Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer doesn't belong to me and never will.
I only use the characters for my own interesting purposes. Thanks to Joss
for inventing them all.
After finding the baggage claim and getting through customs I find myself at the front doors wondering where I should go now. Giles did say he would try to get me a ride didn't he? Probably not going to be as easy as it looks, there are dozens upon dozens of people standing with name signs. Wellstone, Anderson, McConnell, Edwards, Alder, Morgan, Green, and about forty more jumbled names before finally, ooh, Summers. I pull my bags up once again and make my way over to him. He looks at me as if I'm intruding in some incredible private moment and speaks to me as if I'm scum.
"May I help you?"
"Yeah, your sign, it says Summers, I'm Buffy Summers."
"How wonderful for you, but this sign," he points to the sign in his hands as if I'm stupid. "Is for Miss Marguerite Summers. Seeing as how you're not her, would you mind stepping away? You're blocking my sign from the real Miss Summers' view."
God, I hope everyone in London isn't so bitchy. If he only knew how badly I could kick his ass. Damn bastard, if Spike was here he would learn some respect so quickly it wouldn't even be funny. Not that I'm a pushover or anything, but seeing as how I am in someone else's country I probably shouldn't be starting brawls all over the place. Not to say there won't be time for that all later, hopefully the council will send me out on some patrols while I'm here. If Spike were here he'd have the right to kick everyone's ass because he is English. Who would have thought that I'd ever wish he were by my side? Who would have ever thought that I would have fallen for a soulless vampire? There's a hand on my shoulder and I spin around hoping that it's not "Miss Marguerite Summers" driver with another bone to pick with me. Something along the lines of me being in his airport or the refection from my suitcase tag is interfering with his sign. Nope, thank god it's a man in his mid forties I think, really pretty expressionless but polite nonetheless. "Are you Buffy Summers?"
"I am, are you from the Council?"
"I'm Winston your driver, if you are quite ready the Council has put you up at one of our local hotels for the night."
"I thought I was going to talk to them today? Couldn't you take me there instead?"
"Your appointment is for ten tomorrow morning, they are expecting you at that time only. We should get going if we're to make it before it noon."
"Yes, let's." I wish I had a cool accent. Americans don't even have an accent how boring is that? No wonder all of Dawns friends go crazy over Spike. He's got an amazing accent, an amazing body, and an amazing mind so what's not to like? Dawn's friends? Hell, I certainly couldn't escape falling for him.
I can barely see out of the heavily tinted windows and I'm a little disappointed about that, I was hoping to at least catch sight of some scenery or tourist stuff on the way there. Not that I'll have a lot of time for that though, sight seeing really isn't in the schedule. I thought that tinting was supposed to only be on the outside of the car? I feel so small in this huge car, my god it seems to stretch forever forward. The drivers' window is down and so I can see that Winston is the only one in the car besides me. There are four TV's situated in various places throughout, heavy padded leather seats, and mini bars in three places along the so called walls that I'm immediately pouring Champagne from. Hey, not my fault if they want to fully furnish the limousine. Besides, I think I've deserved at least one glass of Champagne from the Council. Eight telephones, four laptop computers that I would guess could be for anyone's use, three refrigerators along with the mini bars, running lights along the ceiling, and ooh, massage seats.
"Winston, can I use these phones?"
"Yes Miss,"
"To call the United States?"
"Yes Miss"
"Okay, can you put up the window between us?"
"I'm sorry Miss Summers, it was broken just last week and has yet to be fixed."
I'm fairly sure it wasn't "broken just last week" and that he just wants to make sure he sees everything that's going on back here but I don't say anything about it and pick up the phone. Hey, technically I could pick up all eight of these phones and call everyone at the same time. Xander, Willow, Tara, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike.am I forgetting anybody? Probably, but at the same time, I really don't want everyone knowing where I am right now. I feel bad about not telling the Scoobies and especially about not telling Spike, but I can't be bothered while I'm here and that pretty much assures that I won't be. I dial Giles number and hope it's not too early, what is the time difference anyway? The phone rings four times and just as I'm about to hang up I hear his voice on the line. He doesn't sound like he's been sleeping, so that's good.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah, it's me Giles, I told you I'd call to let you know when I made it."
"Where are you now?"
"Drinking Champagne in the limo on my way to a hotel."
"You're not going to talk business first?"
"No, they're not expecting me until tomorrow morning. Giles, I'm so nervous, I don't know what to wear, I don't know how to act, and I don't know any of these people well enough to know how to talk to them. I know Quentin Travers but I really don't like.hey, you don't think I'm going to have to talk to him do you?"
"You very well might, but you don't have to Buffy, just change your mind and come back."
"Giles, I'm not coming back until I get them to do this and so you better damn well hope that they do it soon. You do think they will don't you? I mean, I won't have to be here for weeks or anything will I?"
"Either it'll happen or it won't Buffy, there's really no gray area here."
"Yeah I suppose, wish me luck will you?"
"You have all of the luck I have to give."
"Thanks, how are the Scoobies and Dawn?"
"Everyone's fine here. Last night's patrol went reasonably well, but there were so many demons and Vampires running around that it was hard to get to them all. It's too bad you're not here."
There's a long pause and I can almost see Giles cleaning his glasses over the phone lines. I wonder what it is he has to say.
"Giles, you can just say it, even though I'm a couple thousand miles away I can still listen you know."
There's a chuckle from him and I can't help but take offense. Well I guess I brought that on myself and what I know is coming.
"Buffy, you can hardly listen to what I have to say when I'm three feet away let alone half way across the world. You need to keep up on training even when you're there. Go out and patrol at night just make sure you're being careful, we are going to need you back in time for the prophecy, and it wouldn't hurt if you were here at least a week or so in advance either."
I guess he's right, it all depends on the stupid Council as to how soon I return. I pray it's only a day or two and no longer. It'll all be worth it in the end then won't it? I'll have Spike, he will always be the same and I'll never have to worry about him getting a soul from anywhere unexpected.
"Okay Giles, I suppose I should go seeing as how I'm using the car phone and I'm getting dirty looks from the driver."
I'm not sure Winston caught that or not, but he has been glaring into the rear view mirror for awhile now obviously with some issue as to how much time I'm spending on "his" so called phone.
"Giles, one more thing, how's Spike? I mean, is he mad that I left without telling him where I was going? Has he been helping you guys?"
"Spike? Spike's fine."
"Thanks again for not telling anyone about why I'm here."
I can hear what sounds like a commotion in the background and I wonder what's going on.
"You.get away from the phone! Give me that!"
"Giles, what's going on?"
He doesn't reply there's only more noise and it sounds like people arguing. I'm guessing that Giles has covered the receiver because suddenly it's a lot quieter and I can't really hear much just muffled voices. I wish I had bothered to ask what time it is there, is it dark? Is Giles in some sort of trouble and I'm not there to help him? Couldn't be a vampire, because Giles is home and there's that whole invitation thing, and it didn't seem like he was that afraid of whoever it was. What the hell's going on?
"Slayer?"
A very familiar voice comes on the line and I smile. Well I guess it was a vampire that seems to have been causing the entire ruckus. Not that I mind hearing his voice at all, never thought I would be so homesick in my life, and right now there's nothing that I want more than to be near him. Soon enough, soon enough.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, I uh.was just talking to your watcher about the upcoming prophecy."
"It's so good to hear your voice" God, did I really say that? Great Buffy, recover, say something ".what time is it there?"
"Quarter to six.what time is it where you are?"
"You'd like to know wouldn't you?" I joke "maybe a nice little clue as to where I am huh?"
"Yeah thanks for the gum wrapper by the way, real nice of you. Three words really encompassed it all you know? Of all the things you could have possibly written, be back soon was really what I wanted to hear. You couldn't have written I'm in New York, or I'm in Chicago? Something along those lines?"
"Hey, don't blame me, I didn't exactly have hours to write letters to everyone before the flight. Besides, you should feel privileged; you're the only one who got anything. Three words is more than anyone else got."
"When are you coming back?"
"Miss me huh?"
No answer, is that good or bad? I don't know. It looks like we're just pulling into my hotel and as much as I hate to hang up it looks like I'm going to have to. I wish I could just talk to him for hours.
"I've got to go, I'm at my hotel."
"I'll see you when I see you then."
He sounds sad and it tears me up inside to hear him that way. If he only knew how much I missed him, if he only knew how much I wanted him, if he only knew how much I love him. Winston has turned off the car and is standing by my door expectantly.
"Yeah, and Spike?"
"Hmm?"
"I.I love you."
Author note: Please review if you are enjoying this story at all. I could really use the encouragement and ideas. Thanks to all for reading. -Grace
After finding the baggage claim and getting through customs I find myself at the front doors wondering where I should go now. Giles did say he would try to get me a ride didn't he? Probably not going to be as easy as it looks, there are dozens upon dozens of people standing with name signs. Wellstone, Anderson, McConnell, Edwards, Alder, Morgan, Green, and about forty more jumbled names before finally, ooh, Summers. I pull my bags up once again and make my way over to him. He looks at me as if I'm intruding in some incredible private moment and speaks to me as if I'm scum.
"May I help you?"
"Yeah, your sign, it says Summers, I'm Buffy Summers."
"How wonderful for you, but this sign," he points to the sign in his hands as if I'm stupid. "Is for Miss Marguerite Summers. Seeing as how you're not her, would you mind stepping away? You're blocking my sign from the real Miss Summers' view."
God, I hope everyone in London isn't so bitchy. If he only knew how badly I could kick his ass. Damn bastard, if Spike was here he would learn some respect so quickly it wouldn't even be funny. Not that I'm a pushover or anything, but seeing as how I am in someone else's country I probably shouldn't be starting brawls all over the place. Not to say there won't be time for that all later, hopefully the council will send me out on some patrols while I'm here. If Spike were here he'd have the right to kick everyone's ass because he is English. Who would have thought that I'd ever wish he were by my side? Who would have ever thought that I would have fallen for a soulless vampire? There's a hand on my shoulder and I spin around hoping that it's not "Miss Marguerite Summers" driver with another bone to pick with me. Something along the lines of me being in his airport or the refection from my suitcase tag is interfering with his sign. Nope, thank god it's a man in his mid forties I think, really pretty expressionless but polite nonetheless. "Are you Buffy Summers?"
"I am, are you from the Council?"
"I'm Winston your driver, if you are quite ready the Council has put you up at one of our local hotels for the night."
"I thought I was going to talk to them today? Couldn't you take me there instead?"
"Your appointment is for ten tomorrow morning, they are expecting you at that time only. We should get going if we're to make it before it noon."
"Yes, let's." I wish I had a cool accent. Americans don't even have an accent how boring is that? No wonder all of Dawns friends go crazy over Spike. He's got an amazing accent, an amazing body, and an amazing mind so what's not to like? Dawn's friends? Hell, I certainly couldn't escape falling for him.
I can barely see out of the heavily tinted windows and I'm a little disappointed about that, I was hoping to at least catch sight of some scenery or tourist stuff on the way there. Not that I'll have a lot of time for that though, sight seeing really isn't in the schedule. I thought that tinting was supposed to only be on the outside of the car? I feel so small in this huge car, my god it seems to stretch forever forward. The drivers' window is down and so I can see that Winston is the only one in the car besides me. There are four TV's situated in various places throughout, heavy padded leather seats, and mini bars in three places along the so called walls that I'm immediately pouring Champagne from. Hey, not my fault if they want to fully furnish the limousine. Besides, I think I've deserved at least one glass of Champagne from the Council. Eight telephones, four laptop computers that I would guess could be for anyone's use, three refrigerators along with the mini bars, running lights along the ceiling, and ooh, massage seats.
"Winston, can I use these phones?"
"Yes Miss,"
"To call the United States?"
"Yes Miss"
"Okay, can you put up the window between us?"
"I'm sorry Miss Summers, it was broken just last week and has yet to be fixed."
I'm fairly sure it wasn't "broken just last week" and that he just wants to make sure he sees everything that's going on back here but I don't say anything about it and pick up the phone. Hey, technically I could pick up all eight of these phones and call everyone at the same time. Xander, Willow, Tara, Anya, Giles, Dawn, Spike.am I forgetting anybody? Probably, but at the same time, I really don't want everyone knowing where I am right now. I feel bad about not telling the Scoobies and especially about not telling Spike, but I can't be bothered while I'm here and that pretty much assures that I won't be. I dial Giles number and hope it's not too early, what is the time difference anyway? The phone rings four times and just as I'm about to hang up I hear his voice on the line. He doesn't sound like he's been sleeping, so that's good.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah, it's me Giles, I told you I'd call to let you know when I made it."
"Where are you now?"
"Drinking Champagne in the limo on my way to a hotel."
"You're not going to talk business first?"
"No, they're not expecting me until tomorrow morning. Giles, I'm so nervous, I don't know what to wear, I don't know how to act, and I don't know any of these people well enough to know how to talk to them. I know Quentin Travers but I really don't like.hey, you don't think I'm going to have to talk to him do you?"
"You very well might, but you don't have to Buffy, just change your mind and come back."
"Giles, I'm not coming back until I get them to do this and so you better damn well hope that they do it soon. You do think they will don't you? I mean, I won't have to be here for weeks or anything will I?"
"Either it'll happen or it won't Buffy, there's really no gray area here."
"Yeah I suppose, wish me luck will you?"
"You have all of the luck I have to give."
"Thanks, how are the Scoobies and Dawn?"
"Everyone's fine here. Last night's patrol went reasonably well, but there were so many demons and Vampires running around that it was hard to get to them all. It's too bad you're not here."
There's a long pause and I can almost see Giles cleaning his glasses over the phone lines. I wonder what it is he has to say.
"Giles, you can just say it, even though I'm a couple thousand miles away I can still listen you know."
There's a chuckle from him and I can't help but take offense. Well I guess I brought that on myself and what I know is coming.
"Buffy, you can hardly listen to what I have to say when I'm three feet away let alone half way across the world. You need to keep up on training even when you're there. Go out and patrol at night just make sure you're being careful, we are going to need you back in time for the prophecy, and it wouldn't hurt if you were here at least a week or so in advance either."
I guess he's right, it all depends on the stupid Council as to how soon I return. I pray it's only a day or two and no longer. It'll all be worth it in the end then won't it? I'll have Spike, he will always be the same and I'll never have to worry about him getting a soul from anywhere unexpected.
"Okay Giles, I suppose I should go seeing as how I'm using the car phone and I'm getting dirty looks from the driver."
I'm not sure Winston caught that or not, but he has been glaring into the rear view mirror for awhile now obviously with some issue as to how much time I'm spending on "his" so called phone.
"Giles, one more thing, how's Spike? I mean, is he mad that I left without telling him where I was going? Has he been helping you guys?"
"Spike? Spike's fine."
"Thanks again for not telling anyone about why I'm here."
I can hear what sounds like a commotion in the background and I wonder what's going on.
"You.get away from the phone! Give me that!"
"Giles, what's going on?"
He doesn't reply there's only more noise and it sounds like people arguing. I'm guessing that Giles has covered the receiver because suddenly it's a lot quieter and I can't really hear much just muffled voices. I wish I had bothered to ask what time it is there, is it dark? Is Giles in some sort of trouble and I'm not there to help him? Couldn't be a vampire, because Giles is home and there's that whole invitation thing, and it didn't seem like he was that afraid of whoever it was. What the hell's going on?
"Slayer?"
A very familiar voice comes on the line and I smile. Well I guess it was a vampire that seems to have been causing the entire ruckus. Not that I mind hearing his voice at all, never thought I would be so homesick in my life, and right now there's nothing that I want more than to be near him. Soon enough, soon enough.
"Spike?"
"Yeah, I uh.was just talking to your watcher about the upcoming prophecy."
"It's so good to hear your voice" God, did I really say that? Great Buffy, recover, say something ".what time is it there?"
"Quarter to six.what time is it where you are?"
"You'd like to know wouldn't you?" I joke "maybe a nice little clue as to where I am huh?"
"Yeah thanks for the gum wrapper by the way, real nice of you. Three words really encompassed it all you know? Of all the things you could have possibly written, be back soon was really what I wanted to hear. You couldn't have written I'm in New York, or I'm in Chicago? Something along those lines?"
"Hey, don't blame me, I didn't exactly have hours to write letters to everyone before the flight. Besides, you should feel privileged; you're the only one who got anything. Three words is more than anyone else got."
"When are you coming back?"
"Miss me huh?"
No answer, is that good or bad? I don't know. It looks like we're just pulling into my hotel and as much as I hate to hang up it looks like I'm going to have to. I wish I could just talk to him for hours.
"I've got to go, I'm at my hotel."
"I'll see you when I see you then."
He sounds sad and it tears me up inside to hear him that way. If he only knew how much I missed him, if he only knew how much I wanted him, if he only knew how much I love him. Winston has turned off the car and is standing by my door expectantly.
"Yeah, and Spike?"
"Hmm?"
"I.I love you."
Author note: Please review if you are enjoying this story at all. I could really use the encouragement and ideas. Thanks to all for reading. -Grace