Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Joss owns it all damn him!
Thank you all so much for the wonderful feedback! It keeps my creative juices flowing, and the chapters coming. :)
***
Chapter 11 - Apologies
Buffy spent the next few days ensconced in her suite. She'd lost the desire to explore the casino, not wanting to run into Will. She'd been a fool to get her hopes up, to think that there might be something between them. He was right. She was naïve.
After the horrible scene on the rooftop, she hadn't known what to say to him. She knew he was attracted to her, as was obvious from the few encounters they'd already had. She'd held out hope that maybe it was more than just a physical attraction. But his words from the other day made it plain that it wasn't.
So instead of wandering the casino floor, or exploring the Crypt's many shops Buffy did what she always did when she needed to center and focus herself. She moved all the furniture in the main room clearing the floor. She spent most of the day running through her Aikido exercises. She also worked up some new lesson plans for when she found a new studio.
The rest of the time was spent reading through the commercial real estate section of the newspaper and making a few phone calls. Buffy's first major decision was that she would not, under any circumstances be returning to Trader's Corners. So she had begun searching for two things. The first would be a studio for her new school. And the second would be a house for her new home. Both were to be located here in Vegas. She'd fallen in love with the desert, and she saw no reason to leave it.
Buffy was just finishing a few warm-up kicks when the doorbell rang. Unsurprised to find another hotel delivery man, she accepted the flowers and gave a generous tip. She placed the vase next to the others on the coffee table she'd pushed to the side of the room. Giving in, she bent down to take a quick sniff of the lilacs. She took the card and added it to the small stack she had hidden in her underwear drawer, not bothering to read it. She knew what it said. The same thing that had been written on each card previous. 'Buffy I'm sorry. Please call me. - Spike'. Instead she went back to her exercises, counting out each repetition as she went.
***
Dammit! Why wasn't she calling him? Spike stared at the phone, willing it to ring. He'd already tried calling her several times since that day on the rooftop. But she refused to answer her phone. What more did she want from him? He'd apologized. More so than he could ever remembering apologizing to any other woman, and he hadn't even done anything wrong! He was just trying to warn her about Giles. Okay, so he'd jumped to conclusions, but was that his fault? And had it been that horrible a mistake that she couldn't even accept his apology?
Spike sighed, and sank down into the chair behind his desk. He turned to the monitors, scanning them quickly. He'd been watching the floor constantly, trying to catch a glimpse of Buffy, but she hadn't shown. He'd even made the trip up to her suite several times, but if she had been there she wasn't answering the door. He'd toyed with the idea of using his pass- key but even he thought that was going a bit far.
His head snapped around when the door creaked open, "Buffy?"
"I take it you weren't expecting me?" Joyce smiled at the disappointed look on her son's face. "Were you supposed to meet Buffy here?"
"No." Spike answered. "Just thought maybe you were her." He shrugged.
"She is a bit busy. And I think all the attention has been getting to her."
"You've talked to her?" Spike asked, curious for any news.
"Well yes. We had brunch in her suite yesterday."
"She let you in?" His voice sounded hurt; Joyce hid a grin.
"Of course. Is there some reason she shouldn't have?"
"No." Spike tried to hide his frustration. "Just thought you said she was busy, is all."
"I convinced her to take a break. It's no wonder she's so skinny. Those moves she can do are quite something. It must take an incredible amount of strength, practice, and patience to become that good."
"Moves?"
"Yes. She gave me a quick demonstration the other day. She's been working up some new lessons for when she starts up her new school."
"Oh." Spike wondered why Buffy hadn't spoken to him about starting a new school. He felt inexplicably left out.
"Well, I just stopped in to say hello. I'm meeting your father for lunch downstairs. Maybe we can all have dinner tonight?" She kissed Spike on the cheek before heading out the door.
After his mother had left, Spike sat brooding in his chair. What was he supposed to do now? Buffy refused to see him. Refused to accept his apology. Well, he wasn't about to grovel on his bloody hands and knees that's for sure! He had a business to run! He wasn't going to spend the rest of his day brooding over Buffy Summers. That decided Spike turned his attention back to the black and white images floating through the monitors.
He was up and running before he had time to fully process the fact that Buffy was standing by the reception desk engaged in conversation with a man Spike had never seen before.
***
When the phone rang for the hundredth time, Buffy had had enough. She reached across to pick up the receiver intending to give the caller a piece of her mind. She'd been expecting Will's rough accent, but when she was greeted with a curt, "Buffy," her breath caught in her throat.
"Angel?" Oh god! He'd found her already!
"Buffy." She heard his heavy sigh. "This has all been extremely inconvenient. Tell me what room you're in and I'll come up to collect you this instance."
"You're here? In the hotel?" Buffy's mind was racing. He was here! He wanted to come up to her room. Her sanctuary. She couldn't allow that.
"Of course I'm here! Look at all the trouble you've caused! Now tell me what room you're in!" He demanded.
"No!" Buffy refused. "I m-mean, I'll c-come down." And she hung up before he could command she do otherwise.
"Okay, you knew you'd have to deal with Angel sooner or later." She told herself. She just didn't think it would be this soon. She had counted on a few more days at least, maybe a week. But now? Well, she had no choice, did she? She collected her key card and stepped out the door.
When she stepped out into the lobby, she didn't have to search long before her eyes lighted on Angel's mane of dark brown hair. He was standing next to reception with an annoyed and disgusted look on his face; no doubt because of the staff's refusal to tell him her room number, and the garish, at least to him, décor of the main lobby.
She strode purposely forward, trying to mask her own trepidation at the meeting. "Angel." She greeted him.
"Buffy." Angel moved forward to grab hold of her elbow. "Let's go get your things."
She shook his hand off and took a step back. "No."
"No?" Angel's expression was full of shock. "Did you just say no to me?"
"Yes." Buffy admitted. "I'm not leaving."
"What did you think you were accomplishing running away from home like that?"
"I wasn't running away from home. I was relocating." Buffy answered.
"Relocating? To this place? That's ridiculous!" Angel once again tried to make a grab for Buffy's arm.
Buffy sidestepped the maneuver. "I said no." Buffy let the indignation and anger sweep through her. It went a long way to pushing aside the fear. "I'm sorry if you came all the way out here for nothing, but if you'd called first you would have known I wouldn't come back with you."
Buffy watched as Angel's eyes turned dark and angry. His mouth twisted itself into a deep scowl, and his body went tight with tension. She could see his fists clenching at his sides, and wondered whether he would actually try to hit her. She moved subtly, changing her stance to allow for quick movement.
"You can't be serious? You are my fiance, and as such everything you do has an affect on how people see me. Do you know how much embarrassment you've caused me?" He asked, his voice low and rough.
"That's where you're wrong Angel." Buffy tossed back at him. "I'm not your fiance. I broke our engagement several months ago. You just refused to accept it. But that doesn't make it any less broken. And as for any embarrassment I've caused you - well that's entirely your own fault. If you hadn't hidden the fact that our relationship was over, no one in Trader's Corners would care one whit about me!"
When Buffy saw Angel step forward, she automatically went into the first stance she taught in any of her classes. The basic defense stance. But before anything could happen, she felt a cool hand grip her shoulder and a smooth voice drift over her head. "Is there a problem here mate?"
When Buffy turned she was shocked to see the sparks of anger flying behind Will's steady gaze. "Everything's fine Will." She could handle this. Now that the initial shock had worn off, she knew that she could take care of this on her own. "I've got it under control."
Will canted his head toward Buffy, searching her eyes with his own. After a brief moment he nodded and took a step back.
"Who are you?" Angel demanded. "This is none of your business."
Spike's nostrils flared, and his pupil's dilated. He was using all his control, just to keep from pummeling the man standing before him. He'd known the moment he stepped off the elevator and saw the two of them together, that this was Angel. "My place. My business." Spike spoke through gritted teeth.
Angel's eyes narrowed as he stared at the two people before him. "So you're William Giles?" Angel's gaze swept up and down Spike's body his expression clearly stating that he found Spike lacking. "Is this what you're staying for?" He gestured toward the fuming brit. "Don't kid yourself Buffy. If you think for one minute that this guy wants anything more than a quick fuck, and the chance to win his money back from you, your dumber than I thought."
Buffy couldn't help cringe at his words. Mostly because they were closer to the truth than she wanted him to know. But she didn't have time to dwell on Angel's cruelty. Will was struggling to get loose from her grip, and she couldn't allow that to happen. "Will!" She called to him until he stopped struggling in her arms. "Let it go."
Just as she was getting Will to calm down, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Angel's fist was poised to punch and as his hand shot forward Buffy reacted. She spun in a half circle to the left, her right arm reached out to grasp his wrist. On contact, she tightened her hand until Angel's fist was forced open. Then she twist up, spinning the half circle back, until she'd forced Angel onto his knees. As soon as he fell to the floor, Buffy took several steps forward causing Angel to turn and land on his stomach, with his arm pinned backward.
"You never did come by the studio to watch any of my classes Angel." Buffy whispered sweetly. "Maybe you should have. You might've learned something." She twisted his arm a bit for emphasis.
Angel whimpered.
"Now, I'm going to stand up and step away from you. You are going to get up, and leave. And you're never coming back. Do you understand me?" Buffy spoke slowly, as if to a child.
When Angel nodded, Buffy released him and stepped away. She eyed him warily as he stood, rubbing at his wrist and shoulder. "If you mention my name to the press, I'll have you in court so fast your head will be spinning." He tried to sound menacing, but Buffy thought he only sounded pathetic.
"Don't worry Angel. I have a feeling that after today, I'll never mention your name ever again." Buffy watched sadly as Angel walked away. She almost couldn't believe that she had allowed Angel to intimidate her for so long. She shook her head at her own folly.
"That was quite impressive luv." Buffy started at Will's voice. She had forgotten that she hadn't been alone.
"Thank you." She answered curtly.
Spike watched as Buffy began to make her way back toward the elevator bays. He followed quickly, not wanting to allow her to get away from him again.
The further Buffy walked from the scene, the more reaction set in. Now that it was all over, her body was finally registering the tension and shock. She could feel her body begin to tremble, and tried to hide the fact from Will. But she wasn't able to fool him.
"Come on luv. Let's get you back upstairs." Spike tried to take her elbow, but she shrugged him off.
"I can get there just fine on my own, thank you."
"Buffy! This is ridiculous. You're shaking, I'm not going to let you go up by yourself." Spike was exasperated. "I've already apologized for the other day. What more do you want?"
"Nothing! I don't want anything form you Will!" Buffy answered, her shaking becoming more pronounced.
"So, you're just going to stay mad at me?"
"I don't normally hold grudges."
"But you're making an exception for me?" Will asked.
Buffy only shrugged and continued toward the elevator. "Buffy, you only have two choices here." He turned her until they were facing one another. "You can forgive me, and let me help you up to your suite. Or you can stay mad and let me chase down that bastard of an ex so that I can take my frustrations out on him."
"You wouldn't!" Spike only arched an eyebrow in answer.
Buffy sighed. He would. "Fine. You can help me upstairs."
Spike smiled taking Buffy's elbow and drawing her near. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist, and led her through the elevator doors and up to her suite.
Thank you all so much for the wonderful feedback! It keeps my creative juices flowing, and the chapters coming. :)
***
Chapter 11 - Apologies
Buffy spent the next few days ensconced in her suite. She'd lost the desire to explore the casino, not wanting to run into Will. She'd been a fool to get her hopes up, to think that there might be something between them. He was right. She was naïve.
After the horrible scene on the rooftop, she hadn't known what to say to him. She knew he was attracted to her, as was obvious from the few encounters they'd already had. She'd held out hope that maybe it was more than just a physical attraction. But his words from the other day made it plain that it wasn't.
So instead of wandering the casino floor, or exploring the Crypt's many shops Buffy did what she always did when she needed to center and focus herself. She moved all the furniture in the main room clearing the floor. She spent most of the day running through her Aikido exercises. She also worked up some new lesson plans for when she found a new studio.
The rest of the time was spent reading through the commercial real estate section of the newspaper and making a few phone calls. Buffy's first major decision was that she would not, under any circumstances be returning to Trader's Corners. So she had begun searching for two things. The first would be a studio for her new school. And the second would be a house for her new home. Both were to be located here in Vegas. She'd fallen in love with the desert, and she saw no reason to leave it.
Buffy was just finishing a few warm-up kicks when the doorbell rang. Unsurprised to find another hotel delivery man, she accepted the flowers and gave a generous tip. She placed the vase next to the others on the coffee table she'd pushed to the side of the room. Giving in, she bent down to take a quick sniff of the lilacs. She took the card and added it to the small stack she had hidden in her underwear drawer, not bothering to read it. She knew what it said. The same thing that had been written on each card previous. 'Buffy I'm sorry. Please call me. - Spike'. Instead she went back to her exercises, counting out each repetition as she went.
***
Dammit! Why wasn't she calling him? Spike stared at the phone, willing it to ring. He'd already tried calling her several times since that day on the rooftop. But she refused to answer her phone. What more did she want from him? He'd apologized. More so than he could ever remembering apologizing to any other woman, and he hadn't even done anything wrong! He was just trying to warn her about Giles. Okay, so he'd jumped to conclusions, but was that his fault? And had it been that horrible a mistake that she couldn't even accept his apology?
Spike sighed, and sank down into the chair behind his desk. He turned to the monitors, scanning them quickly. He'd been watching the floor constantly, trying to catch a glimpse of Buffy, but she hadn't shown. He'd even made the trip up to her suite several times, but if she had been there she wasn't answering the door. He'd toyed with the idea of using his pass- key but even he thought that was going a bit far.
His head snapped around when the door creaked open, "Buffy?"
"I take it you weren't expecting me?" Joyce smiled at the disappointed look on her son's face. "Were you supposed to meet Buffy here?"
"No." Spike answered. "Just thought maybe you were her." He shrugged.
"She is a bit busy. And I think all the attention has been getting to her."
"You've talked to her?" Spike asked, curious for any news.
"Well yes. We had brunch in her suite yesterday."
"She let you in?" His voice sounded hurt; Joyce hid a grin.
"Of course. Is there some reason she shouldn't have?"
"No." Spike tried to hide his frustration. "Just thought you said she was busy, is all."
"I convinced her to take a break. It's no wonder she's so skinny. Those moves she can do are quite something. It must take an incredible amount of strength, practice, and patience to become that good."
"Moves?"
"Yes. She gave me a quick demonstration the other day. She's been working up some new lessons for when she starts up her new school."
"Oh." Spike wondered why Buffy hadn't spoken to him about starting a new school. He felt inexplicably left out.
"Well, I just stopped in to say hello. I'm meeting your father for lunch downstairs. Maybe we can all have dinner tonight?" She kissed Spike on the cheek before heading out the door.
After his mother had left, Spike sat brooding in his chair. What was he supposed to do now? Buffy refused to see him. Refused to accept his apology. Well, he wasn't about to grovel on his bloody hands and knees that's for sure! He had a business to run! He wasn't going to spend the rest of his day brooding over Buffy Summers. That decided Spike turned his attention back to the black and white images floating through the monitors.
He was up and running before he had time to fully process the fact that Buffy was standing by the reception desk engaged in conversation with a man Spike had never seen before.
***
When the phone rang for the hundredth time, Buffy had had enough. She reached across to pick up the receiver intending to give the caller a piece of her mind. She'd been expecting Will's rough accent, but when she was greeted with a curt, "Buffy," her breath caught in her throat.
"Angel?" Oh god! He'd found her already!
"Buffy." She heard his heavy sigh. "This has all been extremely inconvenient. Tell me what room you're in and I'll come up to collect you this instance."
"You're here? In the hotel?" Buffy's mind was racing. He was here! He wanted to come up to her room. Her sanctuary. She couldn't allow that.
"Of course I'm here! Look at all the trouble you've caused! Now tell me what room you're in!" He demanded.
"No!" Buffy refused. "I m-mean, I'll c-come down." And she hung up before he could command she do otherwise.
"Okay, you knew you'd have to deal with Angel sooner or later." She told herself. She just didn't think it would be this soon. She had counted on a few more days at least, maybe a week. But now? Well, she had no choice, did she? She collected her key card and stepped out the door.
When she stepped out into the lobby, she didn't have to search long before her eyes lighted on Angel's mane of dark brown hair. He was standing next to reception with an annoyed and disgusted look on his face; no doubt because of the staff's refusal to tell him her room number, and the garish, at least to him, décor of the main lobby.
She strode purposely forward, trying to mask her own trepidation at the meeting. "Angel." She greeted him.
"Buffy." Angel moved forward to grab hold of her elbow. "Let's go get your things."
She shook his hand off and took a step back. "No."
"No?" Angel's expression was full of shock. "Did you just say no to me?"
"Yes." Buffy admitted. "I'm not leaving."
"What did you think you were accomplishing running away from home like that?"
"I wasn't running away from home. I was relocating." Buffy answered.
"Relocating? To this place? That's ridiculous!" Angel once again tried to make a grab for Buffy's arm.
Buffy sidestepped the maneuver. "I said no." Buffy let the indignation and anger sweep through her. It went a long way to pushing aside the fear. "I'm sorry if you came all the way out here for nothing, but if you'd called first you would have known I wouldn't come back with you."
Buffy watched as Angel's eyes turned dark and angry. His mouth twisted itself into a deep scowl, and his body went tight with tension. She could see his fists clenching at his sides, and wondered whether he would actually try to hit her. She moved subtly, changing her stance to allow for quick movement.
"You can't be serious? You are my fiance, and as such everything you do has an affect on how people see me. Do you know how much embarrassment you've caused me?" He asked, his voice low and rough.
"That's where you're wrong Angel." Buffy tossed back at him. "I'm not your fiance. I broke our engagement several months ago. You just refused to accept it. But that doesn't make it any less broken. And as for any embarrassment I've caused you - well that's entirely your own fault. If you hadn't hidden the fact that our relationship was over, no one in Trader's Corners would care one whit about me!"
When Buffy saw Angel step forward, she automatically went into the first stance she taught in any of her classes. The basic defense stance. But before anything could happen, she felt a cool hand grip her shoulder and a smooth voice drift over her head. "Is there a problem here mate?"
When Buffy turned she was shocked to see the sparks of anger flying behind Will's steady gaze. "Everything's fine Will." She could handle this. Now that the initial shock had worn off, she knew that she could take care of this on her own. "I've got it under control."
Will canted his head toward Buffy, searching her eyes with his own. After a brief moment he nodded and took a step back.
"Who are you?" Angel demanded. "This is none of your business."
Spike's nostrils flared, and his pupil's dilated. He was using all his control, just to keep from pummeling the man standing before him. He'd known the moment he stepped off the elevator and saw the two of them together, that this was Angel. "My place. My business." Spike spoke through gritted teeth.
Angel's eyes narrowed as he stared at the two people before him. "So you're William Giles?" Angel's gaze swept up and down Spike's body his expression clearly stating that he found Spike lacking. "Is this what you're staying for?" He gestured toward the fuming brit. "Don't kid yourself Buffy. If you think for one minute that this guy wants anything more than a quick fuck, and the chance to win his money back from you, your dumber than I thought."
Buffy couldn't help cringe at his words. Mostly because they were closer to the truth than she wanted him to know. But she didn't have time to dwell on Angel's cruelty. Will was struggling to get loose from her grip, and she couldn't allow that to happen. "Will!" She called to him until he stopped struggling in her arms. "Let it go."
Just as she was getting Will to calm down, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Angel's fist was poised to punch and as his hand shot forward Buffy reacted. She spun in a half circle to the left, her right arm reached out to grasp his wrist. On contact, she tightened her hand until Angel's fist was forced open. Then she twist up, spinning the half circle back, until she'd forced Angel onto his knees. As soon as he fell to the floor, Buffy took several steps forward causing Angel to turn and land on his stomach, with his arm pinned backward.
"You never did come by the studio to watch any of my classes Angel." Buffy whispered sweetly. "Maybe you should have. You might've learned something." She twisted his arm a bit for emphasis.
Angel whimpered.
"Now, I'm going to stand up and step away from you. You are going to get up, and leave. And you're never coming back. Do you understand me?" Buffy spoke slowly, as if to a child.
When Angel nodded, Buffy released him and stepped away. She eyed him warily as he stood, rubbing at his wrist and shoulder. "If you mention my name to the press, I'll have you in court so fast your head will be spinning." He tried to sound menacing, but Buffy thought he only sounded pathetic.
"Don't worry Angel. I have a feeling that after today, I'll never mention your name ever again." Buffy watched sadly as Angel walked away. She almost couldn't believe that she had allowed Angel to intimidate her for so long. She shook her head at her own folly.
"That was quite impressive luv." Buffy started at Will's voice. She had forgotten that she hadn't been alone.
"Thank you." She answered curtly.
Spike watched as Buffy began to make her way back toward the elevator bays. He followed quickly, not wanting to allow her to get away from him again.
The further Buffy walked from the scene, the more reaction set in. Now that it was all over, her body was finally registering the tension and shock. She could feel her body begin to tremble, and tried to hide the fact from Will. But she wasn't able to fool him.
"Come on luv. Let's get you back upstairs." Spike tried to take her elbow, but she shrugged him off.
"I can get there just fine on my own, thank you."
"Buffy! This is ridiculous. You're shaking, I'm not going to let you go up by yourself." Spike was exasperated. "I've already apologized for the other day. What more do you want?"
"Nothing! I don't want anything form you Will!" Buffy answered, her shaking becoming more pronounced.
"So, you're just going to stay mad at me?"
"I don't normally hold grudges."
"But you're making an exception for me?" Will asked.
Buffy only shrugged and continued toward the elevator. "Buffy, you only have two choices here." He turned her until they were facing one another. "You can forgive me, and let me help you up to your suite. Or you can stay mad and let me chase down that bastard of an ex so that I can take my frustrations out on him."
"You wouldn't!" Spike only arched an eyebrow in answer.
Buffy sighed. He would. "Fine. You can help me upstairs."
Spike smiled taking Buffy's elbow and drawing her near. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist, and led her through the elevator doors and up to her suite.