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Summary: Buffy Summers is sent to stay with her Aunt Jenny in Old Creek, Nebraska. What will she find lies in that house.
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Title: A Strange House 5-6/?
Author: TK
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Part 5
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When Buffy a woke the next morning she found that she had slept till noon. The sun shine through her windows as she stretched. After standing up, Buffy walked over to her shelves when she noticed the South Wall, and her two ghostly visitors popped into her mind. Little Madeline and Spike, what was the deal with them? Why didn't anyone mention the ghosts before? Grabbing her Plumeria lotion she began the task of getting ready for the day.
"Miss Buffy, lunch," knocked Ryoko in her kind soft voice.
"I'll be down in ten minute," replied Buffy moving over to her closet. Her eyes landed on her dark blue kapris, and yellow spaghetti strap shirt. Slipping into her outfit, she pulled her hair into a pony tail, and added her tan sandals.
Buffy was about to go out the door when the air felt as if it was getting thicker.
"Hello," she said without turning around at the little girl's giggle.
"Hi, where are you going?" wondered Madeline walking around to face Buffy so she could see the big girl's expression.
Buffy looked down at the curly hair blond little girl. She was as visible as Buffy herself. Kneeling down to Madeline's level Buffy smiled," Maddy, why are you and your brother here?"
"It's our home," Madeline pointed out giving the same answer Spike had the night before with the same sadness in her eyes.
"Miss Buffy," Ryoko's footsteps echoed as they once again came towards Bufyf's room.
"I have to go now, Maddy," explained Buffy getting up," but I'll be back later, okay" she sore leaving her room and the vanishing little girl.
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"Good afternoon, Miss Buffy," Mr. Ryan, her Aunt's butler, greeted Buffy as she sat down at the table.
"Good-afternoon," returned Buffy politely looking around for her Aunt. "Ryan, where's my Aunt?" she inquired while Christine placed a plate of spaghetti and a lemon ice in front of her.
"She received a last minute phone call," related Ryan," and she had to leave for Lincoln, Nebraska right away. She bid me to tell you that she would be gone for two days," straighten, Ryan said his good-byes to Buffy, content on finishing the dusting early that day.
Alone Buffy ate her lunch while she contemplated what she wanted to do that day. Angelus had promised to come over, but she had no idea when that would be. Then finishing her lunch in struck her. She should go horse back riding today, it had been a long time since she had been. With that decided she got up from the table and after leaving a message with Ryoko where she would be, Buffy went out to the stables. Arriving she found many new horses, but she was on a mission to find a certain one. Night Dancer, was the mare's name and she had grown up with Buffy that last time Buffy was at Old Creek. The pure black mare had been Buffy's favorit4e, her eyes lit up when they landed upon a grown Night Dancer eating some hay.
"Hi Girl," said Buffy petting Night Dancer's nozzle. "Want to go for a ride?" she asked grabbing the rings. She laughed when Night Dancer stomped her right foot in approval.
Opening up the barn door Buffy began to put the rings on, and after she got them fasten tight enough, she grabbled a white and black saddle and lace in upon the excited mare's back. Mounting the horse, she rode her out of the barn, and was about to take off riding when she saw Angelus walking towards her with his sexy half grin that had her heart pounding in her chest.
"Hey, what's up?" she asked when he had reached her. His brown eyes capturing her green valley ones.
"I came by to see you," he answered simply relishing at the sight before him," and to ask you to Willow's pool part Saturday," he added petting Night Dancer's nozzle.
"Yeah, that sounds like it would be a lot of fun," replied Buffy watching Night Dancer take to Angelus.
"Do you want to come riding with me?" hoped Buffy giving Angelus a big bright smile. "You could ride Fireball. He's a nice trained horse."
"I got nothing else, I rather do. Spending the afternoon with you sounds like the perfect way to spend it," he charmed.
"Lets go get you saddled up then," shot Buffy riding Night Dancer slowly back to the barn to help Angelus with Fireball.
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"Who's that, Brother?" asked Madeline watching Buffy talk to a handsome young man.
Spike leaned against the window with a content smile on his face," It's probably some young man courting her," he explained with a heavy heart.
The blonde goddess laughed at something the brown haired man said, and Spike's un-beating heart hurt at knowing the young man before her was the one to make her happy, and not him.
"He's really handsome," complemented Madeline watching Buffy and Angleus ride off into the sunlight.
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"This breeze feels really nice," said Buffy closing her eyes for a brief moment letting the breeze just wash over her and fly through her hair.
Angelus found himself having the best afternoon he had had in a long time. Hanging out with Buffy, talking with her, or just watching her as they rode made him happy and excited to see her again. Willow had told him and the rest of the gang about Buffy's arrival two weeks ago. It was good news to him, even though he hadn't seen her since she was eleven, he still thought of her as a friend and now more.
"If you stand on this cliff at sunset you get a perfect view of the sun rising," conveyed Angleus bring his horse up beside Buffy's.
"Sounds like you have done that a couple of times," suggested Buffy glancing over at Angelus. "Bring a lot of girls up here?" she teased pulling on Night Dancers rings.
"Only special ones," the answer made Buffy's heart melt. She was finding herself falling for Angelus quick and hard. Once again she though maybe Old Creek, Nebraska wouldn't be so bad staying in. With Angelus, who currently too her hand into his, their horses started to move once more staying by one another perfectly so the young couple riding them could continue to hold hands
They rode along for a few minutes just enjoying the contact and company, when Madeline and Spikes' faces popped into Buffy's mind for some reason. Stopping Night Dancer, Buffy noticed Angelus staring at her," What?" she asked sweetly.
Angelus climbed down Fireball, after tying him to a tree he when back to help Buffy down off of Night Dancer. Night Dancer was tied next to Fireball, and Buffy was lead over to the grassy green meadow. Buffy was about to ask Angelus what he was doing, but her mind when blank the minute she felt his lips upon hers.
Snuggling closer Buffy placed her hands upon his smooth rock hard chest, deepening the kiss. His strong tan arms wrapped around her petite waist pulling her closer to him still. The two young lovers stayed like this until breathing became an issue. Slightly the two pulled back, but as soon as brown eyes hit emerald their warm lips were once again brushing against one another. Both of them were in heaven, and neither wanted to ever leave.
"I like this," whispered Buffy nuzzling Angleus's nose with hers.
"Me too," repeated Angelus adjusting his left hand so he could caress her smooth silky cheek. If anyone had told him he would fall in love this summer, he would have laughed in their faces. Now, however, he would have to agree with them. He was falling in love, but could a summer romanance last?
"It's around dinner time," Buffy implied catching the position of the sun. "Would you like to join me? Christine's a great cook, she stated taking his hands into hers.
"I can't this evening," a regretful Angelus responded. "My grandparents are coming over," if he could get out of his family's weekly dinner, he would do it in an instant to be with Buffy. Unfortunately his parents wouldn't agree.
A disappointed Buffy kept a smile on her face," If you have other plans…," she started looking shy. "I understand," she declared relieved that Angleus wanted to spend time with her but had family commitments and that's why he wasn't able to have dinner with her. "Some other time, maybe," she offered.
"Defiantly," promised Angelus giving her a loving kiss on the lips. "You're so amazing," commented Angelus taking her right hand into his. Together the two young eighteen year olds made their way back to the horses a waiting them.
Angelus and Buffy rode off into the pretty sky of pink, purple, and blue.
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Part 6
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"Good-night, Ryoko," said Buffy later closing her bed room door.
"Hi," greeted Madeline causing Buffy to look up. "Are you going to sleep?" Buffy nodded and sat down on her bed beside the little girl.
"Maddy, can I ask you something?" directed Buffy kindly.
"You want to know why we're here," spoke up Spike appearing in front of the two girls.
Buffy looked up at the platinum blonde," Yes," she answered. "I would also like to know why no one else can see you," she added curiously.
"That nice man could," piped up Madeline earning her Buffy's attention.
"What nice man?" inquired Buffy. Maybe this man could tell her something.
"He died, Maddy," Spike reminded his little sister. "It was your Uncle," he confessed to the young emerald eye woman before him.
"Uncle William could see you?" questioned Buffy stun by the news. "Could Aunt Jenny she went on scooting her back against the bed's wall.
"No," announced Spike finally sitting down on the bed. "Only your Uncle, and people began to believe him mad when he tried to tell them about us and even more when he started to try to help us," he finished feeling guilty for the old man's death in part. He was a kind gentle man and didn't deserve to die the way he did.
"Aunt Jenny said that he died mysteriously," put forth Buffy. "Are you trying to tell me his death wasn't an accident?" she demanded as it dawned on her that Spike and Madeline knew something no one else did.
"What do you know?" countered Spike placing his feet on the bed, when he move over by Buffy.
"I know Aunt Jenny came home to find his still body at the bottom of the stairs. The police and everyone was believed that he must of tripped down he stairs and broken his neck, but Aunt Jenny didn't buy it so she hired her own detectives. However, they never came up with anything knew so the case was closed," explained Buffy braiding her hair to the side for when she headed to bed.
"That's not true!" exclaimed Madeline grabbing Buffy's arm. "She pushed him."
"Who?" asked Buffy facing the little girl.
"The lady with red hair," related Madeline. "The lady who is after Spike and I," she continued sitting on her knees.
"Maddy, who is after…," Buffy began to ask for the third time since meeting the little girl.
"Angelina," supplied Spike," she was a very high ranking house keeper of ours. Her family had worked for our since the 1500's. When our parents were killed by gun man on their way home Angelina took control of the house and taking care of us," he went on feeling his un-moving pulse speed up with the interesting look Buffy was giving him. He had a sudden urge to capture those pink covered lips, which intensive as she started biting her bottom lip. His grin became wider at the scene.
"What?" wondered Buffy catching his grin. "Is there something funny that I don't know about?"
"You are so beautiful," the words came out before Spike could stop them.
Not expecting that last comment Buffy just kept the grin on her face," Thank you," she told a blushing Spike. "It's nice of you to say."
"Anyway," Spike hurried up and changed the subject. "As I was saying, Angelina became a completely different person then what we knew as children. She found out that the house and all of it's land would go to Madeline and myself once I hit the age of eighteen. This didn't make her happy at all, so Angelina tried her hardest to change Father's will, but it remained in tack.
Well the evening before my eighteenth birthday a fire broke out up stairs, and Madeline and myself were trapped in this very room. Angelina had told me that Maddy needed me for something, so of course I went to her. The minute I was inside the door locked," he stopped taking in the memories of long ago flashing through his head.
Buffy sat in silence waiting for Spike to go on. 'They must have burnt up in the fire,' thought Buffy sadly feeling Madeline climb into her lap. She was such a sweet little girl, how could anyone be so cold hearted as to kill Maddy and Spike was beyond her.
"We don't have to talk about this anymore tonight," assured Buffy taking Spike's cool hand into her own. She gave it what she hoped was a comforting squeeze.
Spike returned the squeeze before talking once more, The passage way had been a favorite of mine when I was little. Only Maddy and I knew about it, if Angelina had known she would have tried to trap us in another room. It turned out to be our only way out. Opening the wall Maddy and took the stairway down, and went through the tunnel until we reached the entrance to the outside. When we went to open the doorway, we found it blocked off," taking a breath he finished. "A huge storm had hit the night before knocking down trees and tearing up small farm house in the area. There use to be a big oat tree in our back yard, which is where the door is. Anyway, it had fallen and blocked our way out."
"The the hallway and room we were in got hot," interrupted Madeline sadly with a far off look on her face as if she was remembering that horrible night all over again," and smoke came and…we… began to choke," tears sprang to the little girl's eyes," and finally…darkness," she concluded softly, dew drop tears fell from her eyes.
"Oh, Maddy," Buffy choked out holding the little blonde to her.
'They must of died of suffocation from the smoke,' she reasoned. "It's okay, Little One," soothed Buffy rubbing Madeline's back just like her mother did hers when she was upset.
Madeline snuggled deeper into Buffy's embrace. The young woman felt safe to her, how Maddy wished Buffy could always stay with her and Spike or they with her.
"The smoke killed us," Spike answered Buffy thought from moments ago. "By the time we awoke as ghosts the house was being rebuilt by the new land owners. The house upstairs was completely burnt up, and yet the passage way still remained untouched, and built over, or so we thought," the story had been finished.
"I'm sorry," said a sympathetic Buffy still holding Maddy to her. "You didn't deserve that," she voiced and once again touched Spike's un-beating heart.
"Your Uncle William was researching what happen to Angelina after the fire. You see as it turns out someone had to of found Maddy and I bodies because when we came back they were gone. William figured maybe we could find some peace if our bodies, which are probably just bones by now were buried in their right full place," he added meeting Buffy's warm green eyes. Eyes he could drown in.
"That sounds like it might work," conveyed Buffy. "Do you have any ideas where they could be?" she remarked.
"When Maddy and I returned they were already gone, and we found ourselves unable to leave the passage way or this room," he explained, he smiled down at his now sleeping sister.
Catching his expression Buffy looked down in her lap, she had to grin as well," Looks like she's was tired," then looking back up at Spike she slowly moved Maddy into his lap. "Maybe you should put her to bed, and we can talk again tomorrow," she suggested standing up to stretch.
"Sounds like a good suggestion," agreed Spike standing with Maddy in his arms. "Good-night, Buffy," he wavered not giving into his impulse to kiss her good-night as he vanished.
"Good-night, Spike and Maddy," returned Buffy getting ready for bed herself.
That night she fell asleep thinking about all the information she had learned. Tomorrow she would begin trying to help finish what her Uncle had started, and hopefully find out more about his mysterious death while she was at it.
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"Rise and Shine," greeted a familiar male's voice.
Opening her eyes Buffy came face to face with the most handsomest man she had ever seen, and he had cappichino.
"Hi, Angelus," said Buffy sitting up in her bed. She was thankful she had worn a cute tank to bed that night. "Is that for me?" she yawned pointing at the cappichino.
"Yes," replied Angelus handing her the drink. "I hope you don't mind me coming on up, but I wanted to surprise you. Ryoko said it was okay," he swore moving closer to the bright expression Buffy wore.
"This is the kind of surprise I like," she admitted honestly placing her drink down. "You know what would make it better," she bated playfully.
"What?" Angelus played along knowing exactly where she was going because he wanted to go there too.
"This," responded Buffy moving into Angelus's lap, and claiming his moist lips with her own.
Angelus held Buffy tighter as he lowered her back into the mattress. Slightly he pulled back when the need to breath hit, earning a small whimper from Buffy. Soon, however, she found Angelus's lips back on hers setting her on fire.
'This is perfect,' was her thought as Angelus and she continued to kissed forgetting about breakfasts and not noticing the blue eyes watching them from the mostly closed door.
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