Disclaimer: Yes...Joss Whedon owns all of the characters except the ones that
you have never heard of because I created them...I wonder if Joss has ever
heard of a thing called 'sharing'. Okay, this whole story's plot is based
on a Korean drama, called the 'Stairway to Heaven,' ((Kwun Sang Woo is
really hot)).
Summary: Glory, Buffy, and Angel are all 'stepsiblings,' and Spike is the rich boy who happens to be Buffy's best friend. Buffy and Spike fall in love, but Spike is shipped off to England, and when he returns 6 or 7 years later, Buffy gets 'taken away' from him in an instant. He runs into her a year later, but she does not remember him...will she ever remember?
((Luv to all of my reviewers: Courtney37, Mita427, Cynthia, Terry, hotspike7, TikigirlK16, Ruthie2, Cho-Freak-Dragon, Shitaka, Celestrial6, ekmw511, katie, angelsleeping23, someone, Samantha, and Loraine.))
((A/N: And do not worry...she will not tell him immediately, but she WILL tell him...soon...oh and Shitaka, don't worry, you only reviewed once. And why do people never leave their REAL ff.net name when they leave a flame or a not quite nice review? What are they afraid of? Oh and Loraine, thank you for your encouraging review, don't worry, I'm the last person to back down when I get a bad review or something. I mean if people actually read my profile page they'd understand why I wasn't updating...I'm sorry for keep you all waiting...ESPECIALLY RUTHIE2 and HOTSPIKE7!!!))
...................................................
If love was meant to be between two people,
Then they will always find each other
No matter how long it takes,
No matter how far,
No matter how many obstacles stand in the way,
In the end, they will always end up in each other's arms.
.........................................
Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.
-Albert Einstein ...........................................
"Knock, knock,"
Mrs. Cornelius looked up from her usual cup of afternoon tea, and smiled, "Spike, come on in darling,"
Spike grinned and walked in, closing the door behind him. "You wanted to see me mum?" he asked, slightly suspicious. His mother never called him that unless she wanted him to do something for her.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I did," she replied, her smile gone, and her lips pursed in a grim manner.
Spike glanced at his silver Rolex. "Well I haven't much time. I have a board meeting in a little, and I'm meeting someone after that," he told her.
"You're not meeting that Elizabeth girl...are you?" she inquired, as she spoke Elizabeth's name with obvious distaste.
"Yes mum. We're going to meet, and we're going to elope to France and get married,"
"WHAT?!" Mrs. Cornelius brought her teacup to a clatter onto the porcelain saucer.
"Bloody hell mum, I was just joking," Spike assured her.
Mrs. Cornelius placed a hand over her heart, breathing heavily, "Well don't joke like that. It's not funny, and I'm not getting younger you know,"
Spike rolled his eyes inwardly, and took a seat on the couch adjacent to her armchair. "So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
Mrs. Cornelius folded her hands on her lap, and cleared her throat, "I want you to fire Elizabeth Johnson."
"Excuse me?"
"I want you to FIRE Elizabeth," she repeated.
"Why the bloody hell would I want to do that?" Spike asked startled at his mom's request.
"That girl is fat trouble," she replied, "Do you know what she did today? It was utterly despicable!" Mrs. Cornelius paused to 'recompose' herself. "She claimed to be Buffy today!"
Spike's body tensed for a moment. "Why would she do that mum?" he asked.
"Simple!" she declared, "Money, fame, you..."
"Don't even say that," Spike warned, "Elizabeth...isn't like the others mum. You've got to understand that. Besides, I'm sure that she was just joking."
"Oh no young man, she was NOT joking. She was serious. Because of her little rant about being Buffy, she sent Darla AND Glory into tears!" Mrs. Cornelius exclaimed as she began to fan herself in an attempt to 'cool down.'
Spike sat there, millions of thoughts rushing at him at the same time. 'Had she really claimed to be Buffy?' 'If she did, why?' 'It's not like Glory isn't after the money.' 'That reminds me, what did Elizabeth want to tell me today?' 'I ought to tell mother to just sod off, it's my bloody life after all.'
"And don't see her anymore...it...it makes Glory unhappy," Mrs. Cornelius concluded, oblivious to the fact that Spike had not been listening.
"Tell Glory to- " Spike began.
"Watch your language, and you two ARE engaged," she reminded him.
Spike abruptly stood up and left the room, and his mother didn't try to stop him. He glanced at his watch, great, he was late...wasn't today's meeting about merging International Concepts and Global Fashions? He took the elevator and ran to the conference room.
Glory looked up as Spike came in. "We've been waiting Spike," she said.
'Of course not...' he thought sarcastically. "Sorry gents...and ladies," he apologized as he took his seat, "I'm a bit of a momma's boy. The men and women from International Concepts chuckled, and the meeting commenced.
......................................................
Buffy watched as her breath puffed out in curls. She wrinkled her nose, not that she could feel it. She shoved her hands into the warm pockets of her white felt pea coat, and slowly trudged toward the Merry-Go-Round. She stopped a ways away to take in the sight of the whole Merry-Go-Round. She smiled longingly...almost wistfully at it, the bright white lights shining all over elegant merry-go-round...and there was her favorite horse right there. The white one with flowers, and a silver saddle...Spike had dubbed it, 'Buffy's Horse.'
..............FLASHBACK............. "Can I open my eyes yet?" Buffy wailed.
"Not yet...okay,"
Buffy opened her eyes, and gasped. There in front of her stood the merry-go- round, basking in bright white light, and right in front of her was her favorite horse. "Like it?" a voice asked softly. Buffy nodded stupidly. Spike grinned, "I had them close early today so that I could bring you here...what are you waiting for? Get on!"
Buffy did not need to be told twice. She quickly clambered onto the horse. She waited for it to move, but it didn't. "Spike...it's...not moving..."
"Gee...blondes really are dumb," Spike grumbled as he pressed various buttons.
"You WERE including yourself right?" Buffy inquired.
"Ah-hah! And I press the power button," Spike announced loudly, ignoring Buffy's question.
Buffy rolled her eyes, and mockingly glared at him as the tinkling music began to play and the horse began to move. Buffy grinned as Spike waved vigorously as her. Then she waved back. "Did you like it?" Spike asked as he nonchalantly put his arm around her shoulder.
Buffy nodded and rested her head against his chest. "You should bring me here more often..."
................END OF FLASHBACK .................. Buffy sighed, and then blinked...there in front of her...right in front of HER horse stood a familiar figure, basked in white light...He stood there, casually leaning against the railing that surrounded the Merry-Go-Round. The lights making his hair look blonder, it gave him an almost ethereal glow...in his Armani suit...she could smell his cologne...he always wore the same one. She stood there, frozen...taking in the sight of him for it might be her last. Then he looked up. Spike felt someone staring at him, and turned his head, only to be greeted with the sight of her. She stood there with her beautiful blonde hair down, wearing the same white felt pea coat she had been wearing earlier today, it contrasted with the darkness, and then her eyes.
A pair of emerald eyes stared back at him. He stood there as she walked towards him. 'What had she wanted to tell me?' he wondered. "Isn't it beautiful?" he finally asked, breaking the thick silence between them. Buffy who now stood right next to him, leaning against the railing as well nodded. "I used to have them close the place up early so I could bring Buffy here," he continued, "The white horse with the silver saddle was her favorite..." Buffy nodded again. How she wanted to just throw her arms around him, and tell him that she remembered now! But something held her back. "Did you really claim to be Buffy today?" he asked. Buffy stood there...not knowing what to say...her Spike...her one and only beloved Spike believed her to be lying too?
"I don't know why you lied pet, and I probably won't ever know what goes on inside that head of yours, but you didn't have to lie about being Buffy..." he paused as his voice sounded choked. He waited a few moments before speaking again, "Besides, I bet that she's waiting for me...at the stairway to heaven...better than this hellish place..." Buffy turned to him, about to say something, but continued. "I know...I must've made you pity me so bad that you were willing to pose as her, but you don't understand Liz...there has and will be only one Buffy..." Spike turned sideways to look at her, "You know, you helped me forget her sometimes. To be honest, I liked you for who were anyways luv...I got to the point to where I started to consider you not as Buffy's look a like, but Elizabeth Johnson."
Buffy turned away from him, and felt tears welling up in her eyes again. He was making it harder and harder for her. Did this mean that he really had moved on...did he really love 'Elizabeth Johnson' now? "My mum was appalled at your 'behavior' today," he told her. Spike smiled and chuckled softly, "She doesn't want me to see you anymore either...she's set on me marrying Glory..." Buffy bit her lip to keep herself from sobbing. There was no way she could tell him now...she'd come in between Spike and his mom...and she'd never forgive herself if she did. The necklace he had given her seven years ago felt so heavy...she had wanted to show him...but she couldn't now...
"Have you ever wanted to be Cinderella before?" Spike asked after a few minutes of silence.
Buffy nodded, "Because in the end...her prince came...and she lived happily..." she whispered.
"Ever after," he finished.
...........................................
Buffy and Spike looked each up and down. "You don't look half bad in that dress pet," he commented.
"Really?" Buffy asked wrinkling her nose. She hadn't been too keen on the idea of dressing up in a huge ball gown, but she did have to admit the 'glass' shoes were something else. Spike on the other hand...he wore a pure white fancy medieval tunic embroidered with gold and rhinestones and tight white pants.
A distance away, a man with brown hair watched, and smiled. "Buffy...are you happy now?" he whispered as he walked away.
Buffy wore a matching bell shaped ball gown. It was white, and was embroidered with gold and rhinestones as well. Spike nodded, and as if in a trance, stepped closer to her. He raised a hand to cup her cheek, and stared into her emerald eyes...Buffy couldn't take it anymore. It hurt so bad...she wanted to tell him, but couldn't tell him...she ran. She tore off the dress in the dressing room and ran back to her motel room.
Buffy slammed the door to her motel room, and leaned against the wall, her chin quivering. "S-stop crying Buffy..." she ordered herself shakily. She was about to doze off when someone came into the room. She jumped up, ready to ward off the offender. "Excuse me, but you can't barge into-" Her voice trailed off when she saw Spike in the small hallway.
"You know, it's not safe to leave your door unlocked. Unwanted people could just 'barge in,' you're lucky that it's only me," he commented with a cheeky grin on his face.
Buffy couldn't help it, her lips stretched out and upward into a smile. "What do you want?" she demanded suspiciously.
"I dunno...I'm sort of hungry..."
..........................................
"Where is this place?" Spike asked as Buffy led him down the busy streets of Charleston.
"Downtown...you don't get out much do you?" Buffy asked with a smile.
Spike shook his head, "And with crowds this big, I might lose you...so I better hold onto your hand...just in case," he said airily. Before Buffy could respond, he grabbed her hand, and gave it a light squeeze, making Buffy blush.
"Oh...this place is good," Buffy announced. She gestured to a street vendor. "Good sandwiches, good soup...good meat..." Before Spike could say anything, she dragged him over to the cart. "Hey Mr. O'Neil...we'll take two of your special salami sandwiches, and two pints of your chicken soup...and two hot honeyed waters..."
"Are you sure that this is sanitary?" Spike asked as he gingerly held up his sandwich, "I mean...is it even edible?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Yes you spoiled brat. It's edible...and it's VERY sanitary," She paused and took a large bite from her sandwich, "This is so good," she commented, "I could eat it every day." Spike made a face as he took a bite. "Well?" Buffy inquired.
Spike chewed for a few moments, "This...is...pretty good," he reluctantly admitted. Buffy grinned, and took a sip from her cup of hot honeyed water.
........................................
"So what else do you petty and lowly people do in Charleston at night?" Spike asked as they walked downtown...hand in hand again.
"Lynch you stupid rich people," she quickly retorted.
Spike winced, "Hey...Liz....is there a bathroom nearby? I don't...feel....so good..."
.............................................
Spike threw his long black trenchcoat at her, and dashed into the men's bathroom. Buffy was in the process of smelling it when he came back out. "What's wrong?" Buffy asked a rather green looking Spike.
"There's a bloody line!"
"A line in the men's bathroom?" Buffy asked incredulously, "Now that's a definite first,"
"Can you go check if there's anyone in the women's?" Spike asked slightly sheepishly.
Buffy grinned, his ego was now non-existent, she came back out, "There's no one in there right now...."
"Thanks a million luv...and can you stand out here and make sure no one goes in?"
Buffy nodded, and gave him a shove into the women's bathroom. Still smiling to herself, Buffy smelled his trenchcoat again, and adjusted it on her arm. Something clattered out of a pocket and onto the ground. She bent over and picked it up. Her eyes widened. The necklace...his...he still had it?
Did this mean that he still loved Buffy? She rubbed it between her fingers, struggling with her want to tell him, she heard someone behind her, and quickly shoved it into one of the pockets. "How come you women have nicer bathrooms than we do?"
.......................................
"Beer always makes me feel better," Spike explained as he bought them a bottle of beer. He handed her one. Buffy took it, and slowly sipped it.
This time, Buffy made sure that her hands were preoccupied...holding Spike's hand just made her ache more. They walked to a park by the river, and sat down on the cold cement, watching the moon reflect onto the glassy surface of the water. There, Buffy got drunk. Buffy grabbed Spike's half full bottle of beer, and chugged it down. "Liz...what are you doing? Give that back!" Spike grabbed his beer back, and held it away from Buffy.
He could only assume that she didn't have a high alcohol tolerance level. She was already drunk after one bottle? "I have a secret to tell you," Buffy said, her speech slurred.
"Oh really?" Spike asked with an eyebrow raised.
Buffy nodded, and sluggishly motioned him closer. "I'm Buffy."
Spike drew away, and gave her a sad smile. "No...you're Liz..."
Buffy shook her head, "No...I'm Buffy. I've missed Spike for so long," she said loudly, "But he thinks I'm Elizabeth Johnson, BUT," Buffy jabbed herself in the chest, "I'm Buffy Summers. You can't tell anyone...okay?" With that Buffy passed out.
Spike sighed. 'It's my soddin' fault anyways,' he thought as he carried her back to the motel. 'I kept telling her that she was Buffy...must've gotten to her head.' When he got to the motel room, he set her down on the bed. He stood there, entranced for a minute, just staring at her petite form on the bed. Her long shiny blonde hair covering most of her face, and before he knew it, he laid down on the bed, facing her. His last conscious thought was, 'Sorry Buffy...I love you Liz...' ..............................
Buffy woke up to something she wouldn't mind seeing every time she woke up. She hesitantly reached out a hand to touch his cheek lightly. She rolled off the bed, and freshened up. She changed her clothes, but did not dare take a shower lest she wake him up. She grabbed her things, and gave him one last look, and left.
Buffy made her way to a familiar neighborhood hauling her suitcase. Her nose was still a bit pink from crying, but she doubted he'd notice. She came up to the door, and knocked on it.
......................................
Angel let out a frustrated roar as he heard someone knock. He was in the middle of working, and he hated being interrupted. "Door's open!!" he yelled, thinking it was his dad, Giles. His dad had a 'addiction' of collecting old and antique books, and his requirement was they be at least a century old. There really was no explanation of why his dad did. The most plausible one so far was that ever since he gave up gambling, he needed a 'new addiction.'
Angel raised an eyebrow as he heard the door open, but no heavy footsteps. He turned his head. There, stood Buffy. He quickly turned back to his work, "What do you want?" he demanded gruffly.
Buffy walked closer to him, "Let's get out of here Angel...please?" Angel dropped his paintbrush. "We used to talk about it all the time...remember? Just you and me, leaving this place? Finding a place worthy of our talents?"
Angel faced her again, "Why aren't you with Spike?" he asked.
Buffy wanted to break down and cry again, but held strong, "It doesn't matter Angel...let's go..."
...............................
Spike woke up to an empty bed, and an empty room. He smiled to himself, and left the room. He went home, showered, ate, and went to work by noon, expecting to see her at work. He never had a chance to check though because he was occupied by a small conference with his mother, Glory and Riley. He and his mother had not talked at all during the meeting unless it was necessary. Riley had shot him questioning looks, but said nothing. After the meeting Glory stayed as Riley returned to the 'body guards' corner, rejoining the others in video games.
Glory slowly set the manila folder on his desk. She was dressed in a 'Dolce & Cabana' dress suit of black, with gold buttons. "I tried calling you." she commented hesitantly. Spike raised an eyebrow as he turned his computer on. "You weren't home, and you weren't answering your cell phone," she continued. Still Spike did not answer. "Where were you?" she finally asked after fidgeting for a bit.
"Out."
Glory's lips and chin began to quiver, and she quickly walked out of the room. Spike tried to suppress his guilty conscience, but after ten minutes it got the better of him. He got up, and motioned Riley to stay as he left the room. He made his way to Glory's cubicle, but ran into her in the hallway. "Glory,"
................Silence.....................
"Come on pet..." Spike urged, "I'll make it up to you..." Glory stopped walking, and looked at him, waiting for him to go on. "So where you headed right now?"
"Lunch."
"How about I escort you?" Spike suggested with a wink.
Glory smiled, and blushed. Obviously pleased. They made their way down to underground parking lot, and walked out of it. They walked downtown, and passed by 'Sheek,' one of the stores bought out by Global Fashions. "Oh! Can we please stop by there for a little bit?"
Spike grinned, and opened the door to the store for her. "Look Spike...they're selling the scarves," Glory commented with a smile as she held one up.
"Yes...the couple's scarf," he replied.
Glory laughed, and picked a white one up. She artfully wrapped it around Spike's neck, and patted it when she was done. "You look-"
"Dashing," Spike cut in. If he closed his eyes, and sniffed, he could almost...just almost smell Liz...
...................................
Angel glanced down at the sleeping girl in the passenger seat. They had basically blown all of their savings to get two tickets for the soonest flight to Florida. Now they were on the freeway, in a nicer rental car than the last time, a Ford Focus. "I'm really happy that you're with me Buffy..." he said softly.
He glanced at Buffy again, and his eyebrows creased with worry. Her face looked more flushed than usual even though it didn't take away from her beauty. Even though his feelings for her went beyond the 'big brother' barrier, he still had the instincts of one, even if he were only her 'step.' He pressed a hand to her forehead, and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
He felt her forehead again, and tried to wake Buffy up. "Buffy...Buffy...wake up Buffy..." Her forehead, and cheeks were incredibly hot, and she was quickly burning up. He tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't.
Then she moved, "Spike..." she murmured.
Angel felt like the little hope he had, be crushed again. So her heart still belonged to him. Despite the fact that he hated leaving her like this, he had to. He grabbed her cell phone, and left the car after locking it. He ran across the free way, and down an exit, and found a pharmacy. He quickly bought some medicine, and as he walked back he searched through her phone book, and found Spike. He pressed it, and held the phone to his ear, listening to the dial tone...
...................................
"Maybe I should buy the scarf," Spike mused out loud as he looked himself in the mirror.
"Maybe you should," Glory giggled.
Spike was about to reply when his cell phone rang. "Hullo?"
"Buffy will be waiting for you at your Florida mansion. Hurry...oh, and make her happy." Then the line went dead.
Spike's eyes widened, and without an explanation he ran out of the store, deaf to Glory's yells.
..............................
Spike looked out the window of his private jet. His body felt tingly all over...he couldn't wait to see her. It was all beginning to make sense... 'she' had been telling the truth. Elizabeth Johnson WAS Buffy Summers. It figured...he fell in love with the same girl... "I'm coming Buff."
((A/N: Ahh...the long awaited installment. Sorry for makin' y'all wait! I really am sorry. Yeah, I probably don't even deserve reviews for makin' y'all wait so long...but it'd make me happy...))
Summary: Glory, Buffy, and Angel are all 'stepsiblings,' and Spike is the rich boy who happens to be Buffy's best friend. Buffy and Spike fall in love, but Spike is shipped off to England, and when he returns 6 or 7 years later, Buffy gets 'taken away' from him in an instant. He runs into her a year later, but she does not remember him...will she ever remember?
((Luv to all of my reviewers: Courtney37, Mita427, Cynthia, Terry, hotspike7, TikigirlK16, Ruthie2, Cho-Freak-Dragon, Shitaka, Celestrial6, ekmw511, katie, angelsleeping23, someone, Samantha, and Loraine.))
((A/N: And do not worry...she will not tell him immediately, but she WILL tell him...soon...oh and Shitaka, don't worry, you only reviewed once. And why do people never leave their REAL ff.net name when they leave a flame or a not quite nice review? What are they afraid of? Oh and Loraine, thank you for your encouraging review, don't worry, I'm the last person to back down when I get a bad review or something. I mean if people actually read my profile page they'd understand why I wasn't updating...I'm sorry for keep you all waiting...ESPECIALLY RUTHIE2 and HOTSPIKE7!!!))
...................................................
If love was meant to be between two people,
Then they will always find each other
No matter how long it takes,
No matter how far,
No matter how many obstacles stand in the way,
In the end, they will always end up in each other's arms.
.........................................
Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.
-Albert Einstein ...........................................
"Knock, knock,"
Mrs. Cornelius looked up from her usual cup of afternoon tea, and smiled, "Spike, come on in darling,"
Spike grinned and walked in, closing the door behind him. "You wanted to see me mum?" he asked, slightly suspicious. His mother never called him that unless she wanted him to do something for her.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I did," she replied, her smile gone, and her lips pursed in a grim manner.
Spike glanced at his silver Rolex. "Well I haven't much time. I have a board meeting in a little, and I'm meeting someone after that," he told her.
"You're not meeting that Elizabeth girl...are you?" she inquired, as she spoke Elizabeth's name with obvious distaste.
"Yes mum. We're going to meet, and we're going to elope to France and get married,"
"WHAT?!" Mrs. Cornelius brought her teacup to a clatter onto the porcelain saucer.
"Bloody hell mum, I was just joking," Spike assured her.
Mrs. Cornelius placed a hand over her heart, breathing heavily, "Well don't joke like that. It's not funny, and I'm not getting younger you know,"
Spike rolled his eyes inwardly, and took a seat on the couch adjacent to her armchair. "So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"
Mrs. Cornelius folded her hands on her lap, and cleared her throat, "I want you to fire Elizabeth Johnson."
"Excuse me?"
"I want you to FIRE Elizabeth," she repeated.
"Why the bloody hell would I want to do that?" Spike asked startled at his mom's request.
"That girl is fat trouble," she replied, "Do you know what she did today? It was utterly despicable!" Mrs. Cornelius paused to 'recompose' herself. "She claimed to be Buffy today!"
Spike's body tensed for a moment. "Why would she do that mum?" he asked.
"Simple!" she declared, "Money, fame, you..."
"Don't even say that," Spike warned, "Elizabeth...isn't like the others mum. You've got to understand that. Besides, I'm sure that she was just joking."
"Oh no young man, she was NOT joking. She was serious. Because of her little rant about being Buffy, she sent Darla AND Glory into tears!" Mrs. Cornelius exclaimed as she began to fan herself in an attempt to 'cool down.'
Spike sat there, millions of thoughts rushing at him at the same time. 'Had she really claimed to be Buffy?' 'If she did, why?' 'It's not like Glory isn't after the money.' 'That reminds me, what did Elizabeth want to tell me today?' 'I ought to tell mother to just sod off, it's my bloody life after all.'
"And don't see her anymore...it...it makes Glory unhappy," Mrs. Cornelius concluded, oblivious to the fact that Spike had not been listening.
"Tell Glory to- " Spike began.
"Watch your language, and you two ARE engaged," she reminded him.
Spike abruptly stood up and left the room, and his mother didn't try to stop him. He glanced at his watch, great, he was late...wasn't today's meeting about merging International Concepts and Global Fashions? He took the elevator and ran to the conference room.
Glory looked up as Spike came in. "We've been waiting Spike," she said.
'Of course not...' he thought sarcastically. "Sorry gents...and ladies," he apologized as he took his seat, "I'm a bit of a momma's boy. The men and women from International Concepts chuckled, and the meeting commenced.
......................................................
Buffy watched as her breath puffed out in curls. She wrinkled her nose, not that she could feel it. She shoved her hands into the warm pockets of her white felt pea coat, and slowly trudged toward the Merry-Go-Round. She stopped a ways away to take in the sight of the whole Merry-Go-Round. She smiled longingly...almost wistfully at it, the bright white lights shining all over elegant merry-go-round...and there was her favorite horse right there. The white one with flowers, and a silver saddle...Spike had dubbed it, 'Buffy's Horse.'
..............FLASHBACK............. "Can I open my eyes yet?" Buffy wailed.
"Not yet...okay,"
Buffy opened her eyes, and gasped. There in front of her stood the merry-go- round, basking in bright white light, and right in front of her was her favorite horse. "Like it?" a voice asked softly. Buffy nodded stupidly. Spike grinned, "I had them close early today so that I could bring you here...what are you waiting for? Get on!"
Buffy did not need to be told twice. She quickly clambered onto the horse. She waited for it to move, but it didn't. "Spike...it's...not moving..."
"Gee...blondes really are dumb," Spike grumbled as he pressed various buttons.
"You WERE including yourself right?" Buffy inquired.
"Ah-hah! And I press the power button," Spike announced loudly, ignoring Buffy's question.
Buffy rolled her eyes, and mockingly glared at him as the tinkling music began to play and the horse began to move. Buffy grinned as Spike waved vigorously as her. Then she waved back. "Did you like it?" Spike asked as he nonchalantly put his arm around her shoulder.
Buffy nodded and rested her head against his chest. "You should bring me here more often..."
................END OF FLASHBACK .................. Buffy sighed, and then blinked...there in front of her...right in front of HER horse stood a familiar figure, basked in white light...He stood there, casually leaning against the railing that surrounded the Merry-Go-Round. The lights making his hair look blonder, it gave him an almost ethereal glow...in his Armani suit...she could smell his cologne...he always wore the same one. She stood there, frozen...taking in the sight of him for it might be her last. Then he looked up. Spike felt someone staring at him, and turned his head, only to be greeted with the sight of her. She stood there with her beautiful blonde hair down, wearing the same white felt pea coat she had been wearing earlier today, it contrasted with the darkness, and then her eyes.
A pair of emerald eyes stared back at him. He stood there as she walked towards him. 'What had she wanted to tell me?' he wondered. "Isn't it beautiful?" he finally asked, breaking the thick silence between them. Buffy who now stood right next to him, leaning against the railing as well nodded. "I used to have them close the place up early so I could bring Buffy here," he continued, "The white horse with the silver saddle was her favorite..." Buffy nodded again. How she wanted to just throw her arms around him, and tell him that she remembered now! But something held her back. "Did you really claim to be Buffy today?" he asked. Buffy stood there...not knowing what to say...her Spike...her one and only beloved Spike believed her to be lying too?
"I don't know why you lied pet, and I probably won't ever know what goes on inside that head of yours, but you didn't have to lie about being Buffy..." he paused as his voice sounded choked. He waited a few moments before speaking again, "Besides, I bet that she's waiting for me...at the stairway to heaven...better than this hellish place..." Buffy turned to him, about to say something, but continued. "I know...I must've made you pity me so bad that you were willing to pose as her, but you don't understand Liz...there has and will be only one Buffy..." Spike turned sideways to look at her, "You know, you helped me forget her sometimes. To be honest, I liked you for who were anyways luv...I got to the point to where I started to consider you not as Buffy's look a like, but Elizabeth Johnson."
Buffy turned away from him, and felt tears welling up in her eyes again. He was making it harder and harder for her. Did this mean that he really had moved on...did he really love 'Elizabeth Johnson' now? "My mum was appalled at your 'behavior' today," he told her. Spike smiled and chuckled softly, "She doesn't want me to see you anymore either...she's set on me marrying Glory..." Buffy bit her lip to keep herself from sobbing. There was no way she could tell him now...she'd come in between Spike and his mom...and she'd never forgive herself if she did. The necklace he had given her seven years ago felt so heavy...she had wanted to show him...but she couldn't now...
"Have you ever wanted to be Cinderella before?" Spike asked after a few minutes of silence.
Buffy nodded, "Because in the end...her prince came...and she lived happily..." she whispered.
"Ever after," he finished.
...........................................
Buffy and Spike looked each up and down. "You don't look half bad in that dress pet," he commented.
"Really?" Buffy asked wrinkling her nose. She hadn't been too keen on the idea of dressing up in a huge ball gown, but she did have to admit the 'glass' shoes were something else. Spike on the other hand...he wore a pure white fancy medieval tunic embroidered with gold and rhinestones and tight white pants.
A distance away, a man with brown hair watched, and smiled. "Buffy...are you happy now?" he whispered as he walked away.
Buffy wore a matching bell shaped ball gown. It was white, and was embroidered with gold and rhinestones as well. Spike nodded, and as if in a trance, stepped closer to her. He raised a hand to cup her cheek, and stared into her emerald eyes...Buffy couldn't take it anymore. It hurt so bad...she wanted to tell him, but couldn't tell him...she ran. She tore off the dress in the dressing room and ran back to her motel room.
Buffy slammed the door to her motel room, and leaned against the wall, her chin quivering. "S-stop crying Buffy..." she ordered herself shakily. She was about to doze off when someone came into the room. She jumped up, ready to ward off the offender. "Excuse me, but you can't barge into-" Her voice trailed off when she saw Spike in the small hallway.
"You know, it's not safe to leave your door unlocked. Unwanted people could just 'barge in,' you're lucky that it's only me," he commented with a cheeky grin on his face.
Buffy couldn't help it, her lips stretched out and upward into a smile. "What do you want?" she demanded suspiciously.
"I dunno...I'm sort of hungry..."
..........................................
"Where is this place?" Spike asked as Buffy led him down the busy streets of Charleston.
"Downtown...you don't get out much do you?" Buffy asked with a smile.
Spike shook his head, "And with crowds this big, I might lose you...so I better hold onto your hand...just in case," he said airily. Before Buffy could respond, he grabbed her hand, and gave it a light squeeze, making Buffy blush.
"Oh...this place is good," Buffy announced. She gestured to a street vendor. "Good sandwiches, good soup...good meat..." Before Spike could say anything, she dragged him over to the cart. "Hey Mr. O'Neil...we'll take two of your special salami sandwiches, and two pints of your chicken soup...and two hot honeyed waters..."
"Are you sure that this is sanitary?" Spike asked as he gingerly held up his sandwich, "I mean...is it even edible?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Yes you spoiled brat. It's edible...and it's VERY sanitary," She paused and took a large bite from her sandwich, "This is so good," she commented, "I could eat it every day." Spike made a face as he took a bite. "Well?" Buffy inquired.
Spike chewed for a few moments, "This...is...pretty good," he reluctantly admitted. Buffy grinned, and took a sip from her cup of hot honeyed water.
........................................
"So what else do you petty and lowly people do in Charleston at night?" Spike asked as they walked downtown...hand in hand again.
"Lynch you stupid rich people," she quickly retorted.
Spike winced, "Hey...Liz....is there a bathroom nearby? I don't...feel....so good..."
.............................................
Spike threw his long black trenchcoat at her, and dashed into the men's bathroom. Buffy was in the process of smelling it when he came back out. "What's wrong?" Buffy asked a rather green looking Spike.
"There's a bloody line!"
"A line in the men's bathroom?" Buffy asked incredulously, "Now that's a definite first,"
"Can you go check if there's anyone in the women's?" Spike asked slightly sheepishly.
Buffy grinned, his ego was now non-existent, she came back out, "There's no one in there right now...."
"Thanks a million luv...and can you stand out here and make sure no one goes in?"
Buffy nodded, and gave him a shove into the women's bathroom. Still smiling to herself, Buffy smelled his trenchcoat again, and adjusted it on her arm. Something clattered out of a pocket and onto the ground. She bent over and picked it up. Her eyes widened. The necklace...his...he still had it?
Did this mean that he still loved Buffy? She rubbed it between her fingers, struggling with her want to tell him, she heard someone behind her, and quickly shoved it into one of the pockets. "How come you women have nicer bathrooms than we do?"
.......................................
"Beer always makes me feel better," Spike explained as he bought them a bottle of beer. He handed her one. Buffy took it, and slowly sipped it.
This time, Buffy made sure that her hands were preoccupied...holding Spike's hand just made her ache more. They walked to a park by the river, and sat down on the cold cement, watching the moon reflect onto the glassy surface of the water. There, Buffy got drunk. Buffy grabbed Spike's half full bottle of beer, and chugged it down. "Liz...what are you doing? Give that back!" Spike grabbed his beer back, and held it away from Buffy.
He could only assume that she didn't have a high alcohol tolerance level. She was already drunk after one bottle? "I have a secret to tell you," Buffy said, her speech slurred.
"Oh really?" Spike asked with an eyebrow raised.
Buffy nodded, and sluggishly motioned him closer. "I'm Buffy."
Spike drew away, and gave her a sad smile. "No...you're Liz..."
Buffy shook her head, "No...I'm Buffy. I've missed Spike for so long," she said loudly, "But he thinks I'm Elizabeth Johnson, BUT," Buffy jabbed herself in the chest, "I'm Buffy Summers. You can't tell anyone...okay?" With that Buffy passed out.
Spike sighed. 'It's my soddin' fault anyways,' he thought as he carried her back to the motel. 'I kept telling her that she was Buffy...must've gotten to her head.' When he got to the motel room, he set her down on the bed. He stood there, entranced for a minute, just staring at her petite form on the bed. Her long shiny blonde hair covering most of her face, and before he knew it, he laid down on the bed, facing her. His last conscious thought was, 'Sorry Buffy...I love you Liz...' ..............................
Buffy woke up to something she wouldn't mind seeing every time she woke up. She hesitantly reached out a hand to touch his cheek lightly. She rolled off the bed, and freshened up. She changed her clothes, but did not dare take a shower lest she wake him up. She grabbed her things, and gave him one last look, and left.
Buffy made her way to a familiar neighborhood hauling her suitcase. Her nose was still a bit pink from crying, but she doubted he'd notice. She came up to the door, and knocked on it.
......................................
Angel let out a frustrated roar as he heard someone knock. He was in the middle of working, and he hated being interrupted. "Door's open!!" he yelled, thinking it was his dad, Giles. His dad had a 'addiction' of collecting old and antique books, and his requirement was they be at least a century old. There really was no explanation of why his dad did. The most plausible one so far was that ever since he gave up gambling, he needed a 'new addiction.'
Angel raised an eyebrow as he heard the door open, but no heavy footsteps. He turned his head. There, stood Buffy. He quickly turned back to his work, "What do you want?" he demanded gruffly.
Buffy walked closer to him, "Let's get out of here Angel...please?" Angel dropped his paintbrush. "We used to talk about it all the time...remember? Just you and me, leaving this place? Finding a place worthy of our talents?"
Angel faced her again, "Why aren't you with Spike?" he asked.
Buffy wanted to break down and cry again, but held strong, "It doesn't matter Angel...let's go..."
...............................
Spike woke up to an empty bed, and an empty room. He smiled to himself, and left the room. He went home, showered, ate, and went to work by noon, expecting to see her at work. He never had a chance to check though because he was occupied by a small conference with his mother, Glory and Riley. He and his mother had not talked at all during the meeting unless it was necessary. Riley had shot him questioning looks, but said nothing. After the meeting Glory stayed as Riley returned to the 'body guards' corner, rejoining the others in video games.
Glory slowly set the manila folder on his desk. She was dressed in a 'Dolce & Cabana' dress suit of black, with gold buttons. "I tried calling you." she commented hesitantly. Spike raised an eyebrow as he turned his computer on. "You weren't home, and you weren't answering your cell phone," she continued. Still Spike did not answer. "Where were you?" she finally asked after fidgeting for a bit.
"Out."
Glory's lips and chin began to quiver, and she quickly walked out of the room. Spike tried to suppress his guilty conscience, but after ten minutes it got the better of him. He got up, and motioned Riley to stay as he left the room. He made his way to Glory's cubicle, but ran into her in the hallway. "Glory,"
................Silence.....................
"Come on pet..." Spike urged, "I'll make it up to you..." Glory stopped walking, and looked at him, waiting for him to go on. "So where you headed right now?"
"Lunch."
"How about I escort you?" Spike suggested with a wink.
Glory smiled, and blushed. Obviously pleased. They made their way down to underground parking lot, and walked out of it. They walked downtown, and passed by 'Sheek,' one of the stores bought out by Global Fashions. "Oh! Can we please stop by there for a little bit?"
Spike grinned, and opened the door to the store for her. "Look Spike...they're selling the scarves," Glory commented with a smile as she held one up.
"Yes...the couple's scarf," he replied.
Glory laughed, and picked a white one up. She artfully wrapped it around Spike's neck, and patted it when she was done. "You look-"
"Dashing," Spike cut in. If he closed his eyes, and sniffed, he could almost...just almost smell Liz...
...................................
Angel glanced down at the sleeping girl in the passenger seat. They had basically blown all of their savings to get two tickets for the soonest flight to Florida. Now they were on the freeway, in a nicer rental car than the last time, a Ford Focus. "I'm really happy that you're with me Buffy..." he said softly.
He glanced at Buffy again, and his eyebrows creased with worry. Her face looked more flushed than usual even though it didn't take away from her beauty. Even though his feelings for her went beyond the 'big brother' barrier, he still had the instincts of one, even if he were only her 'step.' He pressed a hand to her forehead, and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
He felt her forehead again, and tried to wake Buffy up. "Buffy...Buffy...wake up Buffy..." Her forehead, and cheeks were incredibly hot, and she was quickly burning up. He tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't.
Then she moved, "Spike..." she murmured.
Angel felt like the little hope he had, be crushed again. So her heart still belonged to him. Despite the fact that he hated leaving her like this, he had to. He grabbed her cell phone, and left the car after locking it. He ran across the free way, and down an exit, and found a pharmacy. He quickly bought some medicine, and as he walked back he searched through her phone book, and found Spike. He pressed it, and held the phone to his ear, listening to the dial tone...
...................................
"Maybe I should buy the scarf," Spike mused out loud as he looked himself in the mirror.
"Maybe you should," Glory giggled.
Spike was about to reply when his cell phone rang. "Hullo?"
"Buffy will be waiting for you at your Florida mansion. Hurry...oh, and make her happy." Then the line went dead.
Spike's eyes widened, and without an explanation he ran out of the store, deaf to Glory's yells.
..............................
Spike looked out the window of his private jet. His body felt tingly all over...he couldn't wait to see her. It was all beginning to make sense... 'she' had been telling the truth. Elizabeth Johnson WAS Buffy Summers. It figured...he fell in love with the same girl... "I'm coming Buff."
((A/N: Ahh...the long awaited installment. Sorry for makin' y'all wait! I really am sorry. Yeah, I probably don't even deserve reviews for makin' y'all wait so long...but it'd make me happy...))