Confusion
By: Lynn
Summary: See Chapter 1
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The usual.
Chapter 8
Spike and Victoria finished training for the day, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and left to go find George and Edward for another night of patrolling. Finding them near the alley where Spike first met the Watchers-in-Training, they quickly decided which section of the town they'd slay in that night. Edward led the way, and they soon found themselves in a very disreputable part of London. Walking past the streetwalkers, thieves and other riffraff that stared at the four young walkers, Victoria clung unconsciously to Spike's arm. While she may be learning how to fight vampires and other demons of the night, certain parts of humanity would always scare her.
And, of course, part of her reason for clinging to his arm was a desperate hope to make Edward jealous, but he had yet to even glance over at them. She sighed to herself. I may as well just give up. He'll never love me…
Spike, sensing how disheartened his friend was, reached his other hand up to squeeze hers, smiling gently down upon her. Bending down, he whispered in her ear.
"Don't give up hope, luv. I'll help you win him, yet." Standing up straight, he gave her his patented wink. Spike surreptitiously glanced over at Edward. Poor girl… But I know how he feels. Loving a Slayer isn't something you choose to do. It chooses you. Well, with any luck, this Lydia will die soon, and my Vicki will have her chance. Hmmm…I wonder if I should help out – bring my tally up to three…Nah, Buffy wouldn't like that.
A scream pierced the night, as well as Spike's inner thoughts, and the four ran toward the source of the sound. Two vampires had already subdued their victim, a man in his early thirties. The vampires stood on either side of the man, drinking deeply from his neck.
"Aw, fellas. Wouldn't Mommy be so proud? You guys are sharing!"
The two vampires looked up, startled. Glaring at Spike, they let go of their victim as one. The man dropped to the ground, lifeless. Snarling, they leapt at Spike, as he whipped out a stake to meet them. The first vampire was dust before he knew what hit him, but the second managed to avoid Spike's stake long enough to try and make a run for it out the other end of the alley. Moving too fast for Edward and George, they could only launch themselves after the demon, and fell to the ground when they came up short. However, Victoria, who had been standing behind them, had enough time to prepare for the vampire running toward her. Using the skills newly learned, she pulled out a stake at the same time as she whirled in a perfectly executed kick. The vampire fell backwards, and Victoria lunged, plunging the stake into his chest.
Spike immediately started clapping, while her brother and Edward, still sitting on the ground, stared at her in disbelief.
"Victoria!" Her brother finally managed to say.
"That…that was amazing," Edward said, as he stood and walked closer to her. "How did you learn to fight like that?"
Victoria looked down, blushing. Edward had never looked at her with such an awe-filled expression before her, and it was doing exciting things to her heart.
"Um…S-" Looking up, she saw Spike wildly pantomiming behind the others' backs. He mouthed to her, Don't tell them… "I guess I just picked it up from watching you two."
"Well, keep it up, and I'll be out of a job!" A feminine voice interrupted the scene. Spike watched as Edward's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at a young, blond girl standing to their right. As Edward seemed to completely forget about Victoria, Spike watched as his friend's entire body sagged in disappointment. Well, this must be the Slayer. Poor Vicki. Walking over to her, he gently squeezed her shoulder, while she looked up and smiled sadly at him.
"Lydia, what are you doing in this part of the city." Edward rushed to her side.
"Well, I was going to patrol, but it looks like you guys have it covered."
"Oh, we could never do your job as well as you do." Lydia laughed, then turned her attention to the others in the group. "Hello, George…Victoria. And you are…" The Slayer's eyes got wide, as she pulled out a stake "a vampire! Quick, get behind me!"
The men started laughing, while Victoria smugly put her arm back through the crook of Spike's elbow. Spike smiled down at her, more than willing to help her get her small sliver of revenge on the girl who possessed the man she wanted.
"Oh, Lydia. This is Spike. He's a good vampire!"
The Slayer lowered her stake, confused. "What?"
The four, taking turns, told the story of how they met Spike. Spike himself told her about his "history": being cursed with a soul and on his path to redemption. Grudgingly, she accepted their explanations, but Spike could tell she wasn't quite ready to trust him yet. Not unlike another Slayer I know…
Once explanations and introductions had been made, the five continued patrolling their section of the town. The entire time, Victoria flat out ignored Edward, talking animatedly with Spike and finding excuses to touch him. Spike admired her for the effort, but didn't have the heart to tell her that Edward wasn't really noticing as he only had eyes for the Slayer walking next to him.
* * *
Buffy was sprawled out on the couch. Dawn had gone to bed a little while ago, and William was in the kitchen, trying to understand the microwave. While Buffy had the TV on, she didn't see or hear any of it. She was so confused. She felt herself falling for William, but couldn't deny that it was really Spike she wanted. I could never admit it before, even though he told me a bunch of times how he felt. Now, I know and I may never be able to do anything about it. William and Spike may have switched places forever, and I'll never see him again! I won't be able to patrol with him, or banter with him. He won't be around to irritate me, or to comfort me. To hang out with Dawn, or to mock Xander. How could I not realize before that Spike is everything I could want in a man?
William walked into the living room, flushed with excitement at being able to offer Buffy a cup of hot chocolate. Buffy almost started crying when she saw the little marshmallows in it. Looking at William, her heart ached. She wanted Spike back so badly right now. Not even realizing what she was doing, she set her cup of hot chocolate down on the coffee table and launched herself at William. Pulling his mouth to hers in a desperate kiss, she felt him pull away at first, surprised. Then, he too gave in to the kiss. Mouths and hands were everywhere, hot breath coming faster and faster. As his hand went under her shirt, she had to force herself not to moan Spike's name. Although her brain was beginning to shut down, she still had to pointedly ignore the voices in her head.
Oh my God! What am I doing? I'm about to have sex with William. But I want Spike! Does it matter, since someday he will be Spike? This is so wrong!!
She pushed the thoughts out of her mind as pleasure overwhelmed her. Trying not to feel guilty, she closed her eyes tight, imagining it was bleached blond hair she was grasping in her fingers, imagining that the body held close to hers was cold. If she tried hard enough, she could smell Jack Daniels and cigarettes. But she dared not open her eyes; deep down, she knew she wouldn't see Spike smirking back at her.
* * *
Buffy was asleep in his arms, but William just laid on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. So that's sex… It wasn't what he had imagined, but he certainly did enjoy it. However, as much as she tried to hide it, he knew she had pretended it wasn't him. Spike…Or I guess I should say me… I must change a lot between now and when I'm him. I could never win a girl like Buffy. Lucky guy.
William lay there, as thoughts raced around his head, vying for attention. Can I be jealous of myself? Will I ever meet a girl like Buffy in my time? Will I ever go back to my time? Do I want to? I wonder what Spike's doing back then? Does Mother know? Does he miss Buffy? If I go back to my own time, will I even remember Buffy?…So that's what sex is like…
After what seemed like hours, he gently woke Buffy. There was no need for them to both sleep on the uncomfortable couch, and he was sure no one wanted Dawn to see them like this. After quietly putting on their clothes, Buffy said good night and gave him a quick kiss.
"Good night, Buffy. Uh…and thank you for…" William waved his hands around. Stupid Victorian manners: he could do the act but couldn't say its name. Buffy just smiled.
"It was fun."
Buffy raced up the steps, and William lay back down, lost in his thoughts once more.
* * *
Victoria's shoes clicked loudly in the otherwise unearthly quiet library. All around her Watchers and Watchers-in-Training were lost in their books, not even noticing as she walked past them. Walking quickly past the rows of old, musty books, she barely glanced at their titles. She knew which section of the library she was aiming for. The books on time travel were all in the far right corner, and were, for the most part unused. Most Watchers, like Edward, couldn't make themselves believe in time travel. Victoria never understood that; they all believed everything else that was written down in the giant volumes in the library. What is so different about believing in time travel?
Reaching her destination, she scanned the shelves, quickly finding the books she planned to start with. Bringing them over to the sole, empty table in the time travel section, she pulled out the notes she had already made on the subject. Opening the first book, she prepared to lose herself in it for hours.
* * *
Almost 4 hours later, Victoria heard the sound of someone coming toward her. Looking up, she groaned inwardly.
"Hello, Robert."
"Victoria, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Robert, how are you?"
Victoria spaced out, unconsciously still saying uh-huh and oh at the appropriate times. Robert Wyndham-Price, although a very nice man, was too aware of his position as the heir to one of the most venerable Watcher names. Not to mention, completely boring… George teased her constantly about Robert; it was clear to everyone that he was quite taken with her. But, even on the days she was most depressed about Edward, Victoria could never see herself accepting his suit. I don't think I could handle being a Wyndham-Price. Unfortunately, Victoria couldn't bring herself to make that fact obvious to Robert. Despite his faults, he was a nice man, very attentive and quite a bit naïve.
His latest question brought her out of her thoughts.
"So, Victoria, what are you studying here?"
"Uh…time travel." Victoria always found it best to tell the truth. Lies always caught up with you, and, hopefully, Robert would just assume this was one of her "whims".
"Time travel!" His face lit up. "I've always been fascinated with the subject. I've endeavored countless times to explain the possibility. If a person comes back in time, and manages to change things so much that the chain of events that led to his birth is broken, he would not have a future to which to return. But, if he did not exist in the future, he would not have been able to come back in time in the first place! What do you think of the paradox?"
"Well, I suppose one could argue of fate. But I don't believe in fate. I do think, though, that it is possible things have a way of correcting themselves. I mean, we Watchers study prophesies every day. In one way or another, prophesies are meant to happen, and they'll find a way to do so."
"That is an interesting perspective. I will give it more thought, and perhaps, one day, we can discuss it some more." Robert stood up. "But now I must leave you, Victoria. Good day!"
"Good day, Robert."
Turning back to her book, Victoria stared at it, but didn't read the pages, as something was tickling the back of her brain. She knew from experience that if she tried to chase it, she would never catch the thought, so she sat there and let it come to her. Gasping, she stood up, nearly knocking her chair over.
"Prophesies!" Rushing back over to the shelves, she searched for another book, found it and raced back over to her chair.