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What Is To Be
-Tenth-
By Annie
2003-09-16
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤
"Willow!" Buffy said as the Wicca finally picked up her phone.
"Buffy?" the other asked, voice coarse. "It's three o'clock in the morning!"
"Oh, my God - I totally forgot the time difference thing! If I say I'm sorry you'll forgive me right?" she asked, not waiting for a reply as she continued: "Okay, super important question!"
"'Super important'?" Willow repeated, the sarcasm going by unnoticed by the other as she merely went on:
"Do you think pink is my color? Really? 'Cause I bought this dress and now I'm having reservations." She could hear Willow pull herself up in bed, the former beginning to grow impatient with the time it took the redhead to form a reply. "Well?!" she finally burst out.
"Woah, what are you on?" Willow asked with a huff. "Just let me get my head back on, you know how I unscrew it and detach it from my neck before going to bed!" she added and Buffy began to clench and unclench her left hand.
"Right now I am treading dangerously close to crawling out of my skin and I wanna have someone else tell me if I made the right decision in buying the dress or not! It's not much I'm asking!" she exclaimed.
"Jeez," Willow grumbled. "No, it's not much you're asking except it's THREE- O'CLOCK-IN-THE-MORNING!"
"Did I not say I was sorry? Please, please, please, help me," the Slayer begged and Willow muttered something before she sighed and said:
"I'd say pink is a great color for you, depending on what the dress looks like."
"It's a gown."
"A gown? Where are you going in a gown?"
"It's this social event thing-y and... Well, the skirt is long and with a lot of fabric and it's really this Cinderella sort of clash with Sleeping Beauty and it's... pretty, I think," Buffy said.
"Great, you'll be pretty in pink, then," Willow stated, making Buffy practically gulp.
"Oh, God," she said.
"What now?" Willow asked.
"Well... do you think that'll be my label for the evening? Pretty?"
"I...dunno."
"'Cause that's not what I was going for."
"Who were you going for?"
"Spike - I want him to..." she cut herself off as she realized what Willow had just done and when she could hear the suppressed giggle of the redhead Buffy frowned. "Funny," she muttered.
"Couldn't resist," Willow apologized.
"Well, it's just that there's this other... woman," Buffy grumbled.
"For SPIKE?!" Willow sputtered, though Buffy didn't hear the clear laughter in her voice as she continued:
"Her name's Susannah. SUSANNAH! It sounds so... plain. Like, William and Susannah. It doesn't sound right, does it?" she asked, again merely rambling on before Willow could properly reply. "You know, he never really liked my name."
"What?" Willow was able to put in and Buffy nodded, stepping into the dress as she secured the receiver between her shoulder and ear and then pulled the former up; as the zipper was situated in her side at least that was no big deal.
"Well, he didn't," Buffy said. "When we were getting married he told me so," she added.
"Marri-...? Buffy! That's four years ago! And you were under a spell! MY spell!" Willow disagreed.
"No, you didn't hear him. He was all 'oh-and-Buffy'll-give-it-that-touch-of- classic-elegance', or something not far from it. He doesn't like my name," the Slayer stated firmly. "He probably thinks 'Susannah' is NORMAL and... nice."
"Buffy," Willow said, voice reprimanding.
"At least I do like the way he says it," the blonde sighed. "Okay, I have to finish getting ready! Thanks, Will! You've been a great help! Good night."
"Good night," Willow agreed and Buffy hung up the phone.
Then she turned and looked at herself in the tall mirror. She didn't want to be overly critical, but she felt a small nervous flutter in her stomach when she thought of Spike. What if he didn't like the dress she had chosen? What if he wasn't how she thought he was...?
She had gone for a good girl's sex appeal... which might have seemed a little screwed up, but she hadn't been able to make up her mind if she should go for something she was absolutely convinced Spike would have loved way back when; or if she should go for something a sensitive man would be able to fall for. William was sensitive.
But he wasn't two separate persons, he was him and so she had thought that something in between might be just right. Hopefully.
She twirled, keeping her eyes on the mirror, and then tried a smile. She was pretty satisfied.
The color of the dress was a pale pink. It had a straight cut in the front and a deep cut in the back - which was the sex appeal. She thought. What if he didn't?
Get. A. Grip.
She nodded her consent to that. She definitely had to get a grip. She wasn't even attending the stupid ball with him. But, by all that was good, she wanted to outshine that nitwit Susannah!
No, Buffy, don't think like that. Susannah is nice enough.
Yeah, she was nice enough, she just wasn't gone enough. She was always there! During the day she had been the one who had taken the longest time choosing a gown. Sure, Buffy hadn't been the first either - but toward the fifth hour Buffy had thought that Susannah was doing nothing but stalling. It was as though the other didn't want them to return to the hotel too early, and Buffy recalled how Susannah had heard Buffy tell Spike that she wanted to speak with him when she got back.
Susannah didn't PLAN it! the voice of reason spoke up and she sighed. You're being paranoid.
What if he likes her more than he likes me? What if this whole change of body and this whole experience has just made him move on? she shot before she smiled as she shook her head at herself. He almost kissed me, she then reminded herself. Would he have done that if he...?
Yeah, she cut herself short. But the next moment he was asking the NITWIT out on a date!
She probably exaggerated the whole you going with Angel thing!
And we're back to Susannah and her master plotting, she grumbled. Let it go.
She nodded a little to herself again and turned from the mirror as she straightened out the billowing skirt of her gown.
It was a very beautiful creation she had gotten her hands on. Now she could only wish that he would think the same, and that it suited its owner...
She swallowed, feeling a slight tremble at the thought of facing him, then wised up and went to get her pocketbook. He had seen her dressed up before, after all. It would be fine, no matter.
Still, she took a small breath before she ventured out into the hallway.
"You look incredible!" Cordelia said and Buffy turned her head to her as the dark-haired came toward her down the hall.
"So do you," Buffy replied, and she truly meant it.
The dark blue dress which Cordelia had chosen did nothing to hide her amazing figure, it fit her perfectly. The former seer beamed at that, then she gave a small shrug.
"Thanks," she said.
"I take it Angel... explained," Buffy asked and Cordelia looked a bit tentative before she wondered:
"Explained what?"
"Oh, don't try it, girlfriend," Buffy shook her head. "I've seen how you look at him. And... how he looks at you."
Cordelia's eyes grew questioning, a spot of hope in them that Buffy couldn't miss and the Slayer smiled to underline that she was serious in her statement. Cordelia returned the smile and was about to say something when Angel joined them, making her seemingly change the words into:
"Is Wesley ready yet?" and merely giving the vampire a brief glance before she looked passed his shoulder. "I'm gonna go see if he needs help with his tie," she added, walking passed the vampire who seemed to want to tell her how wonderful she looked, not getting the chance as she made herself scarce and Buffy couldn't help but smirk.
"She's crazy about you, of course," she then said teasingly and Angel met her gaze before he smiled as well.
There were steps down the stairs and Buffy turned around. After another two seconds Spike appeared and she felt her heart slow painfully in her chest as she stared at the black suit and crisp white shirt he was in, a black bow-tie around his neck. He looked fantastic. No, better than that.
She felt s surge of contentment at the look in his eyes as they rested on her. His jaw dropped slightly and she could have sworn she saw a trace of a blush on his cheeks. He was staring.
Spike couldn't help but. She looked goddess-like; striking, with her mane of blonde cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her beauty never ceased to catch him off guard. He suddenly remembered he had to breathe and drew a slow breath, his eyes still fixed in hers and as he noticed the small yet pleased smile on her lips he smirked.
She herself did seem to be enjoying what she was seeing, didn't she?
Neither of them reacted to the fourth party joining their group, nor did they for the following fifteen seconds. But then that party cleared her throat and they blinked, both turning their head to her.
"Sannah," Spike greeted with a smile. "You look astonishing," he added, and she returned his smile.
She had chosen an emerald green dress which had a late twenties feel to it, the skirt had a slit from her right foot and all the way up to a mere two inches below her right hip and it had a low cut in front as well as back. She did look astonishing.
However, Buffy's mind was put at least a little at ease as Spike's blues found hers again.
Susannah slipped one hand in his as she too noticed his focus going back to the other woman, but though he held it back his eyes didn't leave Buffy and Susannah's heart sank to settle heavily below her ribs.
"Well, shall we?" Angel asked and Buffy nodded, making as to take a step forward to put her hand on Spike's arm, but then she realized that wasn't her place and she turned her eyes out of Spike's and to the vampire with a slightly apologetic smile.
He returned it with ease as she slid her hand to lay on the arm he had hooked for her, and then he led her toward the stairs. She could hear Spike and Susannah following, but she tried not to think of them together. She wanted to make Angel understand that she wasn't appalled by the fact of him taking her.
"You look very handsome," she said and he smiled.
"And you look as breathtaking as always," he assured, making her smile widely.
"Cute," she then said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "I take it the pun was intended? You not needing to breathe and all," she added and he gave her a reproachful look before he stated:
"You know if I had one to take away you'd be the one to pull it off."
She smirked at that, giving his arm a squeeze before releasing it, turning to the other couple and noticing the third and fourth just coming down the stairs.
Fred looked as the three other ladies; wearing a white, sleeveless gown she was quite the sight.
"And we're hoping to not cause a stir," Wesley said as the eight of them stood assembled in the foyer, everybody looking wondering and he smiled. "You lovely women will be like a breeze of fresh air; impossible to ignore, impossible to not miss once it's gone."
"Didn't know you were such a sweet-talker, Wes," Cordelia teased, his smile merely widening.
As they all headed for the door the anticipation intensified. Whatever they were about to meet-and-greet they needed to be on their guard; all of them. This night might make them, or break them. They might end up with answers, or more questions.
Buffy felt ready for anything as she slipped into the backseat of Susannah's car, Spike volunteering to drive as the owner of the vehicle was in disabling high heels. The Slayer listened attentively to the conversation between the two and tried to slip into a role fitting a high societee, trying to relax as she felt a comforting pat on one hand from Angel.
She granted him a half smile before she turned her eyes back to look out the window.
Ready for anything at all, she thought as the sound of Spike's low laugh reached her ears. Almost, she added to herself.
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************
Oh, you guys SO light up my life!
Special and warm thanks to Winters1 (Glad you enjoyed the Spuffy cuddling!) :), wolf116 (thanks for the email and keep on guessing, okay? I always wanna know!) ;), MissK (why, thank you, I'm glad you like the plot. And also happy that you like this - me, replying. And, I have quite a few more elses up my sleeve.) ;), Tobert (hahah - mild retardation for Susannah? You don't want me to go easy on her at all!) :), learyl (*smiles* I loved the "disrespect of Susannah for the intricate history and amazing journey of Buffy and Spike" comment! And, I agree! ;) Great that you're enjoying the story line!) :), Mel (Great comments, girl! Real nice that you like the Egyptian deal and also fun to read that you liked the "Angie" bit.) :) and Captain (Lovely that you're enjoying the Spuffy moments, and sorry about them not being enough. :( :). Also, theories huh? Theories are good.) :)
All of you, thank you! So glad you're still with me on this!
And, as always, hope you liked this chapter as well!!!
A.M.L, Annie.
What Is To Be
-Tenth-
By Annie
2003-09-16
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤
"Willow!" Buffy said as the Wicca finally picked up her phone.
"Buffy?" the other asked, voice coarse. "It's three o'clock in the morning!"
"Oh, my God - I totally forgot the time difference thing! If I say I'm sorry you'll forgive me right?" she asked, not waiting for a reply as she continued: "Okay, super important question!"
"'Super important'?" Willow repeated, the sarcasm going by unnoticed by the other as she merely went on:
"Do you think pink is my color? Really? 'Cause I bought this dress and now I'm having reservations." She could hear Willow pull herself up in bed, the former beginning to grow impatient with the time it took the redhead to form a reply. "Well?!" she finally burst out.
"Woah, what are you on?" Willow asked with a huff. "Just let me get my head back on, you know how I unscrew it and detach it from my neck before going to bed!" she added and Buffy began to clench and unclench her left hand.
"Right now I am treading dangerously close to crawling out of my skin and I wanna have someone else tell me if I made the right decision in buying the dress or not! It's not much I'm asking!" she exclaimed.
"Jeez," Willow grumbled. "No, it's not much you're asking except it's THREE- O'CLOCK-IN-THE-MORNING!"
"Did I not say I was sorry? Please, please, please, help me," the Slayer begged and Willow muttered something before she sighed and said:
"I'd say pink is a great color for you, depending on what the dress looks like."
"It's a gown."
"A gown? Where are you going in a gown?"
"It's this social event thing-y and... Well, the skirt is long and with a lot of fabric and it's really this Cinderella sort of clash with Sleeping Beauty and it's... pretty, I think," Buffy said.
"Great, you'll be pretty in pink, then," Willow stated, making Buffy practically gulp.
"Oh, God," she said.
"What now?" Willow asked.
"Well... do you think that'll be my label for the evening? Pretty?"
"I...dunno."
"'Cause that's not what I was going for."
"Who were you going for?"
"Spike - I want him to..." she cut herself off as she realized what Willow had just done and when she could hear the suppressed giggle of the redhead Buffy frowned. "Funny," she muttered.
"Couldn't resist," Willow apologized.
"Well, it's just that there's this other... woman," Buffy grumbled.
"For SPIKE?!" Willow sputtered, though Buffy didn't hear the clear laughter in her voice as she continued:
"Her name's Susannah. SUSANNAH! It sounds so... plain. Like, William and Susannah. It doesn't sound right, does it?" she asked, again merely rambling on before Willow could properly reply. "You know, he never really liked my name."
"What?" Willow was able to put in and Buffy nodded, stepping into the dress as she secured the receiver between her shoulder and ear and then pulled the former up; as the zipper was situated in her side at least that was no big deal.
"Well, he didn't," Buffy said. "When we were getting married he told me so," she added.
"Marri-...? Buffy! That's four years ago! And you were under a spell! MY spell!" Willow disagreed.
"No, you didn't hear him. He was all 'oh-and-Buffy'll-give-it-that-touch-of- classic-elegance', or something not far from it. He doesn't like my name," the Slayer stated firmly. "He probably thinks 'Susannah' is NORMAL and... nice."
"Buffy," Willow said, voice reprimanding.
"At least I do like the way he says it," the blonde sighed. "Okay, I have to finish getting ready! Thanks, Will! You've been a great help! Good night."
"Good night," Willow agreed and Buffy hung up the phone.
Then she turned and looked at herself in the tall mirror. She didn't want to be overly critical, but she felt a small nervous flutter in her stomach when she thought of Spike. What if he didn't like the dress she had chosen? What if he wasn't how she thought he was...?
She had gone for a good girl's sex appeal... which might have seemed a little screwed up, but she hadn't been able to make up her mind if she should go for something she was absolutely convinced Spike would have loved way back when; or if she should go for something a sensitive man would be able to fall for. William was sensitive.
But he wasn't two separate persons, he was him and so she had thought that something in between might be just right. Hopefully.
She twirled, keeping her eyes on the mirror, and then tried a smile. She was pretty satisfied.
The color of the dress was a pale pink. It had a straight cut in the front and a deep cut in the back - which was the sex appeal. She thought. What if he didn't?
Get. A. Grip.
She nodded her consent to that. She definitely had to get a grip. She wasn't even attending the stupid ball with him. But, by all that was good, she wanted to outshine that nitwit Susannah!
No, Buffy, don't think like that. Susannah is nice enough.
Yeah, she was nice enough, she just wasn't gone enough. She was always there! During the day she had been the one who had taken the longest time choosing a gown. Sure, Buffy hadn't been the first either - but toward the fifth hour Buffy had thought that Susannah was doing nothing but stalling. It was as though the other didn't want them to return to the hotel too early, and Buffy recalled how Susannah had heard Buffy tell Spike that she wanted to speak with him when she got back.
Susannah didn't PLAN it! the voice of reason spoke up and she sighed. You're being paranoid.
What if he likes her more than he likes me? What if this whole change of body and this whole experience has just made him move on? she shot before she smiled as she shook her head at herself. He almost kissed me, she then reminded herself. Would he have done that if he...?
Yeah, she cut herself short. But the next moment he was asking the NITWIT out on a date!
She probably exaggerated the whole you going with Angel thing!
And we're back to Susannah and her master plotting, she grumbled. Let it go.
She nodded a little to herself again and turned from the mirror as she straightened out the billowing skirt of her gown.
It was a very beautiful creation she had gotten her hands on. Now she could only wish that he would think the same, and that it suited its owner...
She swallowed, feeling a slight tremble at the thought of facing him, then wised up and went to get her pocketbook. He had seen her dressed up before, after all. It would be fine, no matter.
Still, she took a small breath before she ventured out into the hallway.
"You look incredible!" Cordelia said and Buffy turned her head to her as the dark-haired came toward her down the hall.
"So do you," Buffy replied, and she truly meant it.
The dark blue dress which Cordelia had chosen did nothing to hide her amazing figure, it fit her perfectly. The former seer beamed at that, then she gave a small shrug.
"Thanks," she said.
"I take it Angel... explained," Buffy asked and Cordelia looked a bit tentative before she wondered:
"Explained what?"
"Oh, don't try it, girlfriend," Buffy shook her head. "I've seen how you look at him. And... how he looks at you."
Cordelia's eyes grew questioning, a spot of hope in them that Buffy couldn't miss and the Slayer smiled to underline that she was serious in her statement. Cordelia returned the smile and was about to say something when Angel joined them, making her seemingly change the words into:
"Is Wesley ready yet?" and merely giving the vampire a brief glance before she looked passed his shoulder. "I'm gonna go see if he needs help with his tie," she added, walking passed the vampire who seemed to want to tell her how wonderful she looked, not getting the chance as she made herself scarce and Buffy couldn't help but smirk.
"She's crazy about you, of course," she then said teasingly and Angel met her gaze before he smiled as well.
There were steps down the stairs and Buffy turned around. After another two seconds Spike appeared and she felt her heart slow painfully in her chest as she stared at the black suit and crisp white shirt he was in, a black bow-tie around his neck. He looked fantastic. No, better than that.
She felt s surge of contentment at the look in his eyes as they rested on her. His jaw dropped slightly and she could have sworn she saw a trace of a blush on his cheeks. He was staring.
Spike couldn't help but. She looked goddess-like; striking, with her mane of blonde cascading over her shoulders and down her back. Her beauty never ceased to catch him off guard. He suddenly remembered he had to breathe and drew a slow breath, his eyes still fixed in hers and as he noticed the small yet pleased smile on her lips he smirked.
She herself did seem to be enjoying what she was seeing, didn't she?
Neither of them reacted to the fourth party joining their group, nor did they for the following fifteen seconds. But then that party cleared her throat and they blinked, both turning their head to her.
"Sannah," Spike greeted with a smile. "You look astonishing," he added, and she returned his smile.
She had chosen an emerald green dress which had a late twenties feel to it, the skirt had a slit from her right foot and all the way up to a mere two inches below her right hip and it had a low cut in front as well as back. She did look astonishing.
However, Buffy's mind was put at least a little at ease as Spike's blues found hers again.
Susannah slipped one hand in his as she too noticed his focus going back to the other woman, but though he held it back his eyes didn't leave Buffy and Susannah's heart sank to settle heavily below her ribs.
"Well, shall we?" Angel asked and Buffy nodded, making as to take a step forward to put her hand on Spike's arm, but then she realized that wasn't her place and she turned her eyes out of Spike's and to the vampire with a slightly apologetic smile.
He returned it with ease as she slid her hand to lay on the arm he had hooked for her, and then he led her toward the stairs. She could hear Spike and Susannah following, but she tried not to think of them together. She wanted to make Angel understand that she wasn't appalled by the fact of him taking her.
"You look very handsome," she said and he smiled.
"And you look as breathtaking as always," he assured, making her smile widely.
"Cute," she then said as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "I take it the pun was intended? You not needing to breathe and all," she added and he gave her a reproachful look before he stated:
"You know if I had one to take away you'd be the one to pull it off."
She smirked at that, giving his arm a squeeze before releasing it, turning to the other couple and noticing the third and fourth just coming down the stairs.
Fred looked as the three other ladies; wearing a white, sleeveless gown she was quite the sight.
"And we're hoping to not cause a stir," Wesley said as the eight of them stood assembled in the foyer, everybody looking wondering and he smiled. "You lovely women will be like a breeze of fresh air; impossible to ignore, impossible to not miss once it's gone."
"Didn't know you were such a sweet-talker, Wes," Cordelia teased, his smile merely widening.
As they all headed for the door the anticipation intensified. Whatever they were about to meet-and-greet they needed to be on their guard; all of them. This night might make them, or break them. They might end up with answers, or more questions.
Buffy felt ready for anything as she slipped into the backseat of Susannah's car, Spike volunteering to drive as the owner of the vehicle was in disabling high heels. The Slayer listened attentively to the conversation between the two and tried to slip into a role fitting a high societee, trying to relax as she felt a comforting pat on one hand from Angel.
She granted him a half smile before she turned her eyes back to look out the window.
Ready for anything at all, she thought as the sound of Spike's low laugh reached her ears. Almost, she added to herself.
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************
Oh, you guys SO light up my life!
Special and warm thanks to Winters1 (Glad you enjoyed the Spuffy cuddling!) :), wolf116 (thanks for the email and keep on guessing, okay? I always wanna know!) ;), MissK (why, thank you, I'm glad you like the plot. And also happy that you like this - me, replying. And, I have quite a few more elses up my sleeve.) ;), Tobert (hahah - mild retardation for Susannah? You don't want me to go easy on her at all!) :), learyl (*smiles* I loved the "disrespect of Susannah for the intricate history and amazing journey of Buffy and Spike" comment! And, I agree! ;) Great that you're enjoying the story line!) :), Mel (Great comments, girl! Real nice that you like the Egyptian deal and also fun to read that you liked the "Angie" bit.) :) and Captain (Lovely that you're enjoying the Spuffy moments, and sorry about them not being enough. :( :). Also, theories huh? Theories are good.) :)
All of you, thank you! So glad you're still with me on this!
And, as always, hope you liked this chapter as well!!!
A.M.L, Annie.
