Chapter Sixteen ~ Home is Where the Hart is
"Oh come on William, cheer up" Darcy wined at his friend.
"How can I cheer up! I finally get to meet my father again after more then a century and then he has to go back to heaven. Its not that I really wanted him to stay, but it would have been his to have talked to him more then I got to" William replied.
Only a few weeks had passed and the two boys had found themselves getting the chance to hang around with each other more these days. Rowena wasn't around as she was having a family bonding moment with Willow and Tara. Switching homes from Wolfram & Hart to the Osbourne residence was what seemed to keep William and Darcy together.
"I have such a stressful, twisted life. You have your family – now I know that both of ours are dysfunctional and everything, but yours is actually related to you by blood"
"Tell me about it. Do you of anyway I could get out of that, because as soon as mom finds that 'you know what', I'll be mincemeat"
William opened his mouth to speak just as yell cut through the quite house.
"DARCY OSBOURNE!"
They both winced; realizing that Buffy had found the mess that they had made last night in her attic. Seen as it had been the last night of the full moon and Darcy would have undergone the mandatory change, William not being able to get a hold of him, he had mess up all her possessions – some shredded. Without a word to his friend, Darcy ran. He was out of the living room in a shot, William to have to face his mother's wrath.
Buffy came stomping into room with a shredded dress over her shoulder and both hands planted firmly on her hips. William burst out laughing. Her demeanor was all 'mommy's having a bad day'. There was also streaks of old shoe polish all over her face, giving her the look of a football player. He just couldn't stop laughing.
"Oh you be quite. Now where is the little bugger?" she snapped.
"What, do you really think that I would brake the trust of a friend and let all the doom in hell out to get him? You know I'm better then that!" William sniffed indignantly.
"Where is he?"
"He went that way"
William snickered as Buffy went off in that direction. Sure he had ratted his friend out, but at least it saved him from getting a 'talking to' by the mother bear. No more then two minutes later there was a frightened yell in the background. A second after that Buffy was dragging Darcy down the hall giving a lecture about what he can and cannot get into during the full moon. Apparently the dress had been his Grandmother Joyce's wedding dress. Ooh he was in for trouble.
"But mom we didn't mean to!" Darcy cried out, struggling in her grip.
"We?"
"Hey don't bring me into this!" William spoke up suddenly in his own defense. "I had nothing to do with that. I may be half vamp, but chasing after a werewolf is the last thing I want to do"
"Why are you always like this" Buffy groaned.
"Always like what?"
"Like that. Always throwing a problem aside and making it fully someone else's"
"You don't even know me!" he cried.
"Is that so? Well then why do I clearly remember that whenever you - "
"I AM NOT SPIKE!"
William shout startled Buffy off track of what she was saying. The teen looked furious. Darcy gapped in horror at his friend as he shouted those words out at his mother.
"I remember what Spike's life was like, Slayer" he snapped with disdain. "You treated him like your own personal punching bag, not really caring about his feelings. When it was his fault for something, it was his fault, but whenever it was your fault, you blamed it on him. I am not Spike. We may have once had the same body, but I'm someone entirely different. Angel has even learned to deal with that. Now I'm Darcy's friend and it is rather rude for me to be speaking like this to you in your own house and all, but I won't stand for this. I won't be used like Spike was used. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here any longer mate, I just can't"
William then ran from the room, leaving the mother and son and a second later the front door was slamming shut. Darcy turned to his mother, not knowing what to say, but he was outraged just the same as William.
"How could you" he whispered.
"Darcy, I – "
"I don't want to hear it mom! I never wanted to believe that you of all people were capable of such things. How could I have been so wrong? Now I have to go catch him before he scares someone"
"Wait – " Buffy started again before her son could get away.
Darcy stopped and turned to face her.
"What?"
"Just tell him that I'm sorry – that I'm sorry for everything. I never did apologize to Spike and he's the closest person to him. It's just hard for me to accept that Spike no longer exists and that William really is real"
"Sure mom"
"I'm not finished. One more thing, I know that will embarrass the both of you. When Spike burned in the Hellmouth – I told him that I loved him. He told me that I didn't, but he was grateful that I said it. Just tell him that I had meant what had said to Spike and that – that it would be nice to have him as part of the family, like Spike had been your Aunt Dawn"
"I will" he nodded and was gone before she could say anything more.
She hoped that things would get better. Never had she meant for anything like that. Buffy sat down heavily on the couch, praying that she didn't ruin everything. It was only a matter of time before she found out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
William was pacing angrily back and forth. He knew Darcy would be here soon, because of his powerful nose. Then the though of shimmering back to Wolfram & Hart came to mind. Quickly he conjured up a piece of paper and a pen. He left a short note for his friend right at the place where his trail of sent would disappear. Sighing, William placed down his note and vanished in a shimmer of lights.
No more then a second later, Darcy appeared around the corner and was bewildered not to find William where he had expected him to be. Although there was a single sheet of paper left pinned to the fence. It was from William.
~ Hey Mate
I'm really sorry about what happened and please tell your mother that I'm sorry as well.
I decided to go home and clear my head, but don't worry I will come back.
Hope I haven't dug myself to deep of a grave. See you later.
~ William
"Oh just great, now how am I suppose to tell him now?" Darcy grumbled. "He's on the other bloody side of the country! – God I'm even starting to talk like him now"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"When should we tell him?"
"I don't know. He's probably been expecting us to tell him something like this for twelve years"
William appeared just outside of Wesley's office to find that he was talking with Winnie. It was strange that they were talking like this, so he kept listening.
"Yes sweetheart, you're right"
William burst out laughing, falling over and crashing into the office door. It sprang open, expelling the hysterically laughing teenage changeling into the room, startling the two talking adults. Through his tears he could see Wesley and Fred starring down at him with identical pinched expressions. That only caused him to laugh harder. He had to stop though when it became too painful. Siting up, William began to take deep breaths, with the occasional snicker.
"That was comic relief at its finest! Oh how I have waited for the both of you to finally admit that you had a thing for each other. Now I won't have to sit around all day watching you two trading those longing glances while the other isn't looking!" he chuckled.
"William!" Wesley snapped, as though what he was saying was inappropriate.
"Hey none of that. You were always my 'father' here Wes and now it'll really be"
"What?" Fred asked, trying to look confused.
Wesley turned to Fred and shook his head.
"What's the point?" Wesley sighed. "William – Fred and I have plan to get married"
"I knew it! So when you going to have it?"
"Impatient much?"
"I've been waiting years to know like you said, so please tell me"
"Fine – it'll be on New Years Eve"
William stood and embraced Fred.
"You know what? This really makes my day. I don't even feel angry about the argument I just had with Mrs. Osbourne" William grinned happily.
"Buffy? How did you get into an argument with her?" Wesley asked.
"Oh she mad me angry when she started talking to me as if I were Spike. Though I really do feel bad having run off on Darcy like that. He only does have a few more free days before he has to return to the Magi's Academy, but I'll make it up it up to him. So have you told Angel, Gunn and Lorne yet?"
"No, we were waiting to tell you first" Fred replied.
"Well we should go do that now" William stated.
"But Angel's busy in a meeting with Nina"
"Who cares? I don't and you know it'll be fun"
Ten minutes later after they had gathered Lorne from his department and Gunn from a 'sticky' situation, they arrived with Harmony following. When they entered Angel's office they found the vampire and the werewolf immersed in conversation holding hands. William just couldn't take two in one day and broke down laughing once again.
Everyone started to laugh with William except for Angel and Nina. Angel was glaring at the boy, while Nina was blushing furiously.
"Two in – in one day! Are all you crazy lovebirds trying to kill me!" William cried with laughter.
"Two?" Angel asked.
"Yes" Fred jumped in. "Wesley and I had decided to get married"
"I could just see it sugar pop" Lorne gushed. "I'm so happy that you finally got together"
"Who long will it be before Wes is permanently whipped?" Gunn asked sarcastically.
"Ooh can I arrange the flowers?" Harmony piped up giddily.
What a family they were. Wesley and Fred, Angel and Nina, Harmony resuming her task of flirting with poor Gunn and Lorne flying solo. William wasn't sure he would ever get used to this big extended family. When children finally came along – ouch. This was a family that would only get more complicated as the time passed. Smothering a grin, William took his leave.
Silently walking past everyone that occupied the building as he made his way about. He thought of Rowena mostly, hoping that she would be back soon. This almost season of love was a virus and he wanted to be with his girlfriend badly. Just to snuggle up and stare at how her fiery red hair changed colors in the light. The magic of it all was so infecting. He didn't even know his left from his right.
It was later on that he stopped and sat down in the firm's extensive library and started sifting through books. It startled him when he came upon a poem in one of them.
In midnight's hour of full moon rise, the Dark One calls out his name.
In times of hardship the Protector hears that call, to join with stealthy comrade.
In the wake of it all the Fair Haired beauty holds them strong, against them pain that's sure to come.
Betwixt the dusk and dawn of life these three stand a pillory of hope for all to see.
One hath been born to a Chosen.
One hath been born to lead a Trinity
One hath been born to Magic itself
Three to see the way of things, two will pass, but one shall stay, till light drains away all its evil.
William stared blankly at that book. That wasn't a poem at all, it was a minor prophecy! And those names – the Dark One, the Protector and the Fair Haired were all mentioned to him by his father Richard only weeks ago. Immediately he summoned up a book of names and set out to find their meanings and it shocked him to his very core when hi found them.
Darcy – The Dark One
Rowena – The Fair Haired
William – The Protector
It was his name and those of his friends that had been foretold. William shivered. He knew what it meant too. Darcy and Rowena were his 'life-support' in the struggle against evil. They were a ragtag three, but they had done good things already. They had stooped a renegade Slayer and had ultimately found each other. It was magic all right. He thought then of Rowena, while she grew old, he would stay young. He had always been told that home was where your heart was, oh was it ever right and he would have to make that up to Rowena. He would find a way –
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So how was that? I figured I'd get those two couples together because of Smile Time. The rhyme that I made wont have much to do with the actual to story, it merely means that those three are the heroes and that they are the ones that have to stand up against the never-ending evil.
Anyway I would like to thank everyone that has ever read or reviewed my story and a special thanks to anyone who voted for me that help me to win the second rounds of the awards. Hope I did a good job of that chapter – Later! *
"Oh come on William, cheer up" Darcy wined at his friend.
"How can I cheer up! I finally get to meet my father again after more then a century and then he has to go back to heaven. Its not that I really wanted him to stay, but it would have been his to have talked to him more then I got to" William replied.
Only a few weeks had passed and the two boys had found themselves getting the chance to hang around with each other more these days. Rowena wasn't around as she was having a family bonding moment with Willow and Tara. Switching homes from Wolfram & Hart to the Osbourne residence was what seemed to keep William and Darcy together.
"I have such a stressful, twisted life. You have your family – now I know that both of ours are dysfunctional and everything, but yours is actually related to you by blood"
"Tell me about it. Do you of anyway I could get out of that, because as soon as mom finds that 'you know what', I'll be mincemeat"
William opened his mouth to speak just as yell cut through the quite house.
"DARCY OSBOURNE!"
They both winced; realizing that Buffy had found the mess that they had made last night in her attic. Seen as it had been the last night of the full moon and Darcy would have undergone the mandatory change, William not being able to get a hold of him, he had mess up all her possessions – some shredded. Without a word to his friend, Darcy ran. He was out of the living room in a shot, William to have to face his mother's wrath.
Buffy came stomping into room with a shredded dress over her shoulder and both hands planted firmly on her hips. William burst out laughing. Her demeanor was all 'mommy's having a bad day'. There was also streaks of old shoe polish all over her face, giving her the look of a football player. He just couldn't stop laughing.
"Oh you be quite. Now where is the little bugger?" she snapped.
"What, do you really think that I would brake the trust of a friend and let all the doom in hell out to get him? You know I'm better then that!" William sniffed indignantly.
"Where is he?"
"He went that way"
William snickered as Buffy went off in that direction. Sure he had ratted his friend out, but at least it saved him from getting a 'talking to' by the mother bear. No more then two minutes later there was a frightened yell in the background. A second after that Buffy was dragging Darcy down the hall giving a lecture about what he can and cannot get into during the full moon. Apparently the dress had been his Grandmother Joyce's wedding dress. Ooh he was in for trouble.
"But mom we didn't mean to!" Darcy cried out, struggling in her grip.
"We?"
"Hey don't bring me into this!" William spoke up suddenly in his own defense. "I had nothing to do with that. I may be half vamp, but chasing after a werewolf is the last thing I want to do"
"Why are you always like this" Buffy groaned.
"Always like what?"
"Like that. Always throwing a problem aside and making it fully someone else's"
"You don't even know me!" he cried.
"Is that so? Well then why do I clearly remember that whenever you - "
"I AM NOT SPIKE!"
William shout startled Buffy off track of what she was saying. The teen looked furious. Darcy gapped in horror at his friend as he shouted those words out at his mother.
"I remember what Spike's life was like, Slayer" he snapped with disdain. "You treated him like your own personal punching bag, not really caring about his feelings. When it was his fault for something, it was his fault, but whenever it was your fault, you blamed it on him. I am not Spike. We may have once had the same body, but I'm someone entirely different. Angel has even learned to deal with that. Now I'm Darcy's friend and it is rather rude for me to be speaking like this to you in your own house and all, but I won't stand for this. I won't be used like Spike was used. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here any longer mate, I just can't"
William then ran from the room, leaving the mother and son and a second later the front door was slamming shut. Darcy turned to his mother, not knowing what to say, but he was outraged just the same as William.
"How could you" he whispered.
"Darcy, I – "
"I don't want to hear it mom! I never wanted to believe that you of all people were capable of such things. How could I have been so wrong? Now I have to go catch him before he scares someone"
"Wait – " Buffy started again before her son could get away.
Darcy stopped and turned to face her.
"What?"
"Just tell him that I'm sorry – that I'm sorry for everything. I never did apologize to Spike and he's the closest person to him. It's just hard for me to accept that Spike no longer exists and that William really is real"
"Sure mom"
"I'm not finished. One more thing, I know that will embarrass the both of you. When Spike burned in the Hellmouth – I told him that I loved him. He told me that I didn't, but he was grateful that I said it. Just tell him that I had meant what had said to Spike and that – that it would be nice to have him as part of the family, like Spike had been your Aunt Dawn"
"I will" he nodded and was gone before she could say anything more.
She hoped that things would get better. Never had she meant for anything like that. Buffy sat down heavily on the couch, praying that she didn't ruin everything. It was only a matter of time before she found out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
William was pacing angrily back and forth. He knew Darcy would be here soon, because of his powerful nose. Then the though of shimmering back to Wolfram & Hart came to mind. Quickly he conjured up a piece of paper and a pen. He left a short note for his friend right at the place where his trail of sent would disappear. Sighing, William placed down his note and vanished in a shimmer of lights.
No more then a second later, Darcy appeared around the corner and was bewildered not to find William where he had expected him to be. Although there was a single sheet of paper left pinned to the fence. It was from William.
~ Hey Mate
I'm really sorry about what happened and please tell your mother that I'm sorry as well.
I decided to go home and clear my head, but don't worry I will come back.
Hope I haven't dug myself to deep of a grave. See you later.
~ William
"Oh just great, now how am I suppose to tell him now?" Darcy grumbled. "He's on the other bloody side of the country! – God I'm even starting to talk like him now"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"When should we tell him?"
"I don't know. He's probably been expecting us to tell him something like this for twelve years"
William appeared just outside of Wesley's office to find that he was talking with Winnie. It was strange that they were talking like this, so he kept listening.
"Yes sweetheart, you're right"
William burst out laughing, falling over and crashing into the office door. It sprang open, expelling the hysterically laughing teenage changeling into the room, startling the two talking adults. Through his tears he could see Wesley and Fred starring down at him with identical pinched expressions. That only caused him to laugh harder. He had to stop though when it became too painful. Siting up, William began to take deep breaths, with the occasional snicker.
"That was comic relief at its finest! Oh how I have waited for the both of you to finally admit that you had a thing for each other. Now I won't have to sit around all day watching you two trading those longing glances while the other isn't looking!" he chuckled.
"William!" Wesley snapped, as though what he was saying was inappropriate.
"Hey none of that. You were always my 'father' here Wes and now it'll really be"
"What?" Fred asked, trying to look confused.
Wesley turned to Fred and shook his head.
"What's the point?" Wesley sighed. "William – Fred and I have plan to get married"
"I knew it! So when you going to have it?"
"Impatient much?"
"I've been waiting years to know like you said, so please tell me"
"Fine – it'll be on New Years Eve"
William stood and embraced Fred.
"You know what? This really makes my day. I don't even feel angry about the argument I just had with Mrs. Osbourne" William grinned happily.
"Buffy? How did you get into an argument with her?" Wesley asked.
"Oh she mad me angry when she started talking to me as if I were Spike. Though I really do feel bad having run off on Darcy like that. He only does have a few more free days before he has to return to the Magi's Academy, but I'll make it up it up to him. So have you told Angel, Gunn and Lorne yet?"
"No, we were waiting to tell you first" Fred replied.
"Well we should go do that now" William stated.
"But Angel's busy in a meeting with Nina"
"Who cares? I don't and you know it'll be fun"
Ten minutes later after they had gathered Lorne from his department and Gunn from a 'sticky' situation, they arrived with Harmony following. When they entered Angel's office they found the vampire and the werewolf immersed in conversation holding hands. William just couldn't take two in one day and broke down laughing once again.
Everyone started to laugh with William except for Angel and Nina. Angel was glaring at the boy, while Nina was blushing furiously.
"Two in – in one day! Are all you crazy lovebirds trying to kill me!" William cried with laughter.
"Two?" Angel asked.
"Yes" Fred jumped in. "Wesley and I had decided to get married"
"I could just see it sugar pop" Lorne gushed. "I'm so happy that you finally got together"
"Who long will it be before Wes is permanently whipped?" Gunn asked sarcastically.
"Ooh can I arrange the flowers?" Harmony piped up giddily.
What a family they were. Wesley and Fred, Angel and Nina, Harmony resuming her task of flirting with poor Gunn and Lorne flying solo. William wasn't sure he would ever get used to this big extended family. When children finally came along – ouch. This was a family that would only get more complicated as the time passed. Smothering a grin, William took his leave.
Silently walking past everyone that occupied the building as he made his way about. He thought of Rowena mostly, hoping that she would be back soon. This almost season of love was a virus and he wanted to be with his girlfriend badly. Just to snuggle up and stare at how her fiery red hair changed colors in the light. The magic of it all was so infecting. He didn't even know his left from his right.
It was later on that he stopped and sat down in the firm's extensive library and started sifting through books. It startled him when he came upon a poem in one of them.
In midnight's hour of full moon rise, the Dark One calls out his name.
In times of hardship the Protector hears that call, to join with stealthy comrade.
In the wake of it all the Fair Haired beauty holds them strong, against them pain that's sure to come.
Betwixt the dusk and dawn of life these three stand a pillory of hope for all to see.
One hath been born to a Chosen.
One hath been born to lead a Trinity
One hath been born to Magic itself
Three to see the way of things, two will pass, but one shall stay, till light drains away all its evil.
William stared blankly at that book. That wasn't a poem at all, it was a minor prophecy! And those names – the Dark One, the Protector and the Fair Haired were all mentioned to him by his father Richard only weeks ago. Immediately he summoned up a book of names and set out to find their meanings and it shocked him to his very core when hi found them.
Darcy – The Dark One
Rowena – The Fair Haired
William – The Protector
It was his name and those of his friends that had been foretold. William shivered. He knew what it meant too. Darcy and Rowena were his 'life-support' in the struggle against evil. They were a ragtag three, but they had done good things already. They had stooped a renegade Slayer and had ultimately found each other. It was magic all right. He thought then of Rowena, while she grew old, he would stay young. He had always been told that home was where your heart was, oh was it ever right and he would have to make that up to Rowena. He would find a way –
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So how was that? I figured I'd get those two couples together because of Smile Time. The rhyme that I made wont have much to do with the actual to story, it merely means that those three are the heroes and that they are the ones that have to stand up against the never-ending evil.
Anyway I would like to thank everyone that has ever read or reviewed my story and a special thanks to anyone who voted for me that help me to win the second rounds of the awards. Hope I did a good job of that chapter – Later! *