Hi, there!
Wow. Another on time chapter! Who'd have thought it?
I am thinking that next week will be an NC chapter of Meant to Be, but I'm not quite sure what I'll do yet. Either way, I'll work on some Sput for you. I miss it too(
I want to send an enormous thanks to my betas, Pat, Lindsay, and Melissa. They had to work a bit harder this week because I was somewhat distracted by RL, but, as always, they got me through.
So, thanks.
And enjoy the chapter!
~~@ Nimue @~~
"And though she be but little, she is fierce." ~ William Shakespeare ~ A Midsummer Night's Dream
Title: Respite (Chapter Nineteen - Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Spike/Buffy (Most major characters included)
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com. Also, please visit Always_Everyday's sister group How to Make a Vampire Sundae for fiction with adult content.
The rest of the story can be found at:
And present chapters are being posted on my live journal at:
Disclaimer: All characters (save for the ones I made up) belong to someone other than me; they belong to Mutant Enemy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series, Fox, WB, their affiliates, lawyers and all sorts of other folks that aren't me. :::sigh::::
Summary: A relatively angst free break from the drama. Spike and Buffy deal with the repercussions of their argument, but find out that some things are still right with the world.
Respite
The phone rang only once before the line clicked on. "Xander?"
"They're here. My house," he answered, reading her mind. "Thought that we'd have a little sleepover tonight and then maybe take them to Disney for the weekend."
Buffy sighed her relief into the receiver. There was nothing more she wanted than to go home and climb in her bed with her Vampire and their kids and sleep for three straight days, but the thought of the babies seeing the two of them.
They weren't old enough to understand that this wasn't right. This was bad. Bad. You didn't go around beating people up, especially people you love. The fact that their natures and their abilities, their true selves as Vampire and Slayer, made it possible for them to fight in this way was too much for their children to really understand. At least now.
"You okay?" Xander's voice was nervous, as if he wasn't sure what to say, but he needed to say something.
Buffy nodded, leaning against the training room wall, then realizing he couldn't see her. "Um, I guess."
"They told me," Xander continued. "Just now. Buff, I didn't know."
"I know," she choked. And she knew he didn't. Xander would have told her. At least by accident.
"Is it bad?"
She wrinkled her brow, watching Spike dress in silence. "What? I mean, the situation doesn't get much worse."
"No, no," Xander corrected, sighing. "I mean, I know that. hell, Buffy."
She swallowed, trying to keep the blissful calm that she'd had for a few moments lying in the shadows of the training room, curled against her one true love. "Just not sure I'm with the understanding."
Buffy could hear Xander's mind working over the phone line. "I. I know that what's going on. I know it's. I can't imagine. Anyway, I just. I know you. I know Spike. How you react."
A humourless chuckle escaped her lips and Spike cocked an eyebrow, buckling his belt as she leaned into the wall. "Yeah, it's pretty bad."
"Do you need Takina to be there.? I mean, when you get home? Is it that bad?" Xander got it. Got that that was how they were. When things were really bad, they didn't talk; they threw insults, said things they didn't mean, pummeled each other, and only then could they really speak and get it done. Oh, and the make-up sex. But that was something Xander chose not to think too much about.
"Um, probably," Buffy said, rubbing an angry bruise on her shoulder, and wincing at the dried blood on her lover's broken nose. "But we heal really well. I'll take care of it."
"Spike okay?" Xander asked calmly, just trying to keep her together for a minute longer. She was all right on the phone. Sounding a little like Buffy.
Another long sigh. "It's pretty bad, Xander. I mean, other than the mental stuff. I kind of. I rearranged his face. And I. God, why do any of you stay around me? Why do any of you love me?"
Her voice broke into another sob and she almost dropped the phone. He groped for words that would show her he understood. That was just how it was. How it always would be. That Spike didn't mean to say the things he said, and she didn't mean to do the things she did. It just. it was part of them.
The words escaped him.
"Buffy. I.."
Another sob and he could hear Spike cooing to her quietly and the rustle of the phone being taken away and lifted by another hand.
"Harris," Spike growled into the phone.
"I. I didn't mean to make her cry," he stuttered, hearing the sound of kisses and murmurs in the background.
"No, Mate. Know that. Just. she's a bit . broken, is all," Spike said, his voice softening. "Both are."
"I know." It was all Xander could think of to say. "What can I do? I mean, Emma and Will are here and I was going to take them to Disneyland for the weekend. Give them a break."
Spike sighed, wanting to hold his children. But they wouldn't, they couldn't, understand. Not this. Not yet.
"Thanks," Spike whispered into the phone, wrapping his arm around Buffy and pulling her into his chest. "Just."
"Tell me what I can do, Spike. Please. God, you know I'm not all quick thinking man."
"Nothing you can do," Spike answered. "Nothing more than what any of us are doing."
"But Willow and Tara are doing the whole spell thing and Giles and Cyrus and Wes are working the research and."
"And you're doing what we need most," Spike cut off. "Minding our tots while we suss this out. Taking care of them like your own. Right?"
Xander smiled. Spike had this completely dichotomous personality sometimes. One minute, he's shouting obscenities as he beheads a demon, and the next he's comforting them all when he's the most in need of comfort.
"I'll take care of them, Spike. I promise." He could feel his voice begin to crack. "Buff. Buffy said that it was bad but she didn't want Takina."
"Send her over. Want the baby checked out," Spike interrupted, his hand caressing Buffy's belly softly as she clung to him. "Think she's fine. Didn't. I made a point of."
"I know," Xander answered. "I know that, Spike. "
"Just. she was pretty upset and I need to be sure." The Vampire's voice began to waver just a bit. He coughed, regaining his composure and taking on that gruff voice. "Send her by if you would."
"She's leaving now," Xander said quietly as Spike heard the rustling of coats being put on and dinner plates being cleared. "You going to be."
"Have to go, Harris," Spike growled, knowing he couldn't keep it together much longer and he had to be strong. Had to be strong enough for Buffy and still be able to think his way out of this. No one was taking their baby. "Thanks for minding the tots."
"Course," Xander said, taking a breath to start another sentence and hearing, instead, the line go dead.
~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~
Buffy lay on the bed, moonlight pouring into their room and the desk lamp glowing softly on the bedside table. Spike paced along the wall, chewing the skin on his thumb as Takina began her examination.
The doctor had brought a portable ultrasound with her that Spike had fished out of the car while Takina appraised Buffy's physical state. Now Takina had her lying there on their bed, her clean t-shirt pulled up to her ribs and her sweats pulled down just a little to expose the slight swell that would be their baby. It wasn't even noticeable yet to anyone but Spike.
And her.
She complained every day about how she couldn't button this or zipper that and ugh, she was going to be a moose this time and she didn't want to get fat and you'd think it would be easier the third time or wasn't there any way to just poof them into existence without all the beached whale part?
And he always comforted her by telling her that she was never more beautiful than she was with a belly full of their child. That everything about her was more beautiful. The way she glowed. The way her breasts swelled and her hips curved and their baby grew. That he'd be happy to have her trot round the house naked at full term - but he'd have a hell of a time keeping his jeans buttoned himself.
Now, he could feel her mind as Takina spread the liquid over her stomach. That she'd be uncomfortable and swollen and have to wear muumuus for years - but she'd do it, do anything, to save her child. To make sure nothing else happened. She'd be glad to feel the full weight inside of her and get kicked and crave pea soup and want to vomit every other moment.
Spike doubted there would be much complaining this time round.
But he'd still tell her how beautiful she was anyway.
Spike's head spun when a reassuring 'woosh' started from the sound device attached to the little portable gadget Takina had brought.
"That means everything's okay, right?" Buffy asked, her voice a little too jittery.
"Right. Nothing to worry bout, yeah?" Spike said coming over to the bed as a grainy picture came up on the screen.
It wasn't much, yet. And it was sort of hard to understand as the baby was only blob-ish at this point. Buffy was only a little over two months. But still she cried, looking at it. And still, Spike held her hand.
"She seems fine," Takina said, smiling reassuringly. "Not that I suggest any more bar room brawls for the two of you."
Both Spike and Buffy shook their heads like kids being told to never to do it again. "But no harm done here. Looks completely normal."
Takina let them watch a minute longer, moving the paddle around to try and get an angle that might make sense to them. But there really wasn't too much to see at this point. "When you're a little further along, Buffy, we'll do another one so you can see her again."
"Ev. everything's okay, though?" Buffy asked, her voice as small as a child's. Takina gave her some tissues to wipe herself down and clicked off the monitor.
"You're sure?" Spike questioned, still holding on to Buffy's hand.
Takina laughed. "Nothing at all wrong with her. Exactly what she should be at this point. No damage."
She could hear both of them sigh as she packed away her kit and then stood up, her medical bag in hand. "Seems you might need a little work, though," she joked, walking towards the battered Vampire.
"Be fine," Spike said defensively, taking a step back.
"Spike." Takina's voice commanded.
"Sit." Buffy's order.
So the Vampire sat and let Takina clean his cuts and make sure his nose would heal straight. Buffy stroked the back of his neck, calming him, as the doctor worked, debriding wounds and suturing the worst of them. Spike refused a painkiller and insisted he'd heal without all this fuss. But both Takina and Buffy held him still on the bed, with glares and the feminine tool of guilt as their manipulation device, and his knowledge that Buffy would be wracked with real guilt if one of the blows she had thrown left a scar. She never meant to hurt him. He knew that. She'd said as much.
It wasn't long before Spike was loading the equipment back into the Harris's minivan - a purchase over which Spike had given Xander quite a ration of teasing, but had to admit, it did come in handy for hauling large numbers of small people to events.
Takina was silent as Spike helped her load up, until she was about to get into the driver's seat. "For what it's worth, Spike," she said, a little smile on her face, "after watching you two fall in love with a baby too tiny to make out, there's no way in hell *I'm* going to let them take her away from you. You've got me for whatever you need."
Spike smiled, kissing her cheek and helping her into the car. "Means a lot. We do love her. Loved her before she was even there, I think." He slammed the car door shut behind the doctor. "But s'good to know we got you on our side in this."
"You do," Takina whispered, patting Spike's hand as she started the car. "And don't worry about Emma and Will. She's taken to helping Xander with some carpentry projects in the garage. Well, he's letting her paint some of River's new furniture. And Will could just be sitting there staring at River and never be happier."
That made Spike laugh. "Like father like son, I guess. Could look at Buffy all day."
"Sap," Takina joked, patting his hand once more and then putting the car in drive.
He put his hands over his heart as if he was wounded and she drove away, waving.
~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~
"So, Pet," Spike announced, coming back into the bedroom. "Hungry?"
She shook her head, still a bit forlorn. But he wasn't sure making her talk right now was the best thing to do. She knew in her head at this moment that her baby was okay and the world was revolving and her kids were safe and that he wouldn't let anything happen to them. No more talking needed till she was ready.
"Or," he said, sly grin on his face and eyebrow raised in that sexy little sentiment. He slid his way onto the edge of the bed and crawled up to meet her face to face. "Or," he whispered again, lips caressing her ear with his breath and his words, "I could run you a bath, then spend all night cleaning parts of you that you didn't know were. dirty. Pet."
He enunciated the last word, letting it drip from his lips like spiced honey.
She blinked up at him and he wasn't sure. was he losing his touch with her? She just stared at him for a minute, her eyes wide and still wet from tears.
Finally, a little smile broke on her lips. "What is it with us? I mean, do most people just. fight and then have world ending sex when they get upset, or is it just us?"
He returned her smile. "Just us, I think, Love."
"Lucky us."
To be contd.
Wow. Another on time chapter! Who'd have thought it?
I am thinking that next week will be an NC chapter of Meant to Be, but I'm not quite sure what I'll do yet. Either way, I'll work on some Sput for you. I miss it too(
I want to send an enormous thanks to my betas, Pat, Lindsay, and Melissa. They had to work a bit harder this week because I was somewhat distracted by RL, but, as always, they got me through.
So, thanks.
And enjoy the chapter!
~~@ Nimue @~~
"And though she be but little, she is fierce." ~ William Shakespeare ~ A Midsummer Night's Dream
Title: Respite (Chapter Nineteen - Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Spike/Buffy (Most major characters included)
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com. Also, please visit Always_Everyday's sister group How to Make a Vampire Sundae for fiction with adult content.
The rest of the story can be found at:
And present chapters are being posted on my live journal at:
Disclaimer: All characters (save for the ones I made up) belong to someone other than me; they belong to Mutant Enemy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series, Fox, WB, their affiliates, lawyers and all sorts of other folks that aren't me. :::sigh::::
Summary: A relatively angst free break from the drama. Spike and Buffy deal with the repercussions of their argument, but find out that some things are still right with the world.
Respite
The phone rang only once before the line clicked on. "Xander?"
"They're here. My house," he answered, reading her mind. "Thought that we'd have a little sleepover tonight and then maybe take them to Disney for the weekend."
Buffy sighed her relief into the receiver. There was nothing more she wanted than to go home and climb in her bed with her Vampire and their kids and sleep for three straight days, but the thought of the babies seeing the two of them.
They weren't old enough to understand that this wasn't right. This was bad. Bad. You didn't go around beating people up, especially people you love. The fact that their natures and their abilities, their true selves as Vampire and Slayer, made it possible for them to fight in this way was too much for their children to really understand. At least now.
"You okay?" Xander's voice was nervous, as if he wasn't sure what to say, but he needed to say something.
Buffy nodded, leaning against the training room wall, then realizing he couldn't see her. "Um, I guess."
"They told me," Xander continued. "Just now. Buff, I didn't know."
"I know," she choked. And she knew he didn't. Xander would have told her. At least by accident.
"Is it bad?"
She wrinkled her brow, watching Spike dress in silence. "What? I mean, the situation doesn't get much worse."
"No, no," Xander corrected, sighing. "I mean, I know that. hell, Buffy."
She swallowed, trying to keep the blissful calm that she'd had for a few moments lying in the shadows of the training room, curled against her one true love. "Just not sure I'm with the understanding."
Buffy could hear Xander's mind working over the phone line. "I. I know that what's going on. I know it's. I can't imagine. Anyway, I just. I know you. I know Spike. How you react."
A humourless chuckle escaped her lips and Spike cocked an eyebrow, buckling his belt as she leaned into the wall. "Yeah, it's pretty bad."
"Do you need Takina to be there.? I mean, when you get home? Is it that bad?" Xander got it. Got that that was how they were. When things were really bad, they didn't talk; they threw insults, said things they didn't mean, pummeled each other, and only then could they really speak and get it done. Oh, and the make-up sex. But that was something Xander chose not to think too much about.
"Um, probably," Buffy said, rubbing an angry bruise on her shoulder, and wincing at the dried blood on her lover's broken nose. "But we heal really well. I'll take care of it."
"Spike okay?" Xander asked calmly, just trying to keep her together for a minute longer. She was all right on the phone. Sounding a little like Buffy.
Another long sigh. "It's pretty bad, Xander. I mean, other than the mental stuff. I kind of. I rearranged his face. And I. God, why do any of you stay around me? Why do any of you love me?"
Her voice broke into another sob and she almost dropped the phone. He groped for words that would show her he understood. That was just how it was. How it always would be. That Spike didn't mean to say the things he said, and she didn't mean to do the things she did. It just. it was part of them.
The words escaped him.
"Buffy. I.."
Another sob and he could hear Spike cooing to her quietly and the rustle of the phone being taken away and lifted by another hand.
"Harris," Spike growled into the phone.
"I. I didn't mean to make her cry," he stuttered, hearing the sound of kisses and murmurs in the background.
"No, Mate. Know that. Just. she's a bit . broken, is all," Spike said, his voice softening. "Both are."
"I know." It was all Xander could think of to say. "What can I do? I mean, Emma and Will are here and I was going to take them to Disneyland for the weekend. Give them a break."
Spike sighed, wanting to hold his children. But they wouldn't, they couldn't, understand. Not this. Not yet.
"Thanks," Spike whispered into the phone, wrapping his arm around Buffy and pulling her into his chest. "Just."
"Tell me what I can do, Spike. Please. God, you know I'm not all quick thinking man."
"Nothing you can do," Spike answered. "Nothing more than what any of us are doing."
"But Willow and Tara are doing the whole spell thing and Giles and Cyrus and Wes are working the research and."
"And you're doing what we need most," Spike cut off. "Minding our tots while we suss this out. Taking care of them like your own. Right?"
Xander smiled. Spike had this completely dichotomous personality sometimes. One minute, he's shouting obscenities as he beheads a demon, and the next he's comforting them all when he's the most in need of comfort.
"I'll take care of them, Spike. I promise." He could feel his voice begin to crack. "Buff. Buffy said that it was bad but she didn't want Takina."
"Send her over. Want the baby checked out," Spike interrupted, his hand caressing Buffy's belly softly as she clung to him. "Think she's fine. Didn't. I made a point of."
"I know," Xander answered. "I know that, Spike. "
"Just. she was pretty upset and I need to be sure." The Vampire's voice began to waver just a bit. He coughed, regaining his composure and taking on that gruff voice. "Send her by if you would."
"She's leaving now," Xander said quietly as Spike heard the rustling of coats being put on and dinner plates being cleared. "You going to be."
"Have to go, Harris," Spike growled, knowing he couldn't keep it together much longer and he had to be strong. Had to be strong enough for Buffy and still be able to think his way out of this. No one was taking their baby. "Thanks for minding the tots."
"Course," Xander said, taking a breath to start another sentence and hearing, instead, the line go dead.
~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~
Buffy lay on the bed, moonlight pouring into their room and the desk lamp glowing softly on the bedside table. Spike paced along the wall, chewing the skin on his thumb as Takina began her examination.
The doctor had brought a portable ultrasound with her that Spike had fished out of the car while Takina appraised Buffy's physical state. Now Takina had her lying there on their bed, her clean t-shirt pulled up to her ribs and her sweats pulled down just a little to expose the slight swell that would be their baby. It wasn't even noticeable yet to anyone but Spike.
And her.
She complained every day about how she couldn't button this or zipper that and ugh, she was going to be a moose this time and she didn't want to get fat and you'd think it would be easier the third time or wasn't there any way to just poof them into existence without all the beached whale part?
And he always comforted her by telling her that she was never more beautiful than she was with a belly full of their child. That everything about her was more beautiful. The way she glowed. The way her breasts swelled and her hips curved and their baby grew. That he'd be happy to have her trot round the house naked at full term - but he'd have a hell of a time keeping his jeans buttoned himself.
Now, he could feel her mind as Takina spread the liquid over her stomach. That she'd be uncomfortable and swollen and have to wear muumuus for years - but she'd do it, do anything, to save her child. To make sure nothing else happened. She'd be glad to feel the full weight inside of her and get kicked and crave pea soup and want to vomit every other moment.
Spike doubted there would be much complaining this time round.
But he'd still tell her how beautiful she was anyway.
Spike's head spun when a reassuring 'woosh' started from the sound device attached to the little portable gadget Takina had brought.
"That means everything's okay, right?" Buffy asked, her voice a little too jittery.
"Right. Nothing to worry bout, yeah?" Spike said coming over to the bed as a grainy picture came up on the screen.
It wasn't much, yet. And it was sort of hard to understand as the baby was only blob-ish at this point. Buffy was only a little over two months. But still she cried, looking at it. And still, Spike held her hand.
"She seems fine," Takina said, smiling reassuringly. "Not that I suggest any more bar room brawls for the two of you."
Both Spike and Buffy shook their heads like kids being told to never to do it again. "But no harm done here. Looks completely normal."
Takina let them watch a minute longer, moving the paddle around to try and get an angle that might make sense to them. But there really wasn't too much to see at this point. "When you're a little further along, Buffy, we'll do another one so you can see her again."
"Ev. everything's okay, though?" Buffy asked, her voice as small as a child's. Takina gave her some tissues to wipe herself down and clicked off the monitor.
"You're sure?" Spike questioned, still holding on to Buffy's hand.
Takina laughed. "Nothing at all wrong with her. Exactly what she should be at this point. No damage."
She could hear both of them sigh as she packed away her kit and then stood up, her medical bag in hand. "Seems you might need a little work, though," she joked, walking towards the battered Vampire.
"Be fine," Spike said defensively, taking a step back.
"Spike." Takina's voice commanded.
"Sit." Buffy's order.
So the Vampire sat and let Takina clean his cuts and make sure his nose would heal straight. Buffy stroked the back of his neck, calming him, as the doctor worked, debriding wounds and suturing the worst of them. Spike refused a painkiller and insisted he'd heal without all this fuss. But both Takina and Buffy held him still on the bed, with glares and the feminine tool of guilt as their manipulation device, and his knowledge that Buffy would be wracked with real guilt if one of the blows she had thrown left a scar. She never meant to hurt him. He knew that. She'd said as much.
It wasn't long before Spike was loading the equipment back into the Harris's minivan - a purchase over which Spike had given Xander quite a ration of teasing, but had to admit, it did come in handy for hauling large numbers of small people to events.
Takina was silent as Spike helped her load up, until she was about to get into the driver's seat. "For what it's worth, Spike," she said, a little smile on her face, "after watching you two fall in love with a baby too tiny to make out, there's no way in hell *I'm* going to let them take her away from you. You've got me for whatever you need."
Spike smiled, kissing her cheek and helping her into the car. "Means a lot. We do love her. Loved her before she was even there, I think." He slammed the car door shut behind the doctor. "But s'good to know we got you on our side in this."
"You do," Takina whispered, patting Spike's hand as she started the car. "And don't worry about Emma and Will. She's taken to helping Xander with some carpentry projects in the garage. Well, he's letting her paint some of River's new furniture. And Will could just be sitting there staring at River and never be happier."
That made Spike laugh. "Like father like son, I guess. Could look at Buffy all day."
"Sap," Takina joked, patting his hand once more and then putting the car in drive.
He put his hands over his heart as if he was wounded and she drove away, waving.
~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~@~~~~~
"So, Pet," Spike announced, coming back into the bedroom. "Hungry?"
She shook her head, still a bit forlorn. But he wasn't sure making her talk right now was the best thing to do. She knew in her head at this moment that her baby was okay and the world was revolving and her kids were safe and that he wouldn't let anything happen to them. No more talking needed till she was ready.
"Or," he said, sly grin on his face and eyebrow raised in that sexy little sentiment. He slid his way onto the edge of the bed and crawled up to meet her face to face. "Or," he whispered again, lips caressing her ear with his breath and his words, "I could run you a bath, then spend all night cleaning parts of you that you didn't know were. dirty. Pet."
He enunciated the last word, letting it drip from his lips like spiced honey.
She blinked up at him and he wasn't sure. was he losing his touch with her? She just stared at him for a minute, her eyes wide and still wet from tears.
Finally, a little smile broke on her lips. "What is it with us? I mean, do most people just. fight and then have world ending sex when they get upset, or is it just us?"
He returned her smile. "Just us, I think, Love."
"Lucky us."
To be contd.