Chapter Thirteen
~Face Off~
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Spoilers: Up to Into The Woods and some of Season Five after that.
Buffy sat patiently in her living room waiting for Angel's arrival. Three hours had already gone by and that was well enough time for Angel to get from L.A. to Sunnydale. Her heart rate sped up as she thought of all the things that could go wrong in this situation. What if Angel didn't make it there? What if he didn't accept Spike and her being together? What if...what if Angel already found Spike? Buffy got up off of the couch grabbed her coat and headed out the door to find them.
Buffy went to the cemetery that she knew Spike usually poked around when he had the urge for some violence. From a close distance she heard the sound of a fight. She ran towards the sound to find Spike facing it off with some green bumpy demon. A wave of relief passed over her as she stood back and watched him move. She loved to watch him. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance routine. She thought back to the night that Spike had told Buffy about the two Slayers that he had killed and how he said 'all they ever do is dance'. She knew he was right. She would never admit it to his face though but she knew, and she loved it...dancing with him. She could do it for the rest of her life.
Buffy's mind snapped back to watching him as he gained the upper hand and killed the demon. Spike tossed off a few choice words at the demon carcass and strutted towards the direction that Buffy was in. As he got closer a smirk crossed over his face.
"Hello Cutie." He quipped. Buffy stepped out from behind the tree and gave him a very innocent puppy-dog face.
"Hey there. That was some interesting technique you used there. Think you could show it to me sometime?" She replied wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I could see if I could slip you in." Spike bent down and began kissing her neck. Buffy's head lulled back as she remembered the real reason she was there to see Spike.
"Angel..." Buffy moaned. Spike stopped instantly. He brought his head up to hers and with great rage in his eyes he glared at her.
"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"
"I said Angel." With that Spike removed himself from her embrace and stalked off.
"Spike! Wait!" Buffy chased after him.
"Forget it. I should have known. I should have known that this was just another round of Kick-the-Spike!" Buffy caught up to him and grabbed him by the jacket to whirl him around.
"Will you listen you bloody ass. I came to find you because Angel is on his way to town and for some reason he thinks that you're still all evil and trying to kill me."
"Give me a few more moments of hearing you talk about the Poofter and we'll see about that." Spike interjected.
"Shut up! Just listen. I got a phone call from Cordy. She has these visions and in the vision was you, me, Angel and Glory. She told Angel about the vision and he rushed over here. Spike, he doesn't know about the soul and he doesn't know about us. He thinks you're the one trying to kill me or cause some kind of trouble. As well he doesn't know about the prophecy either."
"So when is Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Forehead supposed to arrive?"
"He's here now."
Buffy and Spike turned to find Angel slipping out from behind a tree.
"Angel...I can explain."
"Explain what exactly? Why you're with him? Or why you're 'with' him?"
"Wouldn't that be the same answer?" Spike mumbled.
"Shut up Boy." Angel warned.
"Or you'll what?" Spike retaliated stepping right up to Angel's face.
"You don't want to find out. Spike step back or..."
"Quiet! Both of you! One of these days I am going to put the two of you in a room together and let you wrestle it out." Under her breath she muttered, "There could be oil of some kind involved." Luckily the two vampires were very much into their little 'I hate you with a passion' world that they didn't hear her. "Look let's just get back to my house and we will explain everything alright?" She looked back and forth between the two vampires and turned to lead the way.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Angel sat on the couch while Buffy and Spike sat on the chair across from him. Buffy sat in Spike's lap. Feeling very uncomfortable with this, Angel began to growl sub-consciously.
Buffy sighed and began to tell Angel of the past year and all the events that had taken place. For the most part Angel sat still and listened every once in a while muttering under his breath.
"So you have a soul now? Seems to be the 'in" thing to do now, huh?"
"What are you twelve?" Buffy looked at him, perplexed that he would even get jealous over a thing like that.
"Sorry. So this blonde in the vision, she's the one causing the trouble?" Spike and Buffy both nodded. "So why don't you just get rid of her? She can't be that big of a pain."
"Picture Cordelia with bad fashion sense and my strength. That is what we are dealing with here. The Council was here and they have given us the information that Glory is not just any plain old ordinary run of the mill demon. Glory is apparently a God." Angel sat quiet for moments, every once in a while opening his mouth to say something but it always felt like the wrong thing to say. So he just sat back and continued to listen.
"Glory is a Hell-God. She was banished here by the other Hell-Gods of her dimension. In order to get rid of her we need to send her back to her world or some other dimension. To do that we have to open a portal." Buffy explained without giving too much information about the prophecy.
"So why not just open the portal and send her home?" There was the question of the hour. But would the answer be the one that Angel was looking for?
"It's not that simple Angel. There are keys to opening the portal and factors that are out of the question. It can't be done. We are looking at another way."
"Well what do you need? I am sure that we can get whatever you need to open the portal. I can call Wesley and he can research it for you. Let me help you with this Buffy." Angel pleaded.
"Angel, you can't help. Don't worry we've got it covered."
"But Cordy said I was in the vision as well, so maybe I am meant to stay and help."
"No. Angel go back to L.A. please."
"Buffy..."
"Angel! I need you to go...I can't deal with this right now." Buffy's eyes threatened tears as Angel continued to press on.
"You can't deal with what Buffy? Why won't you tell me? Why won't you tell me how to send her home? Why won't you let me help you?"
"Because we're the bloody key you Poof! You or me. That is the way to send the bint home." Spike shouted having enough of Angel's questions. He wrapped his arms around Buffy who had tears freely falling down her face.
"Oh."
"Yeah oh. That is why she didn't want to tell you. Now you know and believe me there is no way that we are going through with this. We're going to find another way." Spike explained taking a very serious tone.
"There isn't another way." Buffy said through her tears.
"Shhh. Come on now pet, you know you don't believe that. There's always another way. You know it and I know it." Spike brushed her tears away from her face and kissed her on the tip of her nose. Angel sat back watching the vision in front of him. He was finally convinced that Spike was not a threat to Buffy. He had never seen Spike treat anyone the way that he was treating Buffy right now. Spike had been one for tenderness especially with Drusilla but this was different. This was actual love that we was witnessing in front of him. Not only from Spike, but from Buffy as well.
Buffy lifted herself from Spike's embrace and walked towards the kitchen.
"I need to get some air. You two behave while I am gone please. I don't want to call Xander and have him replace anything right now."
"Don't worry luv, we'll just talk. I promise."
"Thank you." Buffy exited to the back porch.
The two souled vampires sat in silence for many minutes before either of them spoke.
"So...you have a soul now?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Spike just looked at him not needing to say anything.
"Right. Buffy. How?"
"Went to see a man about a girl. Fought demons, fears, fire...I nearly died to give her what she wanted. I knew I could never compare to you in her mind unless I had a soul. Funny thing is, I'm really no different from when I didn't have the soul. I felt bad about hurting Buffy back then and I feel just as bad about it now." Spike took a breath and relaxed back into his chair. "You know, you once told me that in order to kill her you have to love her." Angel stiffened on the couch. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I thought that when I started to feel something for her it was just my way of getting under her skin, but the truth was she got under mine. Dru told me you know, she told me after we left here the first time that she could see her all around me. I just thought it was cause I wanted her dead so badly. Truth is I was in love with her even back then. Just wasn't man enough to admit it. Always Love's Bitch right?" Spike sighed and Angel just sat back and nodded.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Buffy sat on the steps of her house and listened. She could hear nothing but silence. Would they really just talk? They couldn't do that. There was too much history between all of them. A small creak was heard and Buffy turned to find Spike standing in the back doorway. He walked over to her and sat beside her.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself."
"Where's Angel? You didn't dust him did you?"
"No. The Poofter is still intact. He's gone back to L.A. though. He didn't want to say goodbye. He figured it would just be a scene anyways and you know how he is about scenes." Buffy leaned her head onto Spike's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.
"You guys really just talked?"
"Yeah. He understands. I think he finally gets it. He is seeing like you now. You know? A little bit of grey here and there. Not just black and white to him anymore."
"Good." Buffy let out a yawn. "He's not going to do anything stupid right?"
"Angel? Nah. He'll just head back to L.A. and get on with his life there I reckon."
"Mmm...okay." Another yawned escaped her.
"Pet? Maybe we should get you to bed." There was no answer from Buffy. He took her into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her room. He closed the curtains in the room to make sure that she didn't wake up to a Big-Pile- of-Dust in the morning and slipped beside her drifting into his own sandman world.
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Spoilers: Up to Into The Woods and some of Season Five after that.
Buffy sat patiently in her living room waiting for Angel's arrival. Three hours had already gone by and that was well enough time for Angel to get from L.A. to Sunnydale. Her heart rate sped up as she thought of all the things that could go wrong in this situation. What if Angel didn't make it there? What if he didn't accept Spike and her being together? What if...what if Angel already found Spike? Buffy got up off of the couch grabbed her coat and headed out the door to find them.
Buffy went to the cemetery that she knew Spike usually poked around when he had the urge for some violence. From a close distance she heard the sound of a fight. She ran towards the sound to find Spike facing it off with some green bumpy demon. A wave of relief passed over her as she stood back and watched him move. She loved to watch him. It was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance routine. She thought back to the night that Spike had told Buffy about the two Slayers that he had killed and how he said 'all they ever do is dance'. She knew he was right. She would never admit it to his face though but she knew, and she loved it...dancing with him. She could do it for the rest of her life.
Buffy's mind snapped back to watching him as he gained the upper hand and killed the demon. Spike tossed off a few choice words at the demon carcass and strutted towards the direction that Buffy was in. As he got closer a smirk crossed over his face.
"Hello Cutie." He quipped. Buffy stepped out from behind the tree and gave him a very innocent puppy-dog face.
"Hey there. That was some interesting technique you used there. Think you could show it to me sometime?" She replied wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I could see if I could slip you in." Spike bent down and began kissing her neck. Buffy's head lulled back as she remembered the real reason she was there to see Spike.
"Angel..." Buffy moaned. Spike stopped instantly. He brought his head up to hers and with great rage in his eyes he glared at her.
"What. Did. You. Just. Say?"
"I said Angel." With that Spike removed himself from her embrace and stalked off.
"Spike! Wait!" Buffy chased after him.
"Forget it. I should have known. I should have known that this was just another round of Kick-the-Spike!" Buffy caught up to him and grabbed him by the jacket to whirl him around.
"Will you listen you bloody ass. I came to find you because Angel is on his way to town and for some reason he thinks that you're still all evil and trying to kill me."
"Give me a few more moments of hearing you talk about the Poofter and we'll see about that." Spike interjected.
"Shut up! Just listen. I got a phone call from Cordy. She has these visions and in the vision was you, me, Angel and Glory. She told Angel about the vision and he rushed over here. Spike, he doesn't know about the soul and he doesn't know about us. He thinks you're the one trying to kill me or cause some kind of trouble. As well he doesn't know about the prophecy either."
"So when is Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Forehead supposed to arrive?"
"He's here now."
Buffy and Spike turned to find Angel slipping out from behind a tree.
"Angel...I can explain."
"Explain what exactly? Why you're with him? Or why you're 'with' him?"
"Wouldn't that be the same answer?" Spike mumbled.
"Shut up Boy." Angel warned.
"Or you'll what?" Spike retaliated stepping right up to Angel's face.
"You don't want to find out. Spike step back or..."
"Quiet! Both of you! One of these days I am going to put the two of you in a room together and let you wrestle it out." Under her breath she muttered, "There could be oil of some kind involved." Luckily the two vampires were very much into their little 'I hate you with a passion' world that they didn't hear her. "Look let's just get back to my house and we will explain everything alright?" She looked back and forth between the two vampires and turned to lead the way.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Angel sat on the couch while Buffy and Spike sat on the chair across from him. Buffy sat in Spike's lap. Feeling very uncomfortable with this, Angel began to growl sub-consciously.
Buffy sighed and began to tell Angel of the past year and all the events that had taken place. For the most part Angel sat still and listened every once in a while muttering under his breath.
"So you have a soul now? Seems to be the 'in" thing to do now, huh?"
"What are you twelve?" Buffy looked at him, perplexed that he would even get jealous over a thing like that.
"Sorry. So this blonde in the vision, she's the one causing the trouble?" Spike and Buffy both nodded. "So why don't you just get rid of her? She can't be that big of a pain."
"Picture Cordelia with bad fashion sense and my strength. That is what we are dealing with here. The Council was here and they have given us the information that Glory is not just any plain old ordinary run of the mill demon. Glory is apparently a God." Angel sat quiet for moments, every once in a while opening his mouth to say something but it always felt like the wrong thing to say. So he just sat back and continued to listen.
"Glory is a Hell-God. She was banished here by the other Hell-Gods of her dimension. In order to get rid of her we need to send her back to her world or some other dimension. To do that we have to open a portal." Buffy explained without giving too much information about the prophecy.
"So why not just open the portal and send her home?" There was the question of the hour. But would the answer be the one that Angel was looking for?
"It's not that simple Angel. There are keys to opening the portal and factors that are out of the question. It can't be done. We are looking at another way."
"Well what do you need? I am sure that we can get whatever you need to open the portal. I can call Wesley and he can research it for you. Let me help you with this Buffy." Angel pleaded.
"Angel, you can't help. Don't worry we've got it covered."
"But Cordy said I was in the vision as well, so maybe I am meant to stay and help."
"No. Angel go back to L.A. please."
"Buffy..."
"Angel! I need you to go...I can't deal with this right now." Buffy's eyes threatened tears as Angel continued to press on.
"You can't deal with what Buffy? Why won't you tell me? Why won't you tell me how to send her home? Why won't you let me help you?"
"Because we're the bloody key you Poof! You or me. That is the way to send the bint home." Spike shouted having enough of Angel's questions. He wrapped his arms around Buffy who had tears freely falling down her face.
"Oh."
"Yeah oh. That is why she didn't want to tell you. Now you know and believe me there is no way that we are going through with this. We're going to find another way." Spike explained taking a very serious tone.
"There isn't another way." Buffy said through her tears.
"Shhh. Come on now pet, you know you don't believe that. There's always another way. You know it and I know it." Spike brushed her tears away from her face and kissed her on the tip of her nose. Angel sat back watching the vision in front of him. He was finally convinced that Spike was not a threat to Buffy. He had never seen Spike treat anyone the way that he was treating Buffy right now. Spike had been one for tenderness especially with Drusilla but this was different. This was actual love that we was witnessing in front of him. Not only from Spike, but from Buffy as well.
Buffy lifted herself from Spike's embrace and walked towards the kitchen.
"I need to get some air. You two behave while I am gone please. I don't want to call Xander and have him replace anything right now."
"Don't worry luv, we'll just talk. I promise."
"Thank you." Buffy exited to the back porch.
The two souled vampires sat in silence for many minutes before either of them spoke.
"So...you have a soul now?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Spike just looked at him not needing to say anything.
"Right. Buffy. How?"
"Went to see a man about a girl. Fought demons, fears, fire...I nearly died to give her what she wanted. I knew I could never compare to you in her mind unless I had a soul. Funny thing is, I'm really no different from when I didn't have the soul. I felt bad about hurting Buffy back then and I feel just as bad about it now." Spike took a breath and relaxed back into his chair. "You know, you once told me that in order to kill her you have to love her." Angel stiffened on the couch. "Don't get your knickers in a twist. I thought that when I started to feel something for her it was just my way of getting under her skin, but the truth was she got under mine. Dru told me you know, she told me after we left here the first time that she could see her all around me. I just thought it was cause I wanted her dead so badly. Truth is I was in love with her even back then. Just wasn't man enough to admit it. Always Love's Bitch right?" Spike sighed and Angel just sat back and nodded.
****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****
Buffy sat on the steps of her house and listened. She could hear nothing but silence. Would they really just talk? They couldn't do that. There was too much history between all of them. A small creak was heard and Buffy turned to find Spike standing in the back doorway. He walked over to her and sat beside her.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself."
"Where's Angel? You didn't dust him did you?"
"No. The Poofter is still intact. He's gone back to L.A. though. He didn't want to say goodbye. He figured it would just be a scene anyways and you know how he is about scenes." Buffy leaned her head onto Spike's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.
"You guys really just talked?"
"Yeah. He understands. I think he finally gets it. He is seeing like you now. You know? A little bit of grey here and there. Not just black and white to him anymore."
"Good." Buffy let out a yawn. "He's not going to do anything stupid right?"
"Angel? Nah. He'll just head back to L.A. and get on with his life there I reckon."
"Mmm...okay." Another yawned escaped her.
"Pet? Maybe we should get you to bed." There was no answer from Buffy. He took her into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her room. He closed the curtains in the room to make sure that she didn't wake up to a Big-Pile- of-Dust in the morning and slipped beside her drifting into his own sandman world.