A/N Thank you for the reviews of my last chapter, they were very much
appreciated.
Chapter 2
Spike awoke to unfamiliar surroundings, his head hurt like the devil. As his vision went in and out of focus, it seemed, that he was in some sort of aircraft. He tried to sit up, but something held him fast to the seat. He felt for the restraint and unfastened himself. Spike stood up, hearing something fall, he noticed an envelope and a thick wad of notes on the carpeted floor of the plane.
He stooped to pick them up. Almost wishing that he hadn't as a fresh wave of dizziness took over him, and he sat back down on the seat. Spike stuffed the bank notes into the pocket of his duster and opened the envelope. It contained two sheets of paper, filled with a distinctive hand. He would recognise Angel's scrawl anywhere. The bold Wolfram and Hart logo stood out on the page. He scanned the contents of the letter.
Spike,
If you are reading this, then I am sure that it's because you are waking up from the sedative I gave you. I cannot imagine that you just got in the plane of your own free will. You always were stubborn.
You may think I am off my head, perhaps I am, but I also believe in finding your own destiny. Harmony told me the reasons why you've stuck around in LA since becoming corporeal, and they are pretty lame, even coming from you Spike.
Your strange friend Andrew was correct when he said; Buffy didn't know that you were alive again. I didn't want to find out if she would come rushing back for you. It's partly my fault that she doesn't know. Now that we are several thousand miles apart, I don't mind admitting my duplicity.
Buffy is still unaware of your existence, so go easy on her. She deserves the right to choose, that's why I am sending you gift wrapped to her. I owe you an apology Spike; yes, I can admit when I am wrong! If she decides that you are what she wants, then I wish her the best. You'd better make her happy, or I will stake you myself. That was a promise by the way, not a threat.
Your one time companion and grandsire.
Angel.
"Pfft! Bloody bastard, pulling rank as usual," said Spike aloud, as he read Angel's closing words.
There was an address added at the bottom of the page that could only be Buffy's. Spike frowned and looked away for a moment.
He resisted the urge to screw up the sheets of paper. Instead, he let them fall to the floor. He decided to search his surroundings. Spike tried a door on the far side of the cabin, but it was firmly locked. He thumped on it in frustration.
"Hello?" said a muffled voice from the other side.
"Let me out you bugger!" growled Spike.
"Sorry Mr Spike, Sir, but Mr Angel said that we were under no circumstances to unlock that door, until we landed in Italy," came the reply.
"You'd better have a remote control for that lock, because when I'm getting out of here you..." Spike trailed off as they started to pump music through the speakers.
Spike located a mini bar in one of the wall cabinets. There were several crystal decanters filled with different coloured liquids. He took a tumbler and poured himself a generous amount of bourbon. He sat back in the seat and sighed in defeat. He was going to see Buffy, whether he wanted to or not, he laughed in self derision.
"Of course you want to see her you stupid bugger, you've thought of nothing else since you were corporeal," he told himself aloud.
He closed his eyes, thinking back to his excuses and his conversation with Harmony over a month ago....
I was on my way. Had a boat ticket and all. Then I put a little thinking into it. A man can't go out in a bloody blaze of glory, savin' the world, and then show up 3 months later, tumbling off a cruise ship in the south of France. I mean, I'd love to, don't get me wrong, but, uh, it's hard to top an exit like that.
Oh. I expect Buffy would be happy enough to see me. It's just, I gave up my life for her, the world, and if I show up now, flesh and bone, my grand finale won't hold much weight. All of it... won't matter.
Spike's eyes snapped open, bloody peaches was right! He was LAME; there was Buffy in Italy, no longer in France, and not even aware he still existed. She had had four months to get over him, and he thought that it was probably for the best, but what if she didn't agree with him? Shouldn't he give her the chance to have her say?
He swallowed down the remainder of his drink and stood up, pacing the confines of the cabin. There was hours until he reached Italy. With nothing but, his thoughts to occupy him, he was sure he would go mad.
Spike knew how he felt; he had loved Buffy since the moment he had laid eyes on her all those years ago. The soul was giving him doubts that he had never experienced as a hardened vampire. Buffy said that she loved him, but did she mean it? He'd been fading at the time. Maybe she had just been trying to comfort a dying man.
Although he disliked admitting it, he had actually been glad to see Andrew when he'd showed up at Wolfram and Hart, a couple of weeks ago. It was a small link with the past, a reminder of a place dead and gone. Somewhere he could never return to, except in his dreams. He smiled as he recalled the boy's words:
You're like... you're like Gandalf the White, resurrected from the pit of the Balrog, more beautiful than ever. Ohh... he's alive, Frodo. He's alive.
"Stupid Bugger! No wonder the kid needs a shrink," said Spike, as he shook his head.
He was still feeling sleepy from the effects of the sedative. Knowing this was going to be one long plane ride, he stretched out his legs, made himself comfortable, and closed his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy wiped down another table as some more tourists vacated it. It had been a busy day, her feet begged for rest, but that was how she preferred it. Business was slowing down as the beautiful Italian night was starting to fall. Dawn was inside the café, seated at one of the tables.
She was busily doing her homework, having long since returned from school. Buffy smiled at her fondly. She was surprised at Dawn's new mature approach to her schoolwork, but since there had been no end of the world scenarios for over four months, her sister had settled down a little. Even if Dawn was still inclined to her brattish outbursts.
A chill wind blew past her, as if someone had just stepped on her grave. A few stray pieces of trash rattled in the breeze. Buffy shivered as she slipped her sweater over her shoulders. Dawn looked up at her in concern.
"You okay Buffy?" Dawn inquired.
"Yeah, sure, it's just that Tuesday feeling I sometimes get," said Buffy.
"Oh, you mean how all the bad things normally happen on a Tuesday? "asked Dawn.
Buffy smiled at her sister.
"It's just me being dumb, old habits die hard," sighed Buffy.
"Look around ya sis, the only thing bad that could happen around here is someone getting a fly in their pannetone," laughed Dawn.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm on a break soon, wanna spend it with me? But for now, I have customers to serve, you'll be okay for a moment?" asked Buffy.
Dawn looked at her, the annoyance on her face barely concealed.
"Buffy jeez! I am seventeen, remember?"
Buffy was already moving among the tables and Dawn's words were ignored. Dawn smiled and shook her head and returned to her books.
Ten minutes later, Buffy sat down at her sister's table. Dawn eyed her sister as she sipped at her cappuccino. Buffy felt her sister's gaze on her.
"What is it?" asked Buffy.
"Have you done it yet?" asked Dawn.
Buffy knew that Dawn was referring to her daily ritual. She always threw a coin in the fountain, everyday, without fail. Buffy sighed tiredly. She placed her hand inside her apron pocket, and felt the euro that rested inside it.
"I just haven't had the time Dawnie, with the staff shortages. I have been run off my feet all day," said Buffy.
"Yeah, but you are gonna?" persisted Dawn.
"Yeah, I am, but it will have to wait until my shift is over. I have to lock up, Gianni is sick, so it's been left down to me," said Buffy.
"Well, I'm all done here. I'm going to head back to the apartment and make us some dinner," said Dawn as she gathered up her things.
"Okay, but please don't make it anchovy and green olives tagliateli again sis," laughed Buffy.
No, I won't. That was gross, even by my standards, I'll surprise you," said Dawn.
"That's what I'm afraid of," said Buffy as she watched her sister walk across the square.
Buffy smiled and without thinking, she felt the coin in her pocket once more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The aeroplane came in to land at Leonardo DaVinci airport. The bump, as the jet hit the tarmac, woke Spike from his troubled dreams. He looked out of the window at the night sky. He knew he was here. Italy was a place he knew well, and he'd travelled it many years ago, with Angel, Darla, and Dru.
The engines shut down and then there was silence. He heard a loud clicking sound, as the main door of the aircraft swung back and opened.
Almost twenty-four hours after leaving LA, he was finally here. There was no going back, and thinking about it, he realised that he no longer wanted to.
He hailed a cab and got in, giving out the directions to the driver. Even though the hour was late, the city was still buzzing with activity. Most of the young favoured mopeds to navigate some of the narrower city streets, Spike settled back into the seat of the cab.
Not long now, until he knew whether this trip had been one big mistake on Angel's part, or the best present that the poofter had ever given him.
Did Buffy have room for him in her life? Too bleeding bad if she didn't, he was here now. He growled at himself. They were all questions that he would know the answers to, soon enough.
The taxi slowed down to a stop, outside an attractive looking apartment building. He handed the driver his fare and exited the cab. He consulted the piece of paper again, judging by the numbers, it seemed that her apartment was situated on the top floor.
Spike stepped back into the shadows, as the balcony doors of the upper apartment were flung open. He swallowed back his tears as he saw Dawn walk out onto the balcony. He heard her small sigh, as she looked across the square, to what, he knew not. Then she went back inside and closed the doors again.
The bit had grown so much in the short months since he had last seen her. She looked practically a woman now. At least they were in. Nothing more annoying than travelling half way around the world, to find that the people you were visiting, were out, he mused.
Spike's stepped inside the entrance hall of the building, he stood at the base of the stairs, before taking the steps two at a time, in his eagerness to see Buffy. He was soon at the shiny blue door of Buffy and her sister's apartment. He raised his fist and knocked on its surface.
He could hear Dawn singing from inside the apartment, it stopped at the sound of his knock.
"Buffy! Did you forget your keys again? Dinner is gonna burn, well actually that might improve it, well come in then, SPIKE!" Dawn gasped as she flung open the door, to reveal the identity of the visitor.
The rosy colour fled from her cheeks as she let out an ear-piercing scream. Spike caught her, just as she was about to slide to the floor.
"Dammit! Not quite the reaction I was looking for, but thanks for the invite," said Spike, as he carried her into the apartment and laid her down on the sofa.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy had been in the process of locking up the café and putting her keys in her bag, when she heard her sister's scream. She dropped her purse in her haste, as she ran across the square.
TBC
Chapter 2
Spike awoke to unfamiliar surroundings, his head hurt like the devil. As his vision went in and out of focus, it seemed, that he was in some sort of aircraft. He tried to sit up, but something held him fast to the seat. He felt for the restraint and unfastened himself. Spike stood up, hearing something fall, he noticed an envelope and a thick wad of notes on the carpeted floor of the plane.
He stooped to pick them up. Almost wishing that he hadn't as a fresh wave of dizziness took over him, and he sat back down on the seat. Spike stuffed the bank notes into the pocket of his duster and opened the envelope. It contained two sheets of paper, filled with a distinctive hand. He would recognise Angel's scrawl anywhere. The bold Wolfram and Hart logo stood out on the page. He scanned the contents of the letter.
Spike,
If you are reading this, then I am sure that it's because you are waking up from the sedative I gave you. I cannot imagine that you just got in the plane of your own free will. You always were stubborn.
You may think I am off my head, perhaps I am, but I also believe in finding your own destiny. Harmony told me the reasons why you've stuck around in LA since becoming corporeal, and they are pretty lame, even coming from you Spike.
Your strange friend Andrew was correct when he said; Buffy didn't know that you were alive again. I didn't want to find out if she would come rushing back for you. It's partly my fault that she doesn't know. Now that we are several thousand miles apart, I don't mind admitting my duplicity.
Buffy is still unaware of your existence, so go easy on her. She deserves the right to choose, that's why I am sending you gift wrapped to her. I owe you an apology Spike; yes, I can admit when I am wrong! If she decides that you are what she wants, then I wish her the best. You'd better make her happy, or I will stake you myself. That was a promise by the way, not a threat.
Your one time companion and grandsire.
Angel.
"Pfft! Bloody bastard, pulling rank as usual," said Spike aloud, as he read Angel's closing words.
There was an address added at the bottom of the page that could only be Buffy's. Spike frowned and looked away for a moment.
He resisted the urge to screw up the sheets of paper. Instead, he let them fall to the floor. He decided to search his surroundings. Spike tried a door on the far side of the cabin, but it was firmly locked. He thumped on it in frustration.
"Hello?" said a muffled voice from the other side.
"Let me out you bugger!" growled Spike.
"Sorry Mr Spike, Sir, but Mr Angel said that we were under no circumstances to unlock that door, until we landed in Italy," came the reply.
"You'd better have a remote control for that lock, because when I'm getting out of here you..." Spike trailed off as they started to pump music through the speakers.
Spike located a mini bar in one of the wall cabinets. There were several crystal decanters filled with different coloured liquids. He took a tumbler and poured himself a generous amount of bourbon. He sat back in the seat and sighed in defeat. He was going to see Buffy, whether he wanted to or not, he laughed in self derision.
"Of course you want to see her you stupid bugger, you've thought of nothing else since you were corporeal," he told himself aloud.
He closed his eyes, thinking back to his excuses and his conversation with Harmony over a month ago....
I was on my way. Had a boat ticket and all. Then I put a little thinking into it. A man can't go out in a bloody blaze of glory, savin' the world, and then show up 3 months later, tumbling off a cruise ship in the south of France. I mean, I'd love to, don't get me wrong, but, uh, it's hard to top an exit like that.
Oh. I expect Buffy would be happy enough to see me. It's just, I gave up my life for her, the world, and if I show up now, flesh and bone, my grand finale won't hold much weight. All of it... won't matter.
Spike's eyes snapped open, bloody peaches was right! He was LAME; there was Buffy in Italy, no longer in France, and not even aware he still existed. She had had four months to get over him, and he thought that it was probably for the best, but what if she didn't agree with him? Shouldn't he give her the chance to have her say?
He swallowed down the remainder of his drink and stood up, pacing the confines of the cabin. There was hours until he reached Italy. With nothing but, his thoughts to occupy him, he was sure he would go mad.
Spike knew how he felt; he had loved Buffy since the moment he had laid eyes on her all those years ago. The soul was giving him doubts that he had never experienced as a hardened vampire. Buffy said that she loved him, but did she mean it? He'd been fading at the time. Maybe she had just been trying to comfort a dying man.
Although he disliked admitting it, he had actually been glad to see Andrew when he'd showed up at Wolfram and Hart, a couple of weeks ago. It was a small link with the past, a reminder of a place dead and gone. Somewhere he could never return to, except in his dreams. He smiled as he recalled the boy's words:
You're like... you're like Gandalf the White, resurrected from the pit of the Balrog, more beautiful than ever. Ohh... he's alive, Frodo. He's alive.
"Stupid Bugger! No wonder the kid needs a shrink," said Spike, as he shook his head.
He was still feeling sleepy from the effects of the sedative. Knowing this was going to be one long plane ride, he stretched out his legs, made himself comfortable, and closed his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy wiped down another table as some more tourists vacated it. It had been a busy day, her feet begged for rest, but that was how she preferred it. Business was slowing down as the beautiful Italian night was starting to fall. Dawn was inside the café, seated at one of the tables.
She was busily doing her homework, having long since returned from school. Buffy smiled at her fondly. She was surprised at Dawn's new mature approach to her schoolwork, but since there had been no end of the world scenarios for over four months, her sister had settled down a little. Even if Dawn was still inclined to her brattish outbursts.
A chill wind blew past her, as if someone had just stepped on her grave. A few stray pieces of trash rattled in the breeze. Buffy shivered as she slipped her sweater over her shoulders. Dawn looked up at her in concern.
"You okay Buffy?" Dawn inquired.
"Yeah, sure, it's just that Tuesday feeling I sometimes get," said Buffy.
"Oh, you mean how all the bad things normally happen on a Tuesday? "asked Dawn.
Buffy smiled at her sister.
"It's just me being dumb, old habits die hard," sighed Buffy.
"Look around ya sis, the only thing bad that could happen around here is someone getting a fly in their pannetone," laughed Dawn.
"Yeah, you're right. I'm on a break soon, wanna spend it with me? But for now, I have customers to serve, you'll be okay for a moment?" asked Buffy.
Dawn looked at her, the annoyance on her face barely concealed.
"Buffy jeez! I am seventeen, remember?"
Buffy was already moving among the tables and Dawn's words were ignored. Dawn smiled and shook her head and returned to her books.
Ten minutes later, Buffy sat down at her sister's table. Dawn eyed her sister as she sipped at her cappuccino. Buffy felt her sister's gaze on her.
"What is it?" asked Buffy.
"Have you done it yet?" asked Dawn.
Buffy knew that Dawn was referring to her daily ritual. She always threw a coin in the fountain, everyday, without fail. Buffy sighed tiredly. She placed her hand inside her apron pocket, and felt the euro that rested inside it.
"I just haven't had the time Dawnie, with the staff shortages. I have been run off my feet all day," said Buffy.
"Yeah, but you are gonna?" persisted Dawn.
"Yeah, I am, but it will have to wait until my shift is over. I have to lock up, Gianni is sick, so it's been left down to me," said Buffy.
"Well, I'm all done here. I'm going to head back to the apartment and make us some dinner," said Dawn as she gathered up her things.
"Okay, but please don't make it anchovy and green olives tagliateli again sis," laughed Buffy.
No, I won't. That was gross, even by my standards, I'll surprise you," said Dawn.
"That's what I'm afraid of," said Buffy as she watched her sister walk across the square.
Buffy smiled and without thinking, she felt the coin in her pocket once more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The aeroplane came in to land at Leonardo DaVinci airport. The bump, as the jet hit the tarmac, woke Spike from his troubled dreams. He looked out of the window at the night sky. He knew he was here. Italy was a place he knew well, and he'd travelled it many years ago, with Angel, Darla, and Dru.
The engines shut down and then there was silence. He heard a loud clicking sound, as the main door of the aircraft swung back and opened.
Almost twenty-four hours after leaving LA, he was finally here. There was no going back, and thinking about it, he realised that he no longer wanted to.
He hailed a cab and got in, giving out the directions to the driver. Even though the hour was late, the city was still buzzing with activity. Most of the young favoured mopeds to navigate some of the narrower city streets, Spike settled back into the seat of the cab.
Not long now, until he knew whether this trip had been one big mistake on Angel's part, or the best present that the poofter had ever given him.
Did Buffy have room for him in her life? Too bleeding bad if she didn't, he was here now. He growled at himself. They were all questions that he would know the answers to, soon enough.
The taxi slowed down to a stop, outside an attractive looking apartment building. He handed the driver his fare and exited the cab. He consulted the piece of paper again, judging by the numbers, it seemed that her apartment was situated on the top floor.
Spike stepped back into the shadows, as the balcony doors of the upper apartment were flung open. He swallowed back his tears as he saw Dawn walk out onto the balcony. He heard her small sigh, as she looked across the square, to what, he knew not. Then she went back inside and closed the doors again.
The bit had grown so much in the short months since he had last seen her. She looked practically a woman now. At least they were in. Nothing more annoying than travelling half way around the world, to find that the people you were visiting, were out, he mused.
Spike's stepped inside the entrance hall of the building, he stood at the base of the stairs, before taking the steps two at a time, in his eagerness to see Buffy. He was soon at the shiny blue door of Buffy and her sister's apartment. He raised his fist and knocked on its surface.
He could hear Dawn singing from inside the apartment, it stopped at the sound of his knock.
"Buffy! Did you forget your keys again? Dinner is gonna burn, well actually that might improve it, well come in then, SPIKE!" Dawn gasped as she flung open the door, to reveal the identity of the visitor.
The rosy colour fled from her cheeks as she let out an ear-piercing scream. Spike caught her, just as she was about to slide to the floor.
"Dammit! Not quite the reaction I was looking for, but thanks for the invite," said Spike, as he carried her into the apartment and laid her down on the sofa.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy had been in the process of locking up the café and putting her keys in her bag, when she heard her sister's scream. She dropped her purse in her haste, as she ran across the square.
TBC