I know I haven't posted in the last few days. Truth is, I was busy. Yeah, I've been with friends, boyfriend, dealing with home matters.
Okay, another thing to discuss. You probably won't like what is gonna happen at the end of this chapter. *dodges tomato. Puts up hands to surrender* Now, calm down, I have a reason for doing what I am. A VERY good reason. One that you will REALLY like. So don't go booing yet, k?
Chapter 12
Spike knocked on Fredrick's door. Buffy stood beside him, holding his hand. "He can't be asleep at seven," the vampire commented.
At that moment, they were greeted by the watcher. He peered out at them, and then gestured them inside. "Good, you're both here. I have translated the prophecy and I'm sure you will be interested."
The blonds stepped through the threshold. They followed Fredrick into the living room. He went over to the recliner that had a book and a piece of paper on it. Grabbing both, he said, "Angela, I believe that these words pertain to you."
"Buffy," Buffy corrected.
Fredrick looked over. "Huh?"
"That's why we're here. Remember when I came here suspecting that the slayer was Buffy?" Spike spoke up.
"Yes, I seem to recall that, yes. I also remember saying it couldn't be possible."
"Well, think again, cuz she is. Her past life came flooding back last night."
Startled, Fredrick took Buffy in. "Are you sure?"
A great sigh escaped Spike. "What do you mean, mate? That she's faking it?"
"I'm not tricking you! I'm Buffy Anne Summers, the vampire slayer. The one who jumped in that electric blue ball of light thingy. End of story. Now, around to important things . . . How did I heal myself?" Buffy said with frustration.
That caught Fredrick's attention. "Healed yourself. You were ill?"
"Try clawed at by some dino-monster."
"Dear lord," Fredrick said. "Is it dead."
Buffy smiled. She patted Spike's arm. "No worries, my knight in shining armor beat the crap out of him." She paused, glancing up at Spike. "You did, right? I was sort of outta it, but . . ."
"Yeah, luv, I kicked his arse good and proper. He won't be botherin you again," Spike replied.
"Anyway, I was really hurt bad. Spike took me to his friend Rebecca's. While unconscious, I saw everything as Buffy. Then I woke up, fully recovered and Buffyish."
Spike nodded. "She wasn't just hurt, though, she was dying. One minute she was slipping away, the next sitting up in bed."
A shiver ran through Buffy. No one had told her how serious her injuries had been. Wait, no, George had, but she hadn't let it sink in. She had been close to departing from this realm a third time. So, what prevented it? The whole thing was a mystery, and she wanted answers. Now.
"So, come on, Freddie, shed some light for us. Make that moonlight, not sunlight," Spike told Fredrick.
Fredrick cleared his throat. "This is very peculiar. Never has a slayer healed herself so quickly."
Buffy plopped down on the couch. She leaned into the cushions as if trying to disappear. "Great, I have another reason to be called a miracle slayer."
"That is what you are, Ang. . . Buffy. This text that is in my hand proves it. You aren't ordinary in the slightest."
"Never was," Spike murmured, sitting down next to Buffy. She looked over at him, being the only one who heard what he said. Her expression was unreadable.
"So, out with it. What does this prophecy say?" Spike demanded.
Fredrick's attention shifted to the book he held. "It doesn't make a whole lot of sense right now . . ."
"Read it," Buffy urged.
"Very well. 'One with no beginning and no end. She who is who she was, and was not who she is. Making up what has never been.' "
"Ha, makes more sense now, doesn't it?" Spike put in. "Buffy being back and all with new abilities."
"Yes, I suppose." Fredrick shook his head. He continued quoting from the book. "'Blood of yesterday pumps renewal for today. Trickles until gone, and fills up. . . again.' " He stopped, raising his gaze, which traveled to fix on Buffy.
Buffy sat up straighter. "What? What is it?"
"Trickles until gone. To fill up again. God, that could be it," Fredrick muttered.
"Out with it, watcher," Spike demanded.
Fredrick's eyes were full of sympathy. He focused on Buffy. "I believe that maybe . . . you can't die. It would explain why you recovered from your injury in such a manner."
There was no response from Buffy. She was too much in shock. Spike grabbed her hand.
"What are you saying?" Spike questioned. He said this without shifting his gaze from the slayer.
"That technically, she very well might be immortal," Fredrick proclaimed.
Silence fell over the room.
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"Buffy, wait up!" Spike yelled. He quickened his pace, trying to get to the fleeing slayer. "Where do you think you're going? You always have to run when things don't go the way you want them to. Come on, talk to me."
She ignored him, and kept on walking. Her cheeks were a mess of tears, which she had given up on brushing aside. They mixed with the rain that was coming down from the darkened sky.
A hand grabbed her arm. "Buffy!"
She turned to the concerned vampire. "I'm going to Willow's. I have t-to talk to her," she informed.
He nodded. His normally slicked-back hair was curling down in his face. "All right, we'll go talk to Red."
They headed to their friend's place, side-by-side, not saying a word. Both were lost in their own thoughts.
Spike understood how Buffy felt. She was going to live forever. She was going to spend an eternity watching the world fall to destruction. And she would fight it. She would fight to try and make things right. But even an eternity isn't long enough to save the world. Everyone she met would go away, one-by-one. Things would change all around her, while she stayed the exact same. And sometimes, she'd wish to grow old as well and have peace. But there wasn't anything she could do. The clock would never stop, just keep going and going. And what was the point of it all? Of anything?
Glancing over at his drenched Buffy, he felt guilty. Because he was selfish in being a little happy about her being immortal. Now he wouldn't have to face things alone anymore.
They made it to Willow's house. Buffy went in first, calling the witch's name. There was no answer.
"She might be napping, pet. Let me go check," Spike offered.
Buffy nodded her head. She waited for him, water dripping off her form. Her body began to shiver and she wrapped her arms around herself.
The second Spike emerged from the bedroom, she knew something was terribly wrong. She rushed at him. "What is it?" She tried to go into the room he had just came from. "Is it Willow?" He caught her, preventing her from entering.
"You don't want to go in there," he whispered.
Buffy kept shaking her head. No, no, NO. She broke away from him, stepping backwards. Her heart was beating too fast, and it was hard to breathe. No, not now, her brain shrieked. I can't loose the only one I have left.
"It happened in her sleep," she vaguely heard the vamp say. "I'm sure there wasn't any pain."
Her legs gave out. She crumpled to the floor, taken over by sobs. She was gathered up into strong arms. The water came for a long time until suddenly they ran out. She went still, not making a sound.
Spike looked into her eyes to see a blank stare, and was frightened that she had gone catatonic like when Dawn had been captured. No, luv, stay with me. He grabbed her shoulder and shook them. "Buffy!?"
Buffy blinked, coming out of her stupor. Spike sighed in relief.
"I can't do this," she croaked. "Why would the powers do this to me? Haven't I done enough? They want me to do this fucking holy mission for them. Save the good, kill the bad till the end of the world. Well, forget that! I can't live forever. Not when everyone I care about is gone."
Aren't I someone you care about!? he wanted to shriek. Instead, he said, "It's hard. There were times when I wanted to bathe myself in the sunlight. But I found a purpose. You have to find a reason to go on."
"I don't have one. Not anymore. Slaying doesn't seem to be important anymore. Nothing is important anymore. All my friends are dead. My sister's dead. My mom's dead. Giles is dead. Hell, even my father is dead, jerk as he was." She started to cry again. Her face buried itself into his damp chest, and her arms wrapped around his middle, desperate to hold onto something.
His fingers smoothed her hair. "There isn't any reason to go on? Not even one?" His voice was soft and filled with pain.
Buffy rose her head to look at him. She met his pleading blue eyes, and then it hit her. Him. She had him. She held onto him tighter. "Oh, Spike. You won't ever leave me will you?"
"Never," he answered.
She brought his mouth down to meet his. When she pulled back, she faintly smiled. "I love you. Be my reason for living."
His own tears fell then. Ones of loss and gain at the same time. "Forever, luv. Forever."
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Okay, I know you are about ready to shoot me for killing off Willow. But, I promise you I did have a reason for doing it. I think you'll like what I have planned, so keep on reading.
Oh, and sorry if my writing was a little off. I had TONS of distraction while getting this out.
Chapter 13
20 Years Later
Just as Fredrick predicted, Buffy didn't age a year past twenty-one. It was hard to go on without any friends, and she was often lonely. She was thankful, however, to have Spike by her side. Whenever she became depressed he would brighten her spirits again. At least there was some warmth on the cold planet she lived on.
Spike was the happiest he had ever been, while being a vampire or human. All he needed was Buffy. He was satisfied to just have her love. He had finally gotten what he had been searching for his entire existence. The woman he loved, loved him back for who and what he was. Nothing else mattered.
Currently, Buffy was without a watcher. Fredrick had retired and moved down to Florida for the remainder of his days. The council checked up now and then to see how things were going, but she was mainly on her own. Spike still got paid to inform them on the goings on of Sunnydale each week.
The couple had a schedule. Sleep until twelve in the afternoon. Eat breakfast: Spike, blood; Buffy, bagel or muffin. They would mope around doing whatever until Spike's soaps came on (which Buffy would make fun of, annoying the bleach-haired one). Then, Buffy would go to train at Fredrick's old place (he left it in her care. They almost moved in, but couldn't bring themselves to leave the apartment). Sometimes in the evenings, they'd watch movies on television, or spend it doing 'other things' in the bedroom. Around eleven, it was patrolling time.
"Spike, I'm going out to patrol," Buffy announced. She gathered a few freshly whittled stakes and stuffed them in her pockets.
"Okay, let me get my coat," Spike answered, getting up off the couch.
Buffy walked over. "Uh, Spike, I was thinking of going alone tonight."
"What? Why?" he asked, puzzled.
"We do everything together. I sorta need some alone time."
He gave a great sigh. "Look, does it have to be while patrolling?"
"Maybe it does. What are you worried about? It's not like some nasty can kill me. I'm immortal now, remember?"
"Well, they can certainly hurt you. Do you wanna practically bleed to death again!?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Stop being so protective. I can take care of myself!"
"That's why the dinosaur demon got you, right? Cuz you're so good?"
She was irate now. "He came out of nowhere. I've learned my lesson now. Gotta watch my back. Besides, that happened ages ago."
"What if they come up with a sword and cut off your head? You might survive, but I doubt it would be pretty," he shot back.
A snort came from Buffy. "This isn't Highlander, Spike!" She turned to leave. "See ya later!"
"Yeh, go!" she heard him yell before she stepped out into the hall.
Buffy traveled the route to one of the most active cemeteries. On the way, she fumed over the stupid bleached vampire. He didn't have to be her shadow twenty-four seven. When she suggested going shopping during the day, he'd persuade her to wait until nightfall so he could come along. What was his freaking problem? There was no reason for him to worry. She was going to live forever no matter what beastie came at her.
The slayer surveyed the landscape, keeping vigil for any rising fledglings. After finding none, she leaned up against a tombstone.
This life she had created for herself had to change. Twenty years of doing nothing but fooling around with a vampire and slaying was getting old. She had to find a motivation to get up and face another day. A hobby? Yeah right, collecting stamps wasn't going to do it. Spike seemed to be happy with the lazy routine, but she desired something else. A job? Hey, not such a bad idea. It would let her get out of the house and be among the living for change. And then the most unexpected thought sprung into her head. The Magic Box.
It was perfect. The store was still vacant, and Spike didn't make as much as a watcher did so they could use the money. Not to mention, she felt at home there. Every night after patrol she'd walk by it on the way back to her apartment. Her heart would be filled with longing and sorrow at the sight of the blackened window. She'd bring it back to life. Sure she wasn't the businessy type, but she could learn. Spike wasn't bad on finances and could help too. It would be great. She'd be able to sniff the incense and candles again. She'd go around and pick up something and remember. 'Hey, there was that time Xander knocked over a display of crystals.' It was the closest she would ever be to her friends. Hell, she'd even move Fredrick's dusty books there and do research.
Deep down, Buffy knew she just wanted her old life back. She missed her sister and friends. There was an empty part in herself that could never be filled. Not even by Spike, even though he tried.
Buffy started to walk again, in deep thought. She never saw the arrow coming. It wasn't until it was too late, and her vision blurred, that she realized someone had shot her.
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Damn that slayer! She was so sodding stubborn. He was only worried about her safety. He couldn't go through another episode of her slipping away from him, even if some prophecy said she'd be revived at the last minute.
Spike slammed his fist down on the coffee table. It was three o'clock in the morning. Where was that bint!? She was probably roaming around till daylight to piss him off. Well it was working.
Even though Spike knew Buffy was only getting even at him for their fight, he still was bothered. What if it was something more?
Spike grabbed his duster and threw it on. He was going to go find her and bring her home.
Right then, there was a knock at the door. Spike's head cocked to the side, contemplating the noise. Who could it possibly be? Buffy would have come right in because she lived there. And they had no friends. They'd stayed there for years without a single visitor.
Cautiously, Spike went to the door. He turned the knob, swinging the door open. What he saw could have jumpstarted his heart.
"Nibblet?" he managed to get out.
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He he he. I'm evil and I know it. He he he.