still here.
He stirred then, opening his eyes slowly and letting them fall over me. They immediately softened, and I felt that familiar stirring in my tummy. That feeling I got whenever he would look at me like I was the only person he had in the world. I realized then, that he was the only person I had, and would ever, meet that made me feel like this. The revelation actually startled me, and I mentally chided myself for thinking about this stuff when there was obviously a much more important situation at hand.
Like, for example, how he got here.
"Buffy." He whispered as he tried to sit up, "Are you alright?"
"I think so." I said stupidly, watching him get into a sitting position, wincing at the pain. Looking down at myself, I realized with an immense amount of relief that I was back in my regular clothing. "Angel..what are you doing here?"
He stood then, his legs shaky but strong, and walked up to me. Taking my small hands in his larger ones, he lifted me onto my feet. "You shouldn't have to go through this on your own."
"What am I going to go through?" I cried, "What exactly is happening?!"
There was a flash of light, and Angel grabbed me to him, covering my face with his jacket. Even through the heavy material, I could see the bright light flickering as the floor from beneath us began to rumble. All at once everything stopped, and I could hear the sound of raggedy, pained breathing.
It took me a moment to realize that the noise was coming from me.
As I slowly brought my head up, brushing my fingers against the soft fabric of Angel's shirt along the way, I could hear a gasp catch in his throat.
"Buffy.." His voice was frantic, begging me not to look at whatever was before us now, but I couldn't help myself.
And there she was. Glowing, and more beautiful than I had ever seen her before. She wore something flowy and light, sparkling out from in front of me.
"Hello Buffy."
Mommy.
--------------------------------------
TBC..
