The Fall of William
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Hi all. Well this is it folks. I gotta say this is my longest story ever and my favorite so far next to Some Kind of Wonderful. I never expected it to get the overwhelming response it has. It was just a little story I liked and wanted to write for myself. But everyone who's read, reviewed, for anyone who's taken the time to read this has made it all worthwhile. I don't usually write AU stories this was my first totally AU fic. And I think it came out ok. I want to thank everyone who's reviewed and sent private e-mails. Each and everyone made my day and I am eternally grateful. Enough with of that on with the story! Enjoy. Skyz.
~*~
Ch:24
Buffy studied Quentin Travers as he reluctantly took the seat opposite her. The man was still arrogant and seemed ignorantly unafraid.
Buffy was quite certain it would be worth it, to see his smug face when she showed him what she'd done to his organization.
"I presume I am here for a reason Ms. Summers?" Travers asked his tone bored, his eyes amused, and the smile that graced his lips mocking.
Buffy smiled back.
A happy little grin, which caused Quentin to frown slightly not, liking the look of it.
"You are an evil genius," Buffy mused studying her hands a moment before she glanced up to see Quentin's reaction.
He ducked his head in fake modesty and then grinned.
"Why thank you," he replied warmly.
"You're welcome," Buffy responded.
Such a nice and civilized conversation, she mused with cynical disdain. Quentin always did like to play the gentleman.
"An evil genius who took one too many things for granted," she continued in a voice cold and flat. "I mean I doubt there was anyone, more paranoid than you, when I worked for you was there?"
Quentin stiffened slightly, but kept his mouth shut, he wanted to see where this was going.
"Worrying about whether or not I'd figure it out and blow you out of the water! But truth be told I wasn't interested in Omega. Or you for that matter. All I wanted was to get out from beneath your thumb. To work on my own. True I'd heard mentions of Omega, but I didn't believe a thing I heard. But you… In your paranoid state saw all kinds of conspiracies goin' on didn't you?"
She laughed at that, shaking her head, stared at him with appraising green eyes that saw entirely too much Quentin realized.
"I hadn't a clue when you ordered me to take down Spike. If you think about it the cause of your destruction is solely placed on your shoulders. If I hadn't taken William down then I wouldn't have gone through all I did. You wouldn't have had Angel be your puppet and all in all you wouldn't be here this very instant. So how does it feel to be taken down by the Slayer?"
As conversations went this was by far the most humiliating and disrespectful one Quentin had ever partaken in.
Trying desperately to gather some of his tattered dignity he lifted his chin and glared at Buffy.
"I'll admit I greatly enjoyed the fall of William. You did a magnificent job in demolishing him. The marriage I must say was a stroke of genius. Though I had hoped you two would end up killing eachother. The only harm you did one another, was him killing your spawn. Which I will say was no loss. But to think you can take me down, me Quentin Travers! A man who has been in this business for more than thirty years is utterly ridiculous!"
Buffy crossed her arms and regarded him coldly.
"I said you were a genius. That doesn't mean you aren't a cocky, arrogant man who brought this on yourself. Quentin Travers was once a man I respected. That is until I actually met you. Then the awe wore off and I saw…What lies beneath that façade you wear. A cold and calculating criminal. All the while—"
"I played you like a well strung violin little girl," Quentin erupted enraged by her contempt. By her lack of respect.
"Yes," Buffy readily admitted. "But only because I wasn't looking for the signs. Had I been you would have been out of business years ago. Let's not fool ourselves and pretend it wouldn't have happened. That's why you wanted me dead. You know how long it took me to destroy all you've worked for?"
"You're nothing! Nothing! I made you what you are. I groomed you and this is how you repay me?!" Quentin's voice shook with his rage as he shot to his feet. His perceived indignities almost too much to bear.
"Is trying to kill me how you repay my loyalty Quentin?!" Buffy yelled right back getting up. "I worked for you for years! I did everything you asked and stupid little me never saw it coming! Never saw that one day you would actually send out agents to kill me! You wanna talk about repayment?" she hissed out, stalking towards him.
Quentin gritted his teeth.
"You're no more than a common whore. Easily had and easily disposed of. I will take pleasure in killing you," he boasted.
Buffy paused a few feet in front of him, and tilted her head back gazing at him.
"Go ahead and try," she urged. She tapped her chest. "Go for the kill. I already have."
"You are foolish enough to think I can be stopped and—"Quentin began to shout.
"There's nothing foolish about me where you are concerned. It took me two days Quentin. Two days to rip your world apart. For a man who's been in this business more than thirty years, you left yourself wide open. Would you like a look? Right there. See those disks, those folders? Everything you owned belongs to me now. Everything," Buffy cut him off smugly.
Quentin wouldn't and couldn't believe it. It could not be over. He had worked so long and hard for this, and this little girl was not going to ruin things for him!
He stalked past Buffy, furiously ripping into the folders, stared at the laptop. Realized with belated horror that he was not up against a little girl. Rather the Slayer. A woman, who demolished, killed and gave no quarter. Not even to her husband.
His heart stuttered in his chest and he felt it. The walls closing in on him. The end was here. God help him.
Buffy studied Quentin's bowed back and pursed her lips.
There were a lot of things she'd remember in her life as momentous occasions, but this…this would be one of the top ten.
"I do believe as of now," she slid a quick glance at her watch and grinned," You are off the auction block. This means we have a buyer. I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that you were greatly sought after. The infamous Omega thought to have been a myth, but turned out to be Quentin Travers. What's the matter Quint? Cat got your tongue—"
Without warning he rushed her, spinning and running he tried to tackle her to the ground. A red haze colored his vision and he was in a rage. Such a rage.
Only it didn't turn out like he'd planned. He rushed and she sidestepped executing a neat little grab. And he ended up on his back her booted foot firmly placed on his larynx.
"I may not be in the game anymore, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten the moves old man. Wanna try that again? See me kill you? Is that it? You want me to kill you," she muttered with dawning insight. "Well isn't this great! Instead of living to face the shame of your actions you want to take the easy way out. Sorry not gonna happen-"
Buffy reluctantly cut off as her cell phone rang. Reaching into her pocket, keeping her foot in place she flipped it open.
"Summers," she answered.
She listened with half an ear, until the mention of Spike, and then everything else was forgotten.
Her foot fell from Quentin and she took a step back.
Reached out blindly to lean against a wall, heart sluggishly moving in her chest.
"I…" she had to stop choking on the words. "I'll be right there."
The door connecting the rooms opened, and the rest of her group tumbled in their expressions concerned.
"B…" Faith began.
Buffy shook her head and straightened abruptly.
"I have to go," she mumbled moving quickly now. Knowing if she stopped she'd fall apart, and would never be able to put herself back together again.
"I'll come with," Faith immediately announced.
"No…" Buffy's voice was low and strained as she reached the door yanking it open. "Take care of him."
Faith glanced at Gunn then to Anya.
"Take care of him. I'll be damned if Angie loses both her parents. I'll see you at the hospital," giving Gunn a quick and hard kiss she hurried after Buffy.
Gunn blinked before he turned to Anya, who looked stunned and at a loss for words.
She proved him wrong though when she spoke.
"I…I have to go Gunn," she announced dimly. "I'll—bye."
The door to the room banged shut as Anya raced out, and Gunn was left alone with Quentin.
When he smiled it had the exact effect Gunn had planned.
Quentin paled and scrambled back.
"Please…"
"You've got a lot of explaining to do old man," Gunn mused as he reached down and yanked Quentin up.
~*~
Willow nervously paced the hospital corridors waiting for Buffy to show up. It was horrible, just horrible that this was happening at all.
That they had let it happen.
Willow couldn't help but blame herself for this. If only she'd been a better friend… If only she'd seen the cracks in Xander before…
If only…
There were many of those, and none of them made her feel any better.
God how could she have been so blind?
Why?
Why?
"It's not your fault," Oz murmured as he slipped his arms around her and held her close.
"Isn't it," Willow demanded angrily. "He's my bestfriend and I didn't—I couldn't ev-"she couldn't go on as tears leaked from her eyes and her throat tightened.
Oz buried his face in her hair and held her even more tightly.
"I didn't see it either Willow. Neither did Buffy or she wouldn't have left Xander there with Spike. We—he fooled us all, and…now we're going to have to move on from that. We have to be strong for Buffy. She'll need us. Like when she lost the baby. She'll need us."
Willow exhaled sharply.
"She'll need us," she repeated leaning her head on his shoulder. "Is it sick that I'm glad it wasn't you? I don't know what I'd do if-"
"Baby it's alright to be thankful it wasn't me. The same goes for me. If I ever lost you… I wouldn't survive it. I love you Willow."
Willow smiled weakly and cupped his face in her hands.
"I love you too," she whispered pressing her lips to his.
Tara paused at the edge of the hall and stared at the picture they made. She realized abruptly that no matter how she felt about Willow it wouldn't matter.
She was deeply and truly in love with Oz and there would be no changing that.
Sighing abruptly she turned and walked away, leaving them in peace.
~*~
Buffy didn't resist as Faith took her arm, and steered her through the hospital, not asking how she knew where Spike was.
She really couldn't get past the words that were circling around her head.
Xander had shot Spike.
Her Spike.
Her husband and it was her fault. There was no way to get around it.
She'd been so stupid.
Stupid Buffy…
How could she have left Xander there with Spike? Knowing what had happened the last time?
Last time Xander had missed and almost killed her.
Now he seemed on the verge of succeeding this time.
A shudder racked her body, and her grip tightened on Faith's arm as she slowed her walk. She couldn't go on.
Not if he died.
Not even for Angie.
She closed her eyes as pain surged through ever pore of her body.
"Oh God…" she moaned out.
"It's alright B," Faith tried to reassure her as she spotted Oz and Willow down the hall.
"How is he?" Faith demanded as she placed Buffy into a near by chair.
"Buffy they took him into surgery, they uh…well they said he needed it right away," Oz muttered out.
Buffy nodded eyes focused on the floor.
"How bad is it?" Buffy asked voice hollow.
Willow shot Oz a look that Faith caught, and worry wiggled its way into her heart over Spike.
"Bad," Willow mumbled unable to lie. "Real bad."
A sharp look at Willow was enough for the red head to blush, and bury her face in Oz's chest as Faith glared at her.
"He'll be okay," Faith told Buffy confidently taking a seat next to her and gripping her hand.
Buffy didn't speak again.
Willow and Oz took seats next to them and they sat in silence.
~*~
Gunn shoved Quentin into the wall and held him there by the front of his shirt.
"I asked how you felt about killing all those people. Hurting everything you touch," Gunn growled.
"I…You can have everything I ha-"
"Oh you mean the everything on that table over there," Gunn gestured to the table. "Sorry to burst your little bubble, but it's not yours anymore."
"No! I have… I have more and you- You would have it all. Please let me go and you'll never hear from me again. I swear!"
Gunn cocked his head and considered this.
He let go of Quentin's shirt and stepped back.
"Really?" he asked curiously.
"Yes!" Quentin exclaimed as he rubbed his chest. "You're a soldier and I know you haven't the money I have. There is an infinite amount of thin-"
"You're right I don't have your kind of money," Gunn snapped as he glared at Quentin. "Blood money. Wouldn't want it, and no matter how large the bribe, you can't buy me old man. In fact if you think, you have a cent left over from Buffy taking it all, you better think again! She's thorough like that."
"Wouldn't take a bribe," Quentin mocked as he strode closer to Gunn. Got into his face and his next words had the desired impact. "But that doesn't go for your little lady does it? I know all about your precious Winifred—oh I beg your pardon. There was nothing precious about her was there? She was a whore; whoever bid the highest got their money's worth. Of that I can ass—"
Gunn didn't even bother to punch him.
He slapped him.
Sent Quentin stumbling back.
"You wanna say that again?" Gunn asked conversationally.
"You're a fool! She whored herself-"
Slap.
"I suggest you shut up now," Gunn warned coldly.
"And I suggest you open your eyes! You seem to be attracted to trash. There was Winifred and now there's Faith. Faith is by far worse than Winifred. She's been around the block-"
Slap.
"We could do this all day," Gunn mused. "But really I don't have the time, or the inclination to waste on you. You wanted me angry and now I am. But I'm not gonna kill you. That'd be too easy. There wasn't a clause on roughin' you up a bit, and I'll admit I enjoyed it. But this is as far as it goes. Get up and come on we're leaving," Gunn ordered.
When Quentin lay slumped on the ground in defiance Gunn shook his head. Abruptly he moved and grabbed him.
Lifted him off his feet and slugged him as hard as he could. He slumped into Gunn's arms unconscious.
"Damn bastard," Gunn muttered before he slung Quentin over his shoulder, and headed out of the room.
~*~
Anya clenched her hands together as she was led down a narrow hallway to the row of jail cells that usually housed a number of criminals.
But today they only held one.
She was nervous and sickened to even be here. She knew she shouldn't have come at all. But she couldn't believe Xander had murdered Angel and shot Spike as well.
But the evidence pointed to that very fact.
She paused in front of the cell Xander was in and glanced at the floor.
Xander bounded to his feet, as he spotted Anya and raced to the bars.
"Ahn," he murmured in relief.
"Xander," Anya muttered unable to look at him.
"Ahn you gotta get me out of here," he yelled. "They've lost their minds! They think—God they think-Ahn please…"
"They think what?" Anya asked quietly her gaze locked to the ground. She couldn't look at him and see his wide eyed innocence. Be fooled by it.
Xander was delusional.
"They think I killed Angel!" Xander exclaimed angrily as he shook the bars. "And shot at Spike! C'mon why in God's name would I do that?! I saw it all and had no part of it. I swear! I swear it. Don't you believe me?"
"You're insane," Anya snapped finally looking up and into his eyes.
He reared back as if slapped and he blinked owlishly at her.
"Ahn," he gasped out in horror. "No! No I'm not I—I'm not insane. I'm as sane as anyone. As sane as you! How can you say that to me?"
"You're mad at me now?" she spat out in disbelief and growing anger. Why couldn't he understand and accept that all the things he did had consequences? "Look around you Xander! You're right where you belong whether you believe it or not! I didn't want to believe it myself, but looking at you I see…"
"See what huh?" Xander demanded belligerently as he paced his cell.
"See that you're so far gone there's no help left for you. No love in all the world will help you outta this."
Xander looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes as cold as his voice.
"What are you saying? That you can't save me because you don't love me? Or what? Explain this to me! Make me see what I've so obviously missed! Enlighten me oh wise one!"
Anya scowled as he mocked her.
Crossing her arms she clenched her jaw and tried to hold her temper.
"I'm saying that I love you. I still love you but… God this is hard Xander. I thought we could have something special. Thought we had something special! But stupid me! Stupid me for believing that you could love anything that wasn't Buffy!"
"Buffy," he pounced on that. "How's Buffy? She doesn't…believe them does she?" he demanded ignoring the pain that flashed across Anya's face.
"Buffy," Anya mumbled her mind flashing to Buffy, then to Spike who was fighting for his life, and here was Xander.
Oblivious Xander.
Stupid Xander.
Naïve Xander.
"Buffy's at the hospital with her husband. You know the man you tried to kill?" she asked sarcastically blinking rapidly to dispel the tears that threatened to fall. "Do you even realize that Buffy will never forgive you for this? That you crossed some invisible line Buffy redrew after you shot her!"
"Buffy loves me," Xander stubbornly persisted. "She'll understand what this is about. Spike touched what was mine. He had to pay. He will pay!"
Anya swallowed as she choked back a sob.
"You need help. God Xander you need help and I hope you get it. I love you…but this is goodbye," Anya choked out as she turned and rushed back the way she'd come.
Xander turned his back on the sounds of her heels clicking as she ran.
Buffy couldn't hate him.
He knew she couldn't.
He smiled sitting on his cot. Resting his arms behind his head he contemplated the ceiling.
Lost himself in visions of Buffy.
~*~
There were a lot of things Buffy was proud to say she'd come out stronger because of. There were patches in her past that had made her who she was today.
There were things that she had once thought she'd never be able to get over, but eventually she had.
She continued to surprise herself, and once she had thought there was nothing she couldn't handle.
She had been wrong.
The one thing she hadn't thought of was the only thing she could not survive.
Spike was a man she thought, too stubborn, too lively to ever die.
He was… he was so alive, and if one of them had to die she'd always known it would be her first.
It had honest to God never occurred to her that Spike would die first.
But now that the proof of his mortality was looking her in the eye, she thought long and hard.
About what she would do if he left her for good.
If he died.
She reached out and gripped his hand, studied his pale and suddenly sunken features. He looked so lifeless. So unlike Spike.
The doctor had told her they'd done all they could, and it was now up to Spike. There was a great chance that he could slip into a coma, if he didn't wake within the next twenty-four hours.
She hadn't heard much else after the coma bit, Oz had taken over. She was grateful for her friends' support. She'd needed them, while she'd waited the long hours for Spike's surgery to be over with.
"When I first met you I didn't like you," she spoke surprising herself with the sound of her own voice. Her words were hoarse and thin.
"But I thought you were sexy in an annoying kind of way," she muttered with a little laugh. "But you slowly but surely wormed your way into my heart and stuck your claws in. And never let go. And some how I loved you. Forever and always. Through it all I loved you…"
She glanced at his face, so still and pale and tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes.
She shouldn't be reminding him of the bad times.
There were good times too.
Then there was Angie.
"Angie was such a good baby," she announced. "Surprising really because she has both our traits and neither of us are the quiet type. She didn't have any hair and she looked funny…when she was first born. But all babies have that look, red faced and weird. But she grew into her looks. She's adored by everyone who meets her. I swear even at six months she had the power to wrap anyone around her little finger! She's so spoiled—you have to wake up Spike! I want you to be awake when I tell you all of this," she suddenly snapped her grip tightening on his hand.
Her face crumpled as she tried to control her breathing and not sob like a baby.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't think. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't realize Xander was planning something like this. He's my bestfriend, and I know you- I didn't think he had it in him. I was wrong. So wrong. But listen to me! You can't let him win, if you let him win—I wouldn't be able to survive it Spike. I swear to you-"
She sobbed breaking off, and lowered her head against their clasped hands.
Her thoughts were scattered and varied.
"Our baby," she began a few minutes later under control. "I buried our baby next to your mother in England. It's a lovely place she picked. I make sure there are flowers. Always. Queen Ann's Lace your mom's favorite. I go there sometimes by myself… I don't know how to explain it to Angie yet. I sit and I think… There are so many things I regret Spike. The list is daunting, but most of all what I regret is that I left you feeling all the blame, for what happened to the baby. It was just an accident, a sad and terrible accident."
She paused and the only sounds were the monitors beeping, and Buffy's uneven breathing. She reached out and ran a shaking hand down his cheek.
"I don't… I'm not the begging kind. I told you that once. I remembered thinking nothing could make me go so low. To beg. But then I met you and well… That went out the window. Why do you make me cry so much? I swear the only time I've ever sobbed is with you, how sick is that? You made me this way. I know you did. I was strong before you. I was content. I think we've both seen eachother at our weakest. The lowest of low and still there's love. We've done so much to eachother. Betrayed, hurt, and tried to kill. Left and came back. I've loved other men. I loved them. They can't compare to you. You made me realize what having a life was all about. Not until you, did I actually feel truly happy. I didn't think it was possible to love someone more than life. More than my life. Didn't think it was possible to love two people like that. You and Angelina. You're my life William. I need you to wake up now… I can't do this… I can't do this without you—God! I love you isn't that enough? I love you!"
She clutched his hand and brought it to her lips.
"I love you," she muttered. "And I know this isn't the end. I won't let it be. I won't let it!"
~*~
"How is she?" Gunn asked concernedly as he rushed towards the group littering the hall outside Spike's door.
"Well she quit sobbing a while ago," Faith announced hugging Gunn to her.
"Now she's just sitting there and holding his hand. I don't know which is better. Her crying or being non responsive," Willow piped up nervously twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
Gunn shot a glance at the closed door and his face tightened as he gritted his teeth.
"And Xander?" he asked coldly.
"Xander's out of it," Anya's voice surprised them all.
Turning they watched as she slowly made her way to them.
Her shoulders were slumped and she looked how everyone felt. Drained and emotionally exhausted.
"You went to see him?" Faith demanded angrily moving away from Gunn.
"Yes," Anya muttered glaring back at Faith. "I love him and needed to see for myself. And now that I have…"
She shuddered wrapping her arms around herself.
"What? How was he?" Willow asked concerned.
"He's lost his mind. He insists that he had nothing to do with shooting Angel or Spike. He's in love with Buffy and knows she's in love with him."
Silence was a blessing as they all pondered this startling piece of news.
"The doctor said if he doesn't wake within the next twenty-four hours, there's a good chance Spike will slip into a coma. He might not wake up," Tara's voice broke the silence abruptly.
"How'd it go with Quentin?" Oz abruptly changed the subject. No one wanted to dwell on the fact that Spike might die.
Gunn grinned.
"Guess who won the auction?" he asked smirking as he looked at them all.
"Who?" Willow asked impatiently.
"The Cheese Man," he announced with a laugh.
There was dead silence after that.
Until one by one they all let loose and joined in Gunn's laughter.
"Oh," Willow choked out. "That is priceless. He's even creepier than Quentin! Priceless."
~*~
Spike was drifting. Slowly moving through a sea of fog. Lost, knowing there were important things at hand.
That he shouldn't be here.
But the harder he tried, to push out of the fog the denser, and impossible it became. Not that he minded the darkness. Hell he'd spent a good portion of his life stuck in darkness. His mind, body and spirit had been covered in it.
To an extent they still were.
So it wasn't all together surprising when he felt the tug of darkness. Felt its beckoning claws rip into his soul, and for a brief moment he felt at home. The familiar anger and rage returned.
William wanted to come out and play.
Justice had to be served.
And for that one brief moment he reveled in the feel of power. Power he had fought his entire life to get, and in one fell swoop it had been taken from him.
This brought to mind why he was no longer William the Bloody.
Because of her.
The Slayer.
Buffy.
His wife.
The mere thought of her was enough, to resist the lure of the darkness. The evilness that had once corrupted his soul. Filled his entire being with hate and rage.
She was everything he wasn't. She was good and kind hearted. She never let things get out of control.
Never murdered people.
He didn't deserve her and he knew it.
As he drifted images flashed fast, and all too briefly before him. Of all the things he had done. Of all the people he had hurt. Had killed.
All in the name of William the Bloody.
He wondered how she could even look at him, much less love him. Everything he had ever done had been done willingly.
Shame filled him.
A constant companion.
He knew sooner or later that he'd end up dead, and be on his way to hell where he belonged. He knew sooner was right here and now.
It would be a blessing, he realized abruptly. If he died now. Buffy would be free, and he wouldn't corrupt the innocence of his daughter.
Spoil all that was good in both Buffy and Angelina.
They would be better off without him.
They'd never know the daily struggle of keeping two sides of yourself in accord. Keeping both parts of yourself happy and sane.
He could do this; he thought not happy but resigned. He could let them go and move on.
He would do it.
He was letting go…
Right now…
Come on…
That was when he heard it.
Voices…
Familiar voices.
He was curious.
He'd let go in a minute, he thought. He wanted to hear what was being said.
He didn't realize as he listened the fog began to lift or that the darkness began to dim and light was slowly returning.
~*~
"Well uh…It's not right what happened to you," Willow began hesitantly as she stood beside Spike's bed.
He looked so pale and unthreatening. It was scary how fragile life was, she thought with a cringe.
"Xander shouldn't have shot you. Or Buffy for that matter. I don't know what's wrong with him. And for what it's worth I'm sorry," she mumbled. "Sorry that he shot you and is doing this to Buffy. He thinks he loves her, but the way he is right now…You- I hope you wake up. That's all."
She reached out and placed a hesitant hand to his, before she retracted it and hurried out.
~*~
It was Anya's turn next.
She slowly eased herself in and studied him.
She hated hospitals they reminded her of death, that it was only a matter of time before they all died.
"You and Buffy are two screwed up people," she announced. "But you love each other and that's all that matters. It's sad you were shot and that Xander's crazy, but it's done and nothing can change that. I hope for Buffy's sake you get better, and wake up, so you can meet Angie. She's a cute kid. Real smart. I like to think she takes that from me. Wake up and make Buffy stop crying. If you die… I think she would die of a broken heart."
Anya twisted her hands together, briefly wondering if she should touch him, but then dismissed the idea.
"I'm gonna take your advice Spike," she whispered as she slipped out of his room.
~*~
Oz sucked in a breath and leaned against the wall.
"Buffy's really shaken up. This is the first time I've actually seen her so broken. She loves you and I'm okay with that. That's why I'm here. You have a wife who loves you and a little girl who needs you. You've got too much to live for now. More than ever. Wake up and live to die another day."
Oz pushed from the wall and walked out.
~*~
"Damn dawg. Leave for a little while and the whole world goes to hell huh? You and me… I can see as friends. Good friends. I love Buffy like a sister and Angie's my god daughter. Buffy's really stuck on you. I mean seriously you have to wake up. Leavin' her here to raise Angie alone and grieving is gonna be too much. You've put her through enough. It's time to be happy now."
Gunn paused and ran a hand over his face.
"I'm getting married and it would be awesome if you were alive for that. If Buffy were alive and happy for this event. So really I expect you to wake up, and to be at my wedding which is in two weeks. Angie'll be there and it's gonna be great. So uh… I'll see you there."
~*~
"I don't know you," Tara murmured as she ran a hand through her hair. "But I know that Buffy loves you. She's been my friend for a long time. So it's with this in mind that I say this. Wake up and live your life. Enjoy it while you can. Buffy's the greatest. I don't think she'll accept anything less than you waking up and getting better. So I can't accept anything less either. Get well and when you wake up, know that you have a friend."
~*~
Faith stared at her scuffed boot and then over at Spike.
"I don't like you," she stated coldly.
Winced as the words echoed around the room.
"And you don't like me," she admitted coolly. "I think we'll both agree on that. But we don't have to like eachother do we? It's not about me is it? Or how I feel abut you. I think Buffy's blind where you're concerned."
She paused again. She didn't know how to do this. This was about making him feel better and wishing he'd wake up.
She hadn't wanted to come in here. She figured it wasn't her place to offer comfort, as she didn't even like him.
But the others, mainly Gunn had insisted she take a turn. They felt it would be good for Spike to know he was surrounded by people who wanted him to live.
"Anyway here's the thing Blondie. Buffy loves you. Angie'll love you too. They're my family and you well… you're something that will make them happy. So I'll say this once. Get your sorry ass up and outta bed, and give Buffy a break for once will ya?"
She crossed her arms.
Stared at him a minute.
Reached out and touched his shoulder.
"Wake up. Please. She won't live without you. I know it. Please wake up."
~*~
Buffy settled in her chair at his bedside and took up his hand again.
"Well I hope that wasn't weird for you. I think it's a big step for them. To come in here and offer support especially to you," she mused quietly rubbing her eyes.
"Guess so pet," Spike's voice was hoarse and rough as the words passed his lips. "But I couldn't wait for them to leave…"
Buffy blinked thinking she was hearing things, she shook her head.
Stared at Spike's pale face.
Watched his mouth move again.
Swallowed past the lump that had formed.
"I guess they kinda got on your nerves huh?" Buffy choked out gripping his hand tighter. "They did it for me you know. They love me. And I know at least Gunn kinda likes you."
Spike's mouth turned up a little.
"Too bad 'bout his taste in women huh?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
But Buffy just shook her head.
"You'll come to like Faith. I know it. I love you," she blurted out closing her eyes.
"Love you too," Spike whispered his words slurred as the medicine kicked in and soon his breathing was deep and even.
"You can't fall asleep," Buffy told him gently.
"Then talk to me," Spike mumbled tiredly.
"About what?" she asked tracing his face with a light hand.
"How much you love me. 'Member when you told me…" his voice trailed off as sleep tugged at him.
"I remember," Buffy whispered. "Let's see… I love you more than pizza. I love you more than banana splits. I love you more than…"
Spike's smile stayed on his lips the entire time he listened to Buffy list how much she loved him. He could be a better man, he thought sluggishly. With her by his side he could live and die happily.
"I love you more than life sweetheart, and if you do something like this to me again I'll kill you myself!"
Spike's lips curled.
"Not like I shot m'self here luv…Could use a little TLC," he remarked suggestively. He let the darkness go and embraced the goodness and light that was right in front of him.
Buffy's brow rose.
"Really?" she asked amused as he nodded. "You sure?" she persisted.
"Absolutely," he mumbled ready for the feel of her mouth on his. He would be a good father. He would teach Angie right from wrong, teach her never to make his mistakes. He would love her until he died.
"Let me call the doctor then," Buffy announced gleefully as she rose. His iron grip on her hand had her stopping.
"Buffy…" You saved me. When you took me down you saved me luv…I'll owe you for the rest of my life for that.
"Spike…" she mocked as she lowered her head brushing her lips across his forehead.
"Love you…" Spike whispered. "More than fags. I love you more than…them Bloomin'
Onion thingies."
Buffy laughed, she couldn't help it as tears ran silently down her cheeks.
"Love you more than life pet. More than life. No one's dyin' here anytime soon. I promise you that."
Buffy gently kissed his lips.
"We're forever that's a promise," Buffy whispered back.
"So…about this Lorne bloke is he a weird one pet? Don't want a pervert watching our 'lil girl," he muttered still unnerved by the thought of a man watching his daughter.
"He isn't a pervert Spike!" Buffy exclaimed. "In fact he's kind of a drama queen. And I think he's kinda gay…"
"WHAT?!"
THE END
~*~
A/N: Epilogue to follow this. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I loved writing it. Skyz.