Chapter 45: confrontation.
Title: Reunion time.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that *English is not my native tongue* so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.
Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.
***
"Cordy?" A realization came to her. "The sacrifice... it's you, you're the sacrifice..."
"What?" Cordy asked surprised. "Where did you get that crazy idea?" Cordy thought if she minimized Fred little discovery maybe she'll let it slide.
"I'm not stupid you know. I'm actually pretty smart. I use to make deductions for a living, or at least for studies, that for me was like a living, and although I'm babbling I think you understand what I mean." Fred took a big breath.
"I do." Cordy said contemplating her next step. "And I'm sure you're great at deducting things, hey I've seen you in action, I know your worth." She smiled when she saw Fred was smiling. "But the thing is, this time you're way off track." She hated lying to Fred, sweet loving Fred, but she had to. "So don't worry, I'm here to stay." She smiled.
"Well I guess I did jump the gun." Fred smiled realizing how silly she was.
"It's okay, you were just worried about me, that's understandable." **She just wanted her to go away so she could stop pretending and lying. She never knew she'd be such a good liar, especially to he closest friends in the world, to her family**
"Cordy?" She looked up at Fred. "Are you okay?" Fred asked concerned.
"I'm fine." She smiled. "Maybe I just need some rest after the crazy day we had."
"Uh, sorry, I should let you Fred got up and turned to the door. "Cordy." She stopped at the doorway and turned.
"Yeah?"
"You wouldn't lie to me, for my own good, would you?" Fred asked suspiciously.
"What do you think?" Cordy flashed her one million dollar smile.
"Of course you won't." Fred said and left the room closing the door behind her.
"Powers." Cordy said quietly. "Give me the strength to crazy this out. I think I might just crack." She lowered her head spooning it with her hands. Soft tears fell down her cheek.
Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head. She grabbed it and lay on the bed curled up in pain. "Haaaa" She screamed as the pain diminished and she slowly opened her eyes. As she opened her eyes, she hoped no one heard her; she wasn't up to see anyone right now. She tried to sort out the images she saw in her mind. She knew it was about the Dorkanious, cause besides the fact it hurt like hell, lately all her visions targeted on him and that damn book. "God damn it." She said in anger. She sat up, "I know I'm spouse to be this perfect combination, but I'm telling you, you got it all wrong. I'm just an ex-cheerleader, a little brat who lost all of her daddy's money and thought she'd be a famous actress and discovered what everyone already knew, she wasn't." She felt depressed, sad and angry all at once. She had enough, she just wanted it to be over, and she wanted peace, this way or the other.
"Is that what you really think of yourself. Come one say it isn't so?"
"She looked up to see who said that. "Oh my god!"
***
"She walked inside the house knowing it's now or never, knowing she couldn't have chosen a worse time to tell them, but now she had the courage, now she knew she had to, or she'll lose him.
"Buffy how was patrolling?" Giles greeted her as she walked inside.
"Good, good." She nodded and hung her jacket on the coat hanger. "Is Xander and Anya still here?" She asked.
"Xander is. Anya left about an hour ago. Said she needed to wash her hair." Giles shook his head in disbelief. Still after all this time he's known her, she still managed to surprise him, not always for the best.
"So Xander is still here?" She asked in hesitation, holding on to her courage before it slips away.
"I belief so." Giles had his nose stock in a book, as he paced to the living room. Oddly enough it was empty.
"Where's everyone?" Buffy asked surprised.
"It's late, they were tired so we decided to take a brake for the evening and continue tomorrow. Giles explained.
"Are you going to tell me that Wesley took a brake?" Buffy asked in shock.
"Well no, not Wesley, of course..."
"Of course." Buffy teased him.
"As I was saying..." Giles ignored that. "He went to the shop to bring a book we left there. He and Angel should be back in a while."
"That doesn't give me much time." She said to herself.
"Excuse me?" Giles looked up from the book. "Did you say something?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk to you and Xander alone before Wesley and Angel return." Buffy couldn't believe she actually took the plunge.
"Of course, you should go get Xander from the kitchen, he'll never leave it on his own." Giles smiled when Xander walked in.
"I heard that." He said to Giles. "And get me for what? Don't tell me there's more research? Giles you promised after I finish with that book from hell, I get to go home, like the rest did." Xander looked tired, and Buffy rethought her plan, maybe she should have waited till morning.
"Don't worry Xander I didn't call you because I need your help me save the world we live in, the world you call home." Giles dropped a pinch of guilt. "Buffy wanted to speak to us about something in privet."
"Uh." Xander Sat down intrigued. "What's up Buff?"
"Well she couldn't sit or stay put, she paced back and forth. "I need o tell you something and I need you to understand and not judge me. Now I know it's a lot to ask but that's what I need from you, can you handle that?"
"Sure Buff, what ever you need from us we're here." Xander smiled his supportive smile.
"Buffy you know you can tell me anything." Giles said.
"I know..." She took a big breath. "I... I... God it's so hard."
"Buffy whatever it is, just tell us, it can't be that worse, can it?" Xander smiled but noticed Buffy didn't, and that got him worried. "Oh no, is something awful about to happen, except for what that is already happening?" He asked fearing the answer.
"No, it's no like that." Buffy calmed him down. "I think it could be something wonderful if you'll just let it be." She smiled.
"Well then go on." Giles rushed her.
"Okay." She gave it another try. "Lately me and someone else have grown closer, really close. And neither of us expected it, well maybe he did, but I sure didn't. And I know it's hard for you to see us together, but I really think that given time you will be able to..."
"I knew it." Xander jumped up. "I knew you and that no-good vampire are together. I just knew it."
"You did?" Buffy asked surprised. She thought she hid it pretty well.
"Of course I did. I saw the way you looked at each other, the way you went patrolling together."
"And you're okay with that?" Buffy asked confused.
"Well he's not my favorite vampire, but at least he doesn't bite people, not any more that is."
"I'm sorry, who are you seeing again? I'm a bit confused." Giles who had no clue asked.
"Angel/Spike." Both Buffy and Xander said simultaneously.
"Spike/Angel?" They both asked in shock.
***
"What the hell?" Xander said in shock. "I thought you and Angel were back on, I never thought... Oh god I need to lay down." He sat on the sofa holding his head in both his hands.
"Xander, I thought you knew. You said you knew." Buffy said in confusion.
"Okay, okay I get it now. This whole Dorkanious business clouded your judgment, that's right." Xander was talking to himself ignoring Buffy, trying to rationalize this. "And you don't know what you're doing. Well don't worry." He got up and placed his arm on Buffy's shoulder. "Now that we know we'll help you, we'll..."
"It's not from now Xander." She cut him off. "It started before the Dorkanious business."
"Oh god, I need aspirin. Do we have aspirin? Cause I really need one. Could she the Buffy-bot? Did Willow re-built her and didn't let me know. "He pinched Buffy in the arm.
"Aww." She said. "Xander what you need is to calm down, okay?"
"No, not okay. Are you crazy? You must be if you think I can clam down after this." His tune changed from panicked to angry. "This is Spike we're talking about. At least with Angel he has a soul, as long as you two don't do the hocky poky, but Spike???" He lowered his tunes. "He doesn't have a soul. How could you Buffy? How can you?"
"You have no right Judging me." Now she was getting angry. "You don't know how hard it is, how lonely..."
"Please, Give me a brake." Xander cut her off. "We all have shit happen to us, that doesn't mean we start dating demons. "He paused for a moment when he realized he was dating and engaged to be married to an ex-demon. "Well at least the soulless ones." He looked at he as he sat down again. "How long has it been going on? Have you slept with him? Wait I don't want to know."
"Good, cause it's none of your business, Xander." She backed away a bit and looked at him in disappointment. "I expected more from you."
"So did I from you, Like say sanity for example." He got up again. "Something you obviously lack since you what? Started dating him? Sleeping with him? Oh wait that last part remains unclear." He mocked her.
"And it will, till you start acting like a sane person." She snapped at him.
"You first Buffy, you first." And with that he walked away.
"Fine walk away, run, that's what you're good at anyway." She cried out after him.
***
"Buffy that's enough." Giles who remained silent till now spoke.
"What? Now you Giles?" She turned to face him. "Now you get to tell me I'm crazy?"
"Buffy I'm not your father, and even if I was, you're past the age were I tell you who to see." He said calmly. "You know the risks, you know what he is, and yet you made your choice. I can't say I like it, or even support it. But that's not what you asked from me. You asked for understanding and acceptance, and that's what you get from me."
"Thank you." She said quietly, almost whispered.
"Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a terrible idea and if you have any sense you'll see it on your own." He added.
"Gee, Thanks Giles I almost started to think I had someone on my side, some one who understood."
"Who have you told, besides us?" Giles asked surprised.
"Well, Willow found out on her own last night so I told her. And got the same reaction. Didn't explode like Xander but she made perfectly clear she doesn't like or support the idea." Buffy paused for a moment. "An I told Angel, but only cause he smelled Spike sent on me, and I couldn't lie to him.
"Uh so Spike sent was on you?" Giles thought that was a bit more than he wanted to know. Buffy blushed.
"I'm sorry I told you only now, I guess I was afraid of your reaction. And judging from Xander's little catastrophe, I think I was right."
"So what made you tell us anyway? I mean Angel will leave in a few days, that is if we all live till then." Giles smiled. "And Willow would never had betrayed your confidence."
"It was Spike. He hated running around behind your backs, hiding from you. He planned on leaving town after this whole apocalypse thing was over. Maybe he still does, I don't know." Buffy sat on the sofa. "Will he ever talk to me again?" She looked up to Giles.
"You are the best of friends, and I should know I've seen you two together from nearly six years. He'll come around, give him time." Giles smiled and walked away her alone to think of all that has happened.
***
"You've got to be kidding me? What are you like the good fairy godmother or something?"
"Why do you say that?" He asked surprised.
"Cause you keep showing up in weird situation." She aid as she kept staring at him.
"Hey, as I recall we only met once and I don't think it was that bad."
"Uh yeah, you're right I forgot to thank." She said sarcastically. "For turning me into a freak."
"As I recall Miss chase we had a deal, you choose to become a freak, not me. I was born like this." He smiled.
"So what's up Skip why are you here? Don't tell me those stupid powers that be, actually for once heard my cry, sort of speak?"
"Actually they did, and they decided you need some cheering up..."
"So they sent you?" She asked surprised.
"Why, am I not good enough for you?" Skip seemed a bit offended.
"No you're great, I just figured they'll send someone like... Doyle, you know a close friend." She explained, choosing her words carefully.
"Well your friend is busy. You know we do have other things to do than tend to your needs all day."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I'm glad you're here." She didn't want him to feel bad. "So how are you supposed to cheer me up?" She asked in hesitation.
"By giving you a little tip." He winked at her. "The last vision you had was about the Dorkanious..."
"Like duh, I knew that." She snorted at him.
"Well duh." He imitated her. "I wasn't finished. "It involved the book, and before you'll say you knew that also, let me add that it also told you where you could find the book. Just look harder."
"I can't go back to my vision." Cordy said what she thought he must have already known.
"And no asked you to. All you have to do is what you did in the past. try to remember in more details what you saw. It flashed so fast, you must have failed to notice, something important like..."
"The location of the book." Cordy filled in the sentence with a smile of understating.
"See, I knew you were more than just a cheerleader." He teased her.
"Hey." She protested slightly. "So anything else?" She hoped he might give her any other useful tips.
"Only this." He moved a bit closer to here. "The time is near for you to make your choice. I know you were led to believe you had none, but it's not true you do have a choice, like all people do."
"I have a choice really?" Cordy asked surprised.
"Sure you do." He moved a few inches closer. "Just make sure you'll do the right one." He pulled back and seemed like he was ready to go.
"Wait." She stood up. "Am I going to die, is that my sacrifice?"
" I don't Cordelia. But I wish you luck, I have faith in you." He smiled and vanished.
"I'm glad at least one of us does." She sighed as she sat on the bed.
***
S he heard a sound behind her and quickly turned to see Angel and Wesley standing near the entrance looking very uncomfortable. "Great I imagine you heard the whole thing." She said in anger. Angel knew she wasn't angry wit them.
"I'm sorry we just steeped in and..."
"It's okay Angel you don't need to explain." She sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, it's not your fault."
Angel handed the book over to Wesley who got the message and vanished into the kitchen leaving the two alone. "I know, and it's not yours either. She sat on the couch and he joined her. "You did well, by telling them."
"I don't fell like I did well, I fell like I screwed up, once again."
"Buffy, you're not perfect. Your human and human, and sometimes vampires, have weakness, and make mistakes, not that I'm saying you and Spike are a mistake. Not actually that is what I'm saying, but anyway..."
"Yeah please get to the point, cause the cheering up part is starting to bringing me down.
"Sorry." He smiled slightly. "What I meant is that you're a big girl, and you're not just the slayer, above all, and first of all you're Buffy. You're entitled to live your own life as you please, and your friends should learn to accept that. Giles have."
"But did you see the look on his face." She said in a sad tune. "I feel like I failed him, or something."
"You haven't. But let me ask you this; what did you want from them? When you told them what did you want them to say? What did you expected them to say." He paused for a moment. "If you wanted them to say 'hey that's great we're so happy for you', you're living in fairy land and you should come back to earth now."
"Hey, that's harsh.
"Thad's life, and the truth and you know it. The best you can expect from them, the best you can ask for is understating. And that's what Giles gave you, so did Willow, I presume." Buffy nodded to confirm. "And maybe that's all you ever get from them, or maybe some day they'll be able to like the idea, or at least live with it."
"Just maybe?" She hoped he'd say something more encouraging.
"I never lied to you, and I'm not about to start now." He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I better go check on Cordy." He said as he got up.
"Angel." Buffy reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned around to face her. "Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome. "He leaned down and kissed her hand, as he turned and walked away.
***
"Hi, how are you?" He asked as he walked inside the bedroom.
"I'm good but I have some new information. "She said with a smile.
"What is it?" Angel asked eagerly.
"I know where we can find the book."
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
I know you've wanted too long for this chapter and I hope it was worth the wait. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but as I said, I'm going trough a busy time right now and I have two stories to update, so I hope you understand and haven't given up on the story yet.
I want to thank all your great reviews and support; those are the things that drive me to write a new chapter as soon as possible. So thank you.
So as usual, I hope you'll enjoy this fic, and please review. I haven't heard from some of you in awhile and I just want to make sure that there are some people who are still reading this story, and that I'm not just writing it for myself. So review please....
P.S. did you noticed it's a bit longer this time, just for you :)
Thank you.
Nikka
Title: Reunion time.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that *English is not my native tongue* so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.
Author's remark: My chapters as of ch 12 will no longer be reproof by Sigma due to the fact that I have no internet and I'm asking someone else to post the remaining chapters for me. I want to take this opportunity and thank sigma for all the help. And I hope you will continue reading my story even without the excellent work sigma has done. Thank you again sigma for all your great work.
***
"Cordy?" A realization came to her. "The sacrifice... it's you, you're the sacrifice..."
"What?" Cordy asked surprised. "Where did you get that crazy idea?" Cordy thought if she minimized Fred little discovery maybe she'll let it slide.
"I'm not stupid you know. I'm actually pretty smart. I use to make deductions for a living, or at least for studies, that for me was like a living, and although I'm babbling I think you understand what I mean." Fred took a big breath.
"I do." Cordy said contemplating her next step. "And I'm sure you're great at deducting things, hey I've seen you in action, I know your worth." She smiled when she saw Fred was smiling. "But the thing is, this time you're way off track." She hated lying to Fred, sweet loving Fred, but she had to. "So don't worry, I'm here to stay." She smiled.
"Well I guess I did jump the gun." Fred smiled realizing how silly she was.
"It's okay, you were just worried about me, that's understandable." **She just wanted her to go away so she could stop pretending and lying. She never knew she'd be such a good liar, especially to he closest friends in the world, to her family**
"Cordy?" She looked up at Fred. "Are you okay?" Fred asked concerned.
"I'm fine." She smiled. "Maybe I just need some rest after the crazy day we had."
"Uh, sorry, I should let you Fred got up and turned to the door. "Cordy." She stopped at the doorway and turned.
"Yeah?"
"You wouldn't lie to me, for my own good, would you?" Fred asked suspiciously.
"What do you think?" Cordy flashed her one million dollar smile.
"Of course you won't." Fred said and left the room closing the door behind her.
"Powers." Cordy said quietly. "Give me the strength to crazy this out. I think I might just crack." She lowered her head spooning it with her hands. Soft tears fell down her cheek.
Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head. She grabbed it and lay on the bed curled up in pain. "Haaaa" She screamed as the pain diminished and she slowly opened her eyes. As she opened her eyes, she hoped no one heard her; she wasn't up to see anyone right now. She tried to sort out the images she saw in her mind. She knew it was about the Dorkanious, cause besides the fact it hurt like hell, lately all her visions targeted on him and that damn book. "God damn it." She said in anger. She sat up, "I know I'm spouse to be this perfect combination, but I'm telling you, you got it all wrong. I'm just an ex-cheerleader, a little brat who lost all of her daddy's money and thought she'd be a famous actress and discovered what everyone already knew, she wasn't." She felt depressed, sad and angry all at once. She had enough, she just wanted it to be over, and she wanted peace, this way or the other.
"Is that what you really think of yourself. Come one say it isn't so?"
"She looked up to see who said that. "Oh my god!"
***
"She walked inside the house knowing it's now or never, knowing she couldn't have chosen a worse time to tell them, but now she had the courage, now she knew she had to, or she'll lose him.
"Buffy how was patrolling?" Giles greeted her as she walked inside.
"Good, good." She nodded and hung her jacket on the coat hanger. "Is Xander and Anya still here?" She asked.
"Xander is. Anya left about an hour ago. Said she needed to wash her hair." Giles shook his head in disbelief. Still after all this time he's known her, she still managed to surprise him, not always for the best.
"So Xander is still here?" She asked in hesitation, holding on to her courage before it slips away.
"I belief so." Giles had his nose stock in a book, as he paced to the living room. Oddly enough it was empty.
"Where's everyone?" Buffy asked surprised.
"It's late, they were tired so we decided to take a brake for the evening and continue tomorrow. Giles explained.
"Are you going to tell me that Wesley took a brake?" Buffy asked in shock.
"Well no, not Wesley, of course..."
"Of course." Buffy teased him.
"As I was saying..." Giles ignored that. "He went to the shop to bring a book we left there. He and Angel should be back in a while."
"That doesn't give me much time." She said to herself.
"Excuse me?" Giles looked up from the book. "Did you say something?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk to you and Xander alone before Wesley and Angel return." Buffy couldn't believe she actually took the plunge.
"Of course, you should go get Xander from the kitchen, he'll never leave it on his own." Giles smiled when Xander walked in.
"I heard that." He said to Giles. "And get me for what? Don't tell me there's more research? Giles you promised after I finish with that book from hell, I get to go home, like the rest did." Xander looked tired, and Buffy rethought her plan, maybe she should have waited till morning.
"Don't worry Xander I didn't call you because I need your help me save the world we live in, the world you call home." Giles dropped a pinch of guilt. "Buffy wanted to speak to us about something in privet."
"Uh." Xander Sat down intrigued. "What's up Buff?"
"Well she couldn't sit or stay put, she paced back and forth. "I need o tell you something and I need you to understand and not judge me. Now I know it's a lot to ask but that's what I need from you, can you handle that?"
"Sure Buff, what ever you need from us we're here." Xander smiled his supportive smile.
"Buffy you know you can tell me anything." Giles said.
"I know..." She took a big breath. "I... I... God it's so hard."
"Buffy whatever it is, just tell us, it can't be that worse, can it?" Xander smiled but noticed Buffy didn't, and that got him worried. "Oh no, is something awful about to happen, except for what that is already happening?" He asked fearing the answer.
"No, it's no like that." Buffy calmed him down. "I think it could be something wonderful if you'll just let it be." She smiled.
"Well then go on." Giles rushed her.
"Okay." She gave it another try. "Lately me and someone else have grown closer, really close. And neither of us expected it, well maybe he did, but I sure didn't. And I know it's hard for you to see us together, but I really think that given time you will be able to..."
"I knew it." Xander jumped up. "I knew you and that no-good vampire are together. I just knew it."
"You did?" Buffy asked surprised. She thought she hid it pretty well.
"Of course I did. I saw the way you looked at each other, the way you went patrolling together."
"And you're okay with that?" Buffy asked confused.
"Well he's not my favorite vampire, but at least he doesn't bite people, not any more that is."
"I'm sorry, who are you seeing again? I'm a bit confused." Giles who had no clue asked.
"Angel/Spike." Both Buffy and Xander said simultaneously.
"Spike/Angel?" They both asked in shock.
***
"What the hell?" Xander said in shock. "I thought you and Angel were back on, I never thought... Oh god I need to lay down." He sat on the sofa holding his head in both his hands.
"Xander, I thought you knew. You said you knew." Buffy said in confusion.
"Okay, okay I get it now. This whole Dorkanious business clouded your judgment, that's right." Xander was talking to himself ignoring Buffy, trying to rationalize this. "And you don't know what you're doing. Well don't worry." He got up and placed his arm on Buffy's shoulder. "Now that we know we'll help you, we'll..."
"It's not from now Xander." She cut him off. "It started before the Dorkanious business."
"Oh god, I need aspirin. Do we have aspirin? Cause I really need one. Could she the Buffy-bot? Did Willow re-built her and didn't let me know. "He pinched Buffy in the arm.
"Aww." She said. "Xander what you need is to calm down, okay?"
"No, not okay. Are you crazy? You must be if you think I can clam down after this." His tune changed from panicked to angry. "This is Spike we're talking about. At least with Angel he has a soul, as long as you two don't do the hocky poky, but Spike???" He lowered his tunes. "He doesn't have a soul. How could you Buffy? How can you?"
"You have no right Judging me." Now she was getting angry. "You don't know how hard it is, how lonely..."
"Please, Give me a brake." Xander cut her off. "We all have shit happen to us, that doesn't mean we start dating demons. "He paused for a moment when he realized he was dating and engaged to be married to an ex-demon. "Well at least the soulless ones." He looked at he as he sat down again. "How long has it been going on? Have you slept with him? Wait I don't want to know."
"Good, cause it's none of your business, Xander." She backed away a bit and looked at him in disappointment. "I expected more from you."
"So did I from you, Like say sanity for example." He got up again. "Something you obviously lack since you what? Started dating him? Sleeping with him? Oh wait that last part remains unclear." He mocked her.
"And it will, till you start acting like a sane person." She snapped at him.
"You first Buffy, you first." And with that he walked away.
"Fine walk away, run, that's what you're good at anyway." She cried out after him.
***
"Buffy that's enough." Giles who remained silent till now spoke.
"What? Now you Giles?" She turned to face him. "Now you get to tell me I'm crazy?"
"Buffy I'm not your father, and even if I was, you're past the age were I tell you who to see." He said calmly. "You know the risks, you know what he is, and yet you made your choice. I can't say I like it, or even support it. But that's not what you asked from me. You asked for understanding and acceptance, and that's what you get from me."
"Thank you." She said quietly, almost whispered.
"Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a terrible idea and if you have any sense you'll see it on your own." He added.
"Gee, Thanks Giles I almost started to think I had someone on my side, some one who understood."
"Who have you told, besides us?" Giles asked surprised.
"Well, Willow found out on her own last night so I told her. And got the same reaction. Didn't explode like Xander but she made perfectly clear she doesn't like or support the idea." Buffy paused for a moment. "An I told Angel, but only cause he smelled Spike sent on me, and I couldn't lie to him.
"Uh so Spike sent was on you?" Giles thought that was a bit more than he wanted to know. Buffy blushed.
"I'm sorry I told you only now, I guess I was afraid of your reaction. And judging from Xander's little catastrophe, I think I was right."
"So what made you tell us anyway? I mean Angel will leave in a few days, that is if we all live till then." Giles smiled. "And Willow would never had betrayed your confidence."
"It was Spike. He hated running around behind your backs, hiding from you. He planned on leaving town after this whole apocalypse thing was over. Maybe he still does, I don't know." Buffy sat on the sofa. "Will he ever talk to me again?" She looked up to Giles.
"You are the best of friends, and I should know I've seen you two together from nearly six years. He'll come around, give him time." Giles smiled and walked away her alone to think of all that has happened.
***
"You've got to be kidding me? What are you like the good fairy godmother or something?"
"Why do you say that?" He asked surprised.
"Cause you keep showing up in weird situation." She aid as she kept staring at him.
"Hey, as I recall we only met once and I don't think it was that bad."
"Uh yeah, you're right I forgot to thank." She said sarcastically. "For turning me into a freak."
"As I recall Miss chase we had a deal, you choose to become a freak, not me. I was born like this." He smiled.
"So what's up Skip why are you here? Don't tell me those stupid powers that be, actually for once heard my cry, sort of speak?"
"Actually they did, and they decided you need some cheering up..."
"So they sent you?" She asked surprised.
"Why, am I not good enough for you?" Skip seemed a bit offended.
"No you're great, I just figured they'll send someone like... Doyle, you know a close friend." She explained, choosing her words carefully.
"Well your friend is busy. You know we do have other things to do than tend to your needs all day."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I'm glad you're here." She didn't want him to feel bad. "So how are you supposed to cheer me up?" She asked in hesitation.
"By giving you a little tip." He winked at her. "The last vision you had was about the Dorkanious..."
"Like duh, I knew that." She snorted at him.
"Well duh." He imitated her. "I wasn't finished. "It involved the book, and before you'll say you knew that also, let me add that it also told you where you could find the book. Just look harder."
"I can't go back to my vision." Cordy said what she thought he must have already known.
"And no asked you to. All you have to do is what you did in the past. try to remember in more details what you saw. It flashed so fast, you must have failed to notice, something important like..."
"The location of the book." Cordy filled in the sentence with a smile of understating.
"See, I knew you were more than just a cheerleader." He teased her.
"Hey." She protested slightly. "So anything else?" She hoped he might give her any other useful tips.
"Only this." He moved a bit closer to here. "The time is near for you to make your choice. I know you were led to believe you had none, but it's not true you do have a choice, like all people do."
"I have a choice really?" Cordy asked surprised.
"Sure you do." He moved a few inches closer. "Just make sure you'll do the right one." He pulled back and seemed like he was ready to go.
"Wait." She stood up. "Am I going to die, is that my sacrifice?"
" I don't Cordelia. But I wish you luck, I have faith in you." He smiled and vanished.
"I'm glad at least one of us does." She sighed as she sat on the bed.
***
S he heard a sound behind her and quickly turned to see Angel and Wesley standing near the entrance looking very uncomfortable. "Great I imagine you heard the whole thing." She said in anger. Angel knew she wasn't angry wit them.
"I'm sorry we just steeped in and..."
"It's okay Angel you don't need to explain." She sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, it's not your fault."
Angel handed the book over to Wesley who got the message and vanished into the kitchen leaving the two alone. "I know, and it's not yours either. She sat on the couch and he joined her. "You did well, by telling them."
"I don't fell like I did well, I fell like I screwed up, once again."
"Buffy, you're not perfect. Your human and human, and sometimes vampires, have weakness, and make mistakes, not that I'm saying you and Spike are a mistake. Not actually that is what I'm saying, but anyway..."
"Yeah please get to the point, cause the cheering up part is starting to bringing me down.
"Sorry." He smiled slightly. "What I meant is that you're a big girl, and you're not just the slayer, above all, and first of all you're Buffy. You're entitled to live your own life as you please, and your friends should learn to accept that. Giles have."
"But did you see the look on his face." She said in a sad tune. "I feel like I failed him, or something."
"You haven't. But let me ask you this; what did you want from them? When you told them what did you want them to say? What did you expected them to say." He paused for a moment. "If you wanted them to say 'hey that's great we're so happy for you', you're living in fairy land and you should come back to earth now."
"Hey, that's harsh.
"Thad's life, and the truth and you know it. The best you can expect from them, the best you can ask for is understating. And that's what Giles gave you, so did Willow, I presume." Buffy nodded to confirm. "And maybe that's all you ever get from them, or maybe some day they'll be able to like the idea, or at least live with it."
"Just maybe?" She hoped he'd say something more encouraging.
"I never lied to you, and I'm not about to start now." He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I better go check on Cordy." He said as he got up.
"Angel." Buffy reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned around to face her. "Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome. "He leaned down and kissed her hand, as he turned and walked away.
***
"Hi, how are you?" He asked as he walked inside the bedroom.
"I'm good but I have some new information. "She said with a smile.
"What is it?" Angel asked eagerly.
"I know where we can find the book."
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
I know you've wanted too long for this chapter and I hope it was worth the wait. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but as I said, I'm going trough a busy time right now and I have two stories to update, so I hope you understand and haven't given up on the story yet.
I want to thank all your great reviews and support; those are the things that drive me to write a new chapter as soon as possible. So thank you.
So as usual, I hope you'll enjoy this fic, and please review. I haven't heard from some of you in awhile and I just want to make sure that there are some people who are still reading this story, and that I'm not just writing it for myself. So review please....
P.S. did you noticed it's a bit longer this time, just for you :)
Thank you.
Nikka