Title: Echoing Bells
Author: Grizzled Rose
Summery ( part 2): Spike has to deal with his "feelings" and the resent break off of his "relationship" with Buffy. It's also a special day for the Scoobies. This is AU from the end of As You Were.
Disclaimer: Characters and ect. Belong to proper parties. Parts are taken from the episode "Hells Bells" they are changed a little to accommodate the AU reality of this story.
A/N: I know these are a pain in the rear but I have to say it again, I am sorry for the bad spelling I am working on it and hope to re-post with updated spelling.
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The rolling thunder that had awoken him, still bounced around the crypt's stone walls. Adding to the stinging pain in his head. Pain that's all his unlife had become. The hangover from almost two full nights of drinking was torturing him, as though he was dieing again. Still lying across his chair, flashes of his dream hunted him.
What did it mean? A better man for it? Better for what, the killing and reputation that he had earned in over a hundred years of murder? Or the last few years of being the Slayers whipping boy? Questions swirled in his head, and what were all these feelings? Vampires didn't have feelings, so he was told by everyone and yet here they were confusing the hell out of him. Love and lost for the bloody Slayer, guilt for not being there for his family all those years ago or for even Dawn these last few months. There was a pain ripping him in two and it had nothing to do with the hangover.
Another crash of thunder tore its way across the sky, and Spike couldn't take it any longer. He needed it all to stop, he didn't want these feelings, had never asked for them. When did it all start? That was some thing that he had to find out. But how could he function, with all this. this feeling? He had to stop it.
He reached over to the box beside the chair and pulled out his last bottle, opening quickly he drank. In only a matter of minutes the bottle was almost empty. This would never do the trick, so he pulled himself from his chair and stumbled to the door. Stopping only for a second to grab and put on his duster. If it was the last thing he did, he would make all this pain stop.
He stumbled his way throw the alley ways and streets of Sunnydale until at last he found himself at Willy's. The crowd here didn't really like him anymore and even Willy and his hired help wasn't afraid of him, but he needed drink. It didn't really matter anymore where he went; every demon friendly place in town knew what happened to him. Hell most demons in town knew if nothing else that he worked with the Slayer now. Spike laughed at that, the Scoobies would never allow him in their little club but the entire Sunnydale demon population thought that he held a member card and all. Neither wanted him, too evil for the Scoobies not evil enough for the demons.
There was that pain again; not helping was that one of the regulars just started some bubble-gum pop music blaring for the jukebox. Spike growled to himself and headed directly to the bar. One of the new guys was working the bar; with the encress of business Willy was able to finally get some help. Tending the bar was some thing Willy left to the new help; he got fewer beatings that way. But even the new guys found out soon enough that Spike had a chip, that didn't mean he couldn't do some damage. Just that he couldn't kill. Humans anyway, most the regulars knew to stay away for him on bad days and let him take it out on the stupid ones. Today was one of those days; Spike was looking for a fight, some thing that he could hit, something that he could do.
"Here rather early ain't ya Spike?" The bartender asked, turning from the polishing the bar to his new customer.
"Give me something strong." The bartender looked at Spike and knew better then to ask. The strolled over to the back end of the bar and pulled out an old bottle, with a yellow liquid in side. Grabbing a glass from behind the bar he walked back to Spike, and started pouring him a glass. Spike grabbed his wrist and stopped him, and then grabbed the entire bottle. "Keep it coming." He told the dark haired man behind the bar. Then began drinking straight from the bottle like a man that hadn't had a drink in days.
Spike sat quietly drinking, not looking around at all just waiting for all the hurting, all the feeling to leave him alone. Bottle after bottle he drank, each one earning him a frown from the bartender, on his 3rd bottle the liquor was finally starting to hit the vampire. Slowly the pain dulled, it was still there it just wasn't as hard to think, move, anything.
"Your gonna pay for all this ain't ya?" The bartender asked. Spike pulled out a wad of bills, and through them at him.
"Should cover it all." Spike said not looking at the man once. The bartender smiled and put another bottle in front of him, then walking to tender to others. As Spikes eyes began to wonder the bar then fell upon the dirty calendar that hung behind the bar. Spike smirked and mumbled to himself. "Wonder how the Whelps weddings going." Spike grabbed the bottle and headed to one of the dark back booths. He sat down and slid in to the wall, he then dug into the inside pocket of his duster. He smirked to himself, as he pulled out an old cigarette pack. He pulled out one of is old hand rolled smokes, with a quick smile he brought the smoke to his mouth and light it.
Soon his thoughts turned inwards once again, who was he, where did he belong, how can he make this pain, these feelings go away. In the good beginnings of a drunken stupor Spike started to tackle the problems in his life.
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The lounges bouquet hall was decked out in white and pink flowers, as the rain storm continued to rage its way over Sunnydale. A mixed crowd of demons and Harris's were in middle of the next battle royal. Buffy stood on the small platform watching as the fight continued. De'Hoffern and Heliex sat in the middle of it all discussing the resent turn of events, and what evects that this would have on the future. Along with some little chit chat and gossip. Anya and an old man stood in back talking as the whole thing went down.
"Guys. will you brake it up?" Buffy shouted in the microphone hoping to calm the crowd, but no one paid attention. She looked out over the crowd of fighting families, looking for a way to stop the bar room brawl. As she looked back to Ayna instead of a little old man she saw a six and a half foot demon. Then the demon slapped Anya a cross the face. "Anya!"
"Every day I remembered and every day I though how I would some how get here, and ruin your life like you ruined mine." The large demon said. "It didn't take much either I scared off your fiancé with a couple of fonny visions."
"Visions of what?" Anya asked tears slowly growing around her eyes.
"Nightmare visions of the future, or his worst fears brought to live." The demon teased. Ayna began crying. "It was easy. Look at that your crying, oh I like that." The demon rejoyoused.
"Stop it." Anya says between tears.
"Oh cry Anyaka, cry I love to see you cry, and now I'd love to see you scream!" The demon struck out at Anya and throw her in to the wall. Seconds after wards he was slapped across the face with a chair, thrown back a few good feet.
Buffy throw the chair behind her and when into a fighting stance, but the green dress wouldn't allow. So she reached down and ripped the dresses hem to free her self for the attack. Mean while the demon made his way over and grabbed Anya.
"Come any closer and I'll kill her!" The demon growled to Buffy.
"Anyaka!" D' Hofferen shouted seeing his favorite ex- demon in the grip of this hostel. Buffy saw her opening, in just a split second the large demon focused his attention on D'Hofferen that allowed Buffy to charge at the demon and force him to drop Anya. Buffy then sent a right hook followed by a left jab, both hitting their marks on the demons face. She then throws the demon into the wall. The demon turned striking Buffy across the face.
The wedding crowd stopped their own fighting all turning to watch Buffy and the large demon. Ayna remind on the floor with Tara and Willow running up to her as she cried. Tara held her gentally as the bride in white wept. The large demon jumped to Buffy trying to put her in a choker hold, but Buffy broke it and sent a punch into the demons chest. As the two fought Anya cried on the floor with the two wiccans surrounding her protectively.
"Xander... we have to find Xander." Anya managed between sobs. Buffy kneed the demon in the chin and slammed his head to the floor. She then turned and ran for the small group on the floor.
"Excuse me" She let out as she jumped over them and retrieved and veil from the buffalo head that hung on the wall behind them. Trotting back to the demon just as it was getting up she rapped the veil around it neck and strangled the demon. After a few moments of thrashing the demon stilled and its heart stopped. Buffy let out a sigh, and slowly stood form the demon. She made her way over to Anya as a stun wedding party looked on. Anya still lay crying, with the wiccans trying to calm her.
"Anya, are you alright?" Buffy ask concern masking her face.
"Xander" was all Anya could get out.
"What happened to Xander, Anya? I can't help him if I don't know how." Buffy asked as she knelled down next to the fallen woman. The Slayer taking over.
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After hours of thought, and drinking all Spike had figured out was that at the moment he was piss ass drunk and sick of the way his life was now. He missed the good old days, unlife was simple catch a quick meal, get into a good fight, kill a few people for fun, and then return to the layer for some TV and a good shag. Nothing to worry about, no feelings in the way. Is that truly what he wanted, would that make him happy? It did then, so why not now?
When did his unlife get hard? When he got the bloody chip. When did he fall in love with the Slayer? After he got the bloody chip. When did he start caring for something other then him self? After he got the bloody chip. When did he start feeling things? After the bloody chip. Then like the eye of the storm the idea struck him. "It's the bloody chip!" Spike yelled out into the bar of demons. Which only half seam to even notice the vampires out burst. But Spike sat there with a smile growing on his face, one that quickly fell. He knew it was all the chips fault for a while now, only his "love" for the Slayer kept him from doing something about it. Now that she wanted nothing to do with him why not get the damn thing out, or turn it off, or some thing.
Spike sat a long time, a fresh bottle sat in front of him untouched as the vampire worked out a plan. The rain continued to hammer down on the ceiling and music blaring from the jukebox and still Spike sat there. Slowly the sun that had been hidden behind rain clouds all day slipped under the horizon. As soon as Spike felt him self starting to sober up he reached for the bottle, the only movements in the vampire in hours. The slow draw from the neck of the bottle and then the placing of it right back on the table.
Finally Spike relised his only option, he would need some supplies, but it should work. Granted this plan would put him on the Slayers top ten kill list, but then again that's part of his old life he missed. Being the big bad, being feared as the slayer of slayers. In the long run these couple of years of trying for a white hat will be nothing more then a flash in the pan. Not even remember able.
So with a plan made Spike decided it was time to end this misable state that he was in and get started. With a few bottles for the road, Spike slowly found his feet and headed to his future.
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Buffy, Willow, and Dawn sat around the Summers living room, nursing some cups of tea. The lighting and thunder roared out side the front window.
"Should we do something for her? Anything?" Dawn asked looking to the two older women in the room.
"She wants to be alone. That's want she wants. Oh god, it just hurts my heart to think of her." Willow answered looking to the stairs. "There's still no word on Xander. No ones heard from him since the demon showed him those freaky vision things."
"I know this whole thing hurts my heart. We searched every where and no ones seen or heard from Xander. I have no clue what he must be going through, but if those visions were strong enough to scare him that bad." Buffy trailed off as the three women lost themselves in their own thoughts.
"Why did this happen?" Dawn asked in a small voice.
"I don't know Dawnie, I just don't know" Willow said looking deep into her cup.
"I just wonder where he is" Dawn stated
"We all do." Buffy replied.
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In a small dirty motel room Xander sat on the floor between the bed and TV, hugging his knees to his chest tears rolling down his face. His tuxedos wrinkled and still wet form the day's heavy rains. The sounds of sirens and traffic floating into the room the neon sign flashing out side sending an eerie glow into the room. The images the old man, himself, had shown him still flashing in his mind. The only words to pass through his lips as sob shuck his body was "Anya".
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His boot sunk in the muddy ground as he stumbled, soaked from the rain, deeper into the trees. His memories were fading, along with his motor skills and every thing else. He continued on lost in thought for a moment trying to remember how many bottles he had drunken. Then he wondered what alcohol poisoning would do to a vampire. Suddenly he stopped his stumbling, and leaned against a tree for a moment throwing his hands into his pockets. There he found one small bottle of, well some type of booze, but nothing else. So much for fixing up the lower half of the crypt now. Pushing himself off the tree he continued on again, it didn't matter. After he finished his mission he wouldn't need the crypt much longer anyway.
"Bloody Hell!" Spike yelled, as he tripped, falling to the ground. His last bottle fell from his grip. He pulled himself up, with help from another tree, and continued on once again. He was sure the caves were just up ahead.
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Author: Grizzled Rose
Summery ( part 2): Spike has to deal with his "feelings" and the resent break off of his "relationship" with Buffy. It's also a special day for the Scoobies. This is AU from the end of As You Were.
Disclaimer: Characters and ect. Belong to proper parties. Parts are taken from the episode "Hells Bells" they are changed a little to accommodate the AU reality of this story.
A/N: I know these are a pain in the rear but I have to say it again, I am sorry for the bad spelling I am working on it and hope to re-post with updated spelling.
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The rolling thunder that had awoken him, still bounced around the crypt's stone walls. Adding to the stinging pain in his head. Pain that's all his unlife had become. The hangover from almost two full nights of drinking was torturing him, as though he was dieing again. Still lying across his chair, flashes of his dream hunted him.
What did it mean? A better man for it? Better for what, the killing and reputation that he had earned in over a hundred years of murder? Or the last few years of being the Slayers whipping boy? Questions swirled in his head, and what were all these feelings? Vampires didn't have feelings, so he was told by everyone and yet here they were confusing the hell out of him. Love and lost for the bloody Slayer, guilt for not being there for his family all those years ago or for even Dawn these last few months. There was a pain ripping him in two and it had nothing to do with the hangover.
Another crash of thunder tore its way across the sky, and Spike couldn't take it any longer. He needed it all to stop, he didn't want these feelings, had never asked for them. When did it all start? That was some thing that he had to find out. But how could he function, with all this. this feeling? He had to stop it.
He reached over to the box beside the chair and pulled out his last bottle, opening quickly he drank. In only a matter of minutes the bottle was almost empty. This would never do the trick, so he pulled himself from his chair and stumbled to the door. Stopping only for a second to grab and put on his duster. If it was the last thing he did, he would make all this pain stop.
He stumbled his way throw the alley ways and streets of Sunnydale until at last he found himself at Willy's. The crowd here didn't really like him anymore and even Willy and his hired help wasn't afraid of him, but he needed drink. It didn't really matter anymore where he went; every demon friendly place in town knew what happened to him. Hell most demons in town knew if nothing else that he worked with the Slayer now. Spike laughed at that, the Scoobies would never allow him in their little club but the entire Sunnydale demon population thought that he held a member card and all. Neither wanted him, too evil for the Scoobies not evil enough for the demons.
There was that pain again; not helping was that one of the regulars just started some bubble-gum pop music blaring for the jukebox. Spike growled to himself and headed directly to the bar. One of the new guys was working the bar; with the encress of business Willy was able to finally get some help. Tending the bar was some thing Willy left to the new help; he got fewer beatings that way. But even the new guys found out soon enough that Spike had a chip, that didn't mean he couldn't do some damage. Just that he couldn't kill. Humans anyway, most the regulars knew to stay away for him on bad days and let him take it out on the stupid ones. Today was one of those days; Spike was looking for a fight, some thing that he could hit, something that he could do.
"Here rather early ain't ya Spike?" The bartender asked, turning from the polishing the bar to his new customer.
"Give me something strong." The bartender looked at Spike and knew better then to ask. The strolled over to the back end of the bar and pulled out an old bottle, with a yellow liquid in side. Grabbing a glass from behind the bar he walked back to Spike, and started pouring him a glass. Spike grabbed his wrist and stopped him, and then grabbed the entire bottle. "Keep it coming." He told the dark haired man behind the bar. Then began drinking straight from the bottle like a man that hadn't had a drink in days.
Spike sat quietly drinking, not looking around at all just waiting for all the hurting, all the feeling to leave him alone. Bottle after bottle he drank, each one earning him a frown from the bartender, on his 3rd bottle the liquor was finally starting to hit the vampire. Slowly the pain dulled, it was still there it just wasn't as hard to think, move, anything.
"Your gonna pay for all this ain't ya?" The bartender asked. Spike pulled out a wad of bills, and through them at him.
"Should cover it all." Spike said not looking at the man once. The bartender smiled and put another bottle in front of him, then walking to tender to others. As Spikes eyes began to wonder the bar then fell upon the dirty calendar that hung behind the bar. Spike smirked and mumbled to himself. "Wonder how the Whelps weddings going." Spike grabbed the bottle and headed to one of the dark back booths. He sat down and slid in to the wall, he then dug into the inside pocket of his duster. He smirked to himself, as he pulled out an old cigarette pack. He pulled out one of is old hand rolled smokes, with a quick smile he brought the smoke to his mouth and light it.
Soon his thoughts turned inwards once again, who was he, where did he belong, how can he make this pain, these feelings go away. In the good beginnings of a drunken stupor Spike started to tackle the problems in his life.
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The lounges bouquet hall was decked out in white and pink flowers, as the rain storm continued to rage its way over Sunnydale. A mixed crowd of demons and Harris's were in middle of the next battle royal. Buffy stood on the small platform watching as the fight continued. De'Hoffern and Heliex sat in the middle of it all discussing the resent turn of events, and what evects that this would have on the future. Along with some little chit chat and gossip. Anya and an old man stood in back talking as the whole thing went down.
"Guys. will you brake it up?" Buffy shouted in the microphone hoping to calm the crowd, but no one paid attention. She looked out over the crowd of fighting families, looking for a way to stop the bar room brawl. As she looked back to Ayna instead of a little old man she saw a six and a half foot demon. Then the demon slapped Anya a cross the face. "Anya!"
"Every day I remembered and every day I though how I would some how get here, and ruin your life like you ruined mine." The large demon said. "It didn't take much either I scared off your fiancé with a couple of fonny visions."
"Visions of what?" Anya asked tears slowly growing around her eyes.
"Nightmare visions of the future, or his worst fears brought to live." The demon teased. Ayna began crying. "It was easy. Look at that your crying, oh I like that." The demon rejoyoused.
"Stop it." Anya says between tears.
"Oh cry Anyaka, cry I love to see you cry, and now I'd love to see you scream!" The demon struck out at Anya and throw her in to the wall. Seconds after wards he was slapped across the face with a chair, thrown back a few good feet.
Buffy throw the chair behind her and when into a fighting stance, but the green dress wouldn't allow. So she reached down and ripped the dresses hem to free her self for the attack. Mean while the demon made his way over and grabbed Anya.
"Come any closer and I'll kill her!" The demon growled to Buffy.
"Anyaka!" D' Hofferen shouted seeing his favorite ex- demon in the grip of this hostel. Buffy saw her opening, in just a split second the large demon focused his attention on D'Hofferen that allowed Buffy to charge at the demon and force him to drop Anya. Buffy then sent a right hook followed by a left jab, both hitting their marks on the demons face. She then throws the demon into the wall. The demon turned striking Buffy across the face.
The wedding crowd stopped their own fighting all turning to watch Buffy and the large demon. Ayna remind on the floor with Tara and Willow running up to her as she cried. Tara held her gentally as the bride in white wept. The large demon jumped to Buffy trying to put her in a choker hold, but Buffy broke it and sent a punch into the demons chest. As the two fought Anya cried on the floor with the two wiccans surrounding her protectively.
"Xander... we have to find Xander." Anya managed between sobs. Buffy kneed the demon in the chin and slammed his head to the floor. She then turned and ran for the small group on the floor.
"Excuse me" She let out as she jumped over them and retrieved and veil from the buffalo head that hung on the wall behind them. Trotting back to the demon just as it was getting up she rapped the veil around it neck and strangled the demon. After a few moments of thrashing the demon stilled and its heart stopped. Buffy let out a sigh, and slowly stood form the demon. She made her way over to Anya as a stun wedding party looked on. Anya still lay crying, with the wiccans trying to calm her.
"Anya, are you alright?" Buffy ask concern masking her face.
"Xander" was all Anya could get out.
"What happened to Xander, Anya? I can't help him if I don't know how." Buffy asked as she knelled down next to the fallen woman. The Slayer taking over.
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After hours of thought, and drinking all Spike had figured out was that at the moment he was piss ass drunk and sick of the way his life was now. He missed the good old days, unlife was simple catch a quick meal, get into a good fight, kill a few people for fun, and then return to the layer for some TV and a good shag. Nothing to worry about, no feelings in the way. Is that truly what he wanted, would that make him happy? It did then, so why not now?
When did his unlife get hard? When he got the bloody chip. When did he fall in love with the Slayer? After he got the bloody chip. When did he start caring for something other then him self? After he got the bloody chip. When did he start feeling things? After the bloody chip. Then like the eye of the storm the idea struck him. "It's the bloody chip!" Spike yelled out into the bar of demons. Which only half seam to even notice the vampires out burst. But Spike sat there with a smile growing on his face, one that quickly fell. He knew it was all the chips fault for a while now, only his "love" for the Slayer kept him from doing something about it. Now that she wanted nothing to do with him why not get the damn thing out, or turn it off, or some thing.
Spike sat a long time, a fresh bottle sat in front of him untouched as the vampire worked out a plan. The rain continued to hammer down on the ceiling and music blaring from the jukebox and still Spike sat there. Slowly the sun that had been hidden behind rain clouds all day slipped under the horizon. As soon as Spike felt him self starting to sober up he reached for the bottle, the only movements in the vampire in hours. The slow draw from the neck of the bottle and then the placing of it right back on the table.
Finally Spike relised his only option, he would need some supplies, but it should work. Granted this plan would put him on the Slayers top ten kill list, but then again that's part of his old life he missed. Being the big bad, being feared as the slayer of slayers. In the long run these couple of years of trying for a white hat will be nothing more then a flash in the pan. Not even remember able.
So with a plan made Spike decided it was time to end this misable state that he was in and get started. With a few bottles for the road, Spike slowly found his feet and headed to his future.
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Buffy, Willow, and Dawn sat around the Summers living room, nursing some cups of tea. The lighting and thunder roared out side the front window.
"Should we do something for her? Anything?" Dawn asked looking to the two older women in the room.
"She wants to be alone. That's want she wants. Oh god, it just hurts my heart to think of her." Willow answered looking to the stairs. "There's still no word on Xander. No ones heard from him since the demon showed him those freaky vision things."
"I know this whole thing hurts my heart. We searched every where and no ones seen or heard from Xander. I have no clue what he must be going through, but if those visions were strong enough to scare him that bad." Buffy trailed off as the three women lost themselves in their own thoughts.
"Why did this happen?" Dawn asked in a small voice.
"I don't know Dawnie, I just don't know" Willow said looking deep into her cup.
"I just wonder where he is" Dawn stated
"We all do." Buffy replied.
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In a small dirty motel room Xander sat on the floor between the bed and TV, hugging his knees to his chest tears rolling down his face. His tuxedos wrinkled and still wet form the day's heavy rains. The sounds of sirens and traffic floating into the room the neon sign flashing out side sending an eerie glow into the room. The images the old man, himself, had shown him still flashing in his mind. The only words to pass through his lips as sob shuck his body was "Anya".
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His boot sunk in the muddy ground as he stumbled, soaked from the rain, deeper into the trees. His memories were fading, along with his motor skills and every thing else. He continued on lost in thought for a moment trying to remember how many bottles he had drunken. Then he wondered what alcohol poisoning would do to a vampire. Suddenly he stopped his stumbling, and leaned against a tree for a moment throwing his hands into his pockets. There he found one small bottle of, well some type of booze, but nothing else. So much for fixing up the lower half of the crypt now. Pushing himself off the tree he continued on again, it didn't matter. After he finished his mission he wouldn't need the crypt much longer anyway.
"Bloody Hell!" Spike yelled, as he tripped, falling to the ground. His last bottle fell from his grip. He pulled himself up, with help from another tree, and continued on once again. He was sure the caves were just up ahead.
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