Title: Best Laid Plans.
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
It was still dark when Amy, Riley, Alex and Sam woke up. They packed with a minium of fuss, taking great care to avoid making noise. After a short trip by the Finns to take Danielle to stay with friends, they started loading the luggage in the car. They were in the midst of loading the last of the suitcases when Riley's cell phone rang.
"Hello." He stepped away from the others briefly to speak.
Alex felt a gentle touch on his arm and turned to see Amy by his side. There was concern on her face as she looked up at him in the dark early morning hours. He squeezed her hand reassuringly and stroked her hair as Riley came back to them.
"That was Travers. He's going to meet us there."
The younger man raised his eyebrows in response.
"It sounds like he has some business to settle to. Probably with Giles."
After Sam came back from locking up the apartment, they got into the car and headed out of town.
(Way too early to be up)
'No argument from me.'
(Hmm, tell Riley to pull in here)
'Why?'
(Just do it)
"Riley pull in there."
He did so and looked back at Alex with a questioning look on his face. But the other man was already opening the door and heading towards the front door when Riley caught up with him.
"What's going on?"
"Cole has an idea."
"Oh, what is it?"
"Just tell me you have your credit card on you."
"Got it."
About twenty minutes later, they returned to the car purchase in hand. Riley slid behind the wheel and soon they were off again. In the back seat, Alex sat with a book in his lap. Even he was a little unsure about what Cole had in mind.
'Are you sure about this?'
(No. But it's worth a shot)
'I don't know if I can do this.'
(Alex, I dropped out of high school and never held onto a real job. If I can do this, then TRUST me you can do it with ease.)
He then noticed the looks Amy and Sam were giving him and smiled to reassure them. Sam turned and quietly engaged her husband in conversation. Amy rested her head on his shoulder and was soon asleep. Alex opted to look out at the scenery instead of sleeping. When it was light enough, he opened his book and started reading.
-Cleveland, Ohio-
Travis was a blessed man in many ways. He was financially secure because of his family; he managed to live a normal life inspite of being a demon half-breed. But, the biggest blessing was Buffy Summers. She was now as she was then, bathed in sunlight. Then it had been in Europe, Paris to be exact. She had been traveling through the countryside apparently on vacation, in reality she was searching for herself. Buffy had discovered his 'other half' after a fight with several vampires had left her injured. He had dispatched them and took her into his care on his private estate. After some initial tension they had grown closer and became lovers. When she elected to return to Cleveland to open her 'Slayer School' he had accompanied her without a single thought.
There had been some awkwardness in the beginning, her returning from Europe with a brand new boyfriend. That awkwardness had been intensified when Angel had joined them from Los Angles bringing with him Spike. It wasn't until a brawl happened between the three when Buffy finally laid some things out. She had been in love with both Angel and Spike during her relationships with them. But neither could make her happy and give her what she wanted. Not just because each was a vampire but for individual reasons.
Angel's curse precluded any sort of real relationship with him and Spike was simply unavailable because of his current relationship with Winfred Burke. She had told them this plainly and matter of factly, she had chosen another because he made her happy. Neither vampire had been pleased but both understood her decision. Travis for his part had studied both and understood what attracted the slayer to them. Each had been a passionate person in life, that passion still carried over in death. Both extruded the air of tragic romance that so many young girls had fallen for. To see Buffy now choose someone else had ripped away at something within yet neither said a word about it.
As for the others, Rupert Giles had been somewhat distressed to discover his slayer was someone older then she was but was pleased that at least he was part human and a large contributor to their cause. Buffy's best friend, the witch and Faith the other slayer had accepted him without question into their group. Faith's beau, Robin Wood had been pleased to meet him because of their similar situations. Dawn, Buffy's sister had been concerned and he wasn't sure she accepted him completely. But Dawn wasn't his concern, only Buffy was.
Or had been until recently.
"Buffy."
She turned towards him, a tired smile on her face.
"Hey."
"Are you doing all right?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired. Training the new slayers and patrolling can wear a girl out."
He cupped her face in his hand; "well you have been pushing yourself harder since."
"Since I got embarrassed."
"I wasn't going to say that."
"You didn't, I did. I know I'm just upset that some guy could just walk in here and smack me around like that."
"Buffy, are you sure that's what's bothering you?"
"Of course", she brought her hands up stroking his arm and chest, "Faith's mad she got beat too. We're gonna kick that guy's ass next time he shows up here." Buffy's hands stopped moving as she looked up into his face.
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Not today."
"Well I do." She pulled him down for a kiss and relaxed as his arms encircled her waist.
-Elsewhere-
"Angel, how come we don't stay in bed all day like Spike and Fred do?"
"Their relationship is a little different Harmony."
"Oh. You mean he gets to have sex all the time and you don't because you would lose your soul and go 'Grrr' on everyone."
The former detective sighed, "Something like that Harm."
"How come having sex with me doesn't cause you to lose your soul?"
Angel looked uncomfortable at that question, Harmony's bottom lip started quivering and she burst into tears. "I knew it you don't care about me. You're like every other man in my life, all you care about is yourself." She spun around and started sobbing.
He slowly approached Harmony from behind and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Harmony-"
"Don't touch me" she continued crying.
"Harmony I do care about you."
Her crying slowed, "You do?"
"Yes I do." Slowly she turned around to see him, fresh tears in her eyes, "But you don't love me."
"No. Not yet."
She looked confused at what he said. Angel pulled her closer to him, "Harmony, I told you when this started I would help you. I didn't say I would fall in love with you."
"Could you?"
"Maybe."
Hearing that, Harmony rested her head on his chest. "That's good enough for me."
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
It was still dark when Amy, Riley, Alex and Sam woke up. They packed with a minium of fuss, taking great care to avoid making noise. After a short trip by the Finns to take Danielle to stay with friends, they started loading the luggage in the car. They were in the midst of loading the last of the suitcases when Riley's cell phone rang.
"Hello." He stepped away from the others briefly to speak.
Alex felt a gentle touch on his arm and turned to see Amy by his side. There was concern on her face as she looked up at him in the dark early morning hours. He squeezed her hand reassuringly and stroked her hair as Riley came back to them.
"That was Travers. He's going to meet us there."
The younger man raised his eyebrows in response.
"It sounds like he has some business to settle to. Probably with Giles."
After Sam came back from locking up the apartment, they got into the car and headed out of town.
(Way too early to be up)
'No argument from me.'
(Hmm, tell Riley to pull in here)
'Why?'
(Just do it)
"Riley pull in there."
He did so and looked back at Alex with a questioning look on his face. But the other man was already opening the door and heading towards the front door when Riley caught up with him.
"What's going on?"
"Cole has an idea."
"Oh, what is it?"
"Just tell me you have your credit card on you."
"Got it."
About twenty minutes later, they returned to the car purchase in hand. Riley slid behind the wheel and soon they were off again. In the back seat, Alex sat with a book in his lap. Even he was a little unsure about what Cole had in mind.
'Are you sure about this?'
(No. But it's worth a shot)
'I don't know if I can do this.'
(Alex, I dropped out of high school and never held onto a real job. If I can do this, then TRUST me you can do it with ease.)
He then noticed the looks Amy and Sam were giving him and smiled to reassure them. Sam turned and quietly engaged her husband in conversation. Amy rested her head on his shoulder and was soon asleep. Alex opted to look out at the scenery instead of sleeping. When it was light enough, he opened his book and started reading.
-Cleveland, Ohio-
Travis was a blessed man in many ways. He was financially secure because of his family; he managed to live a normal life inspite of being a demon half-breed. But, the biggest blessing was Buffy Summers. She was now as she was then, bathed in sunlight. Then it had been in Europe, Paris to be exact. She had been traveling through the countryside apparently on vacation, in reality she was searching for herself. Buffy had discovered his 'other half' after a fight with several vampires had left her injured. He had dispatched them and took her into his care on his private estate. After some initial tension they had grown closer and became lovers. When she elected to return to Cleveland to open her 'Slayer School' he had accompanied her without a single thought.
There had been some awkwardness in the beginning, her returning from Europe with a brand new boyfriend. That awkwardness had been intensified when Angel had joined them from Los Angles bringing with him Spike. It wasn't until a brawl happened between the three when Buffy finally laid some things out. She had been in love with both Angel and Spike during her relationships with them. But neither could make her happy and give her what she wanted. Not just because each was a vampire but for individual reasons.
Angel's curse precluded any sort of real relationship with him and Spike was simply unavailable because of his current relationship with Winfred Burke. She had told them this plainly and matter of factly, she had chosen another because he made her happy. Neither vampire had been pleased but both understood her decision. Travis for his part had studied both and understood what attracted the slayer to them. Each had been a passionate person in life, that passion still carried over in death. Both extruded the air of tragic romance that so many young girls had fallen for. To see Buffy now choose someone else had ripped away at something within yet neither said a word about it.
As for the others, Rupert Giles had been somewhat distressed to discover his slayer was someone older then she was but was pleased that at least he was part human and a large contributor to their cause. Buffy's best friend, the witch and Faith the other slayer had accepted him without question into their group. Faith's beau, Robin Wood had been pleased to meet him because of their similar situations. Dawn, Buffy's sister had been concerned and he wasn't sure she accepted him completely. But Dawn wasn't his concern, only Buffy was.
Or had been until recently.
"Buffy."
She turned towards him, a tired smile on her face.
"Hey."
"Are you doing all right?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired. Training the new slayers and patrolling can wear a girl out."
He cupped her face in his hand; "well you have been pushing yourself harder since."
"Since I got embarrassed."
"I wasn't going to say that."
"You didn't, I did. I know I'm just upset that some guy could just walk in here and smack me around like that."
"Buffy, are you sure that's what's bothering you?"
"Of course", she brought her hands up stroking his arm and chest, "Faith's mad she got beat too. We're gonna kick that guy's ass next time he shows up here." Buffy's hands stopped moving as she looked up into his face.
"Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Not today."
"Well I do." She pulled him down for a kiss and relaxed as his arms encircled her waist.
-Elsewhere-
"Angel, how come we don't stay in bed all day like Spike and Fred do?"
"Their relationship is a little different Harmony."
"Oh. You mean he gets to have sex all the time and you don't because you would lose your soul and go 'Grrr' on everyone."
The former detective sighed, "Something like that Harm."
"How come having sex with me doesn't cause you to lose your soul?"
Angel looked uncomfortable at that question, Harmony's bottom lip started quivering and she burst into tears. "I knew it you don't care about me. You're like every other man in my life, all you care about is yourself." She spun around and started sobbing.
He slowly approached Harmony from behind and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Harmony-"
"Don't touch me" she continued crying.
"Harmony I do care about you."
Her crying slowed, "You do?"
"Yes I do." Slowly she turned around to see him, fresh tears in her eyes, "But you don't love me."
"No. Not yet."
She looked confused at what he said. Angel pulled her closer to him, "Harmony, I told you when this started I would help you. I didn't say I would fall in love with you."
"Could you?"
"Maybe."
Hearing that, Harmony rested her head on his chest. "That's good enough for me."