Disclaimer: If I owned these characters, Angel would not be going off the
air.
Author's notes: 1. Real life, and the presence of other story ideas screaming to be written have distracted me. C.O.S.: Change of scenery
Chapter #19: Buffy and Angel walked into the lobby still holding hands. Lorne was the first to look up from where he stood. As he glanced at the pair he remarked:
"Somebody hand me my sunglasses, the auras just brightened up in here. Did you kids sort something out?" Lorne asked. Buffy, and Angel shared a look of mutual agreement.
"We've decided we're going to make something work." Angel spoke for them both. They reluctantly let go of each other's hands as Angel walked over to where Wes was busily printing information out, while pulling up a map.
"What have you got for me?" Angel asked.
"An address: 560 Sumac boulevard. I'm printing out a map, and it appears to be on the north side, near the border of Hollywood and Beverley Hills." Wesley answered.
"Thanks Wesley." Angel told him, and turned to address the group at large:
"I want everyone ready to move a couple hours after sunset. This is it ladies and gentlemen." Angel said, and then headed to his room. Lorne waited a few moments before following him. Angel turned towards him and said:
"You know if you are going to follow me you need to walk quieter."
"How did you..." Lorne began
"Vamp hearing."
"Ah. So are you going to invite me in?" Lorne asked.
"You need an invitation. Even if I didn't invite you you'd still manage to somehow push your way in." Angel commented dryly as he opened the door and led the way in.
He sat down in one of two chairs beside the table and gestured for Lorne to do the same. The pair was silent as Lorne made himself comfortable, he surveyed the room around him. Dark colours mostly, with black walls, and forest green curtains pulled tight to guard against the sunlight. The suite was minimally furnished the table where they were sitting sat in the corner away from the window. The crib sat opposite to the bed, its occupant long asleep.
"You know Cordy would call this..." Lorne broke the silence
"Way depressing, yeah she's told me. She's also told me that the room needs personality, cheering up." Angel finished. The conversation fizzled out as the pair sat again in silence. The silence stretched a little longer this time.
"So why are you here Lorne?" Angel asked.
"Here in the broader sense, or here as in sitting in this chair now, in your suite." Lorne replied sarcastically.
"You know..." Angel said.
"You're always a man of few words Angel. At one time I thought I liked that about you. But now, I'm not so sure." Lorne returned, still not answering the question. There was silence again.
"Are you here because of Buffy and I?" Angel asked confused.
"Wow he's smarter than everyone gives him credit for." Lorne answered sarcastically, then the pair lapsed into silence yet again. Angel looked awkwardly down at the ground.
"Stoic silence. I expected as much. Very well then, since beyond the obvious you haven't figured it out I'm going to tell you. The happiness in her aura earlier was so bright that it blotted out any possible reading I could get from you. It enveloped you both so much. Then you moved away from her, and I caught one thing from you: uncertainty. Want to tell me why?" Lorne asked, his voice fading into silence. Angel still stared at the floor, this time wishing it would swallow him whole. And still he didn't answer.
"I have one word for you Angel: Mandy. If you don't give me a straight answer now, I'll make you sing it later, in front of her." Lorne threatened.
"I'm afraid." Angel admitted quietly, fearing Lorne's response. 'Spike would never let me forget that remark.' Angel thought to himself.
"That's okay to be afraid Angel, it's perfectly normal. This type of love is something you've never had before, so it's okay to be afraid. Just trust it, trust your love, and her. You're soul mates Angel, and that type of thing is very rare." Lorne reassured him.
"Thanks Lorne. Now, I have to make sure things are ready." Angel said, dismissing him. Lorne rose and left leaving the champion to prepare for battle.
C.O.S: Holtz's mansion
Holtz leaned against the fireplace as he stared into a blazing fire. He had lost track time hours ago. All that mattered to him now were the memories of what he had, and the thoughts of the man that took it all away. He could see their faces in his minds eye, the blonde ringlets that framed his younger daughter's face, and the looks of love on his older daughter, and wife's face. ' Soon your deaths shall be avenged and we will be reunited.' Holtz told the faces, as he considered his plans carefully. Angelus' torments were going quite well, he truly has no clue what is about to happen- that it's all going to end soon, and by that pretty little slayer's hand too.' He felt eyes on his back:
"Yes?" Holtz expectantly without turning around.
"The traps are set sir, I believe the time has come to make our retreat." The minion advised standing still awaiting a response.
"No, the time has not yet come. We will not retreat until they are outside the house." Holtz answered forcefully. Silence filled the air.
"Is that all?" Holtz asked.
"My spies outside the hotel told me they are preparing to move out." The minion told him, and withdrew.
Holtz slowly turned around and made his way across the room to an oak table with a crystal decanter half-full of brandy. He poured himself a half glass, picked up the rest of the decanter and made his way to a comfortable straight-backed chair in front of the fire. Putting down his burdens, he sunk into the chair. He picked up his glass and swirled it a little before taking a sip. As he took a second sip Holtz gazed into the fire: I'll be with you soon, my loves." He whispered to the flames.
C.O.S.: The hotel: "Alright, here's the plan: Zander: you, and Dawn go to the cemetery and look for where we think Holtz might be. I want Wesley, Spike, Buffy, Gunn, Fred and Cordelia surrounding the house. I'll go in alone." Angel instructed his team.
"But Angel..." Buffy began, but was cut off with a look.
"Don't make it any harder for me than it already is." Angel answered, pausing before continuing:
"Now, let's move out." Angel instructed leading the way towards the van. The team all piled silently into the van. Everybody stayed silent as they drove. Angel and Buffy were in the front seat. Angel was quiet, just as Buffy was.
Buffy kept glancing in Angel's direction expecting him to say something, but he never did. At one point she placed her hand on his arm and they shared a look of love and understanding. Buffy let out a sigh then; everything was going to be alright with them, they would work something out based on mutual trust, and the love the had for each other that was never going away. She also allowed herself a small smile at the marvelous fact that even after all this time apart they could still communicate with a look.
Well that's the end of another chapter.
Review and let me know what you think.
Peace Out, and happy reading
-AB
Author's notes: 1. Real life, and the presence of other story ideas screaming to be written have distracted me. C.O.S.: Change of scenery
Chapter #19: Buffy and Angel walked into the lobby still holding hands. Lorne was the first to look up from where he stood. As he glanced at the pair he remarked:
"Somebody hand me my sunglasses, the auras just brightened up in here. Did you kids sort something out?" Lorne asked. Buffy, and Angel shared a look of mutual agreement.
"We've decided we're going to make something work." Angel spoke for them both. They reluctantly let go of each other's hands as Angel walked over to where Wes was busily printing information out, while pulling up a map.
"What have you got for me?" Angel asked.
"An address: 560 Sumac boulevard. I'm printing out a map, and it appears to be on the north side, near the border of Hollywood and Beverley Hills." Wesley answered.
"Thanks Wesley." Angel told him, and turned to address the group at large:
"I want everyone ready to move a couple hours after sunset. This is it ladies and gentlemen." Angel said, and then headed to his room. Lorne waited a few moments before following him. Angel turned towards him and said:
"You know if you are going to follow me you need to walk quieter."
"How did you..." Lorne began
"Vamp hearing."
"Ah. So are you going to invite me in?" Lorne asked.
"You need an invitation. Even if I didn't invite you you'd still manage to somehow push your way in." Angel commented dryly as he opened the door and led the way in.
He sat down in one of two chairs beside the table and gestured for Lorne to do the same. The pair was silent as Lorne made himself comfortable, he surveyed the room around him. Dark colours mostly, with black walls, and forest green curtains pulled tight to guard against the sunlight. The suite was minimally furnished the table where they were sitting sat in the corner away from the window. The crib sat opposite to the bed, its occupant long asleep.
"You know Cordy would call this..." Lorne broke the silence
"Way depressing, yeah she's told me. She's also told me that the room needs personality, cheering up." Angel finished. The conversation fizzled out as the pair sat again in silence. The silence stretched a little longer this time.
"So why are you here Lorne?" Angel asked.
"Here in the broader sense, or here as in sitting in this chair now, in your suite." Lorne replied sarcastically.
"You know..." Angel said.
"You're always a man of few words Angel. At one time I thought I liked that about you. But now, I'm not so sure." Lorne returned, still not answering the question. There was silence again.
"Are you here because of Buffy and I?" Angel asked confused.
"Wow he's smarter than everyone gives him credit for." Lorne answered sarcastically, then the pair lapsed into silence yet again. Angel looked awkwardly down at the ground.
"Stoic silence. I expected as much. Very well then, since beyond the obvious you haven't figured it out I'm going to tell you. The happiness in her aura earlier was so bright that it blotted out any possible reading I could get from you. It enveloped you both so much. Then you moved away from her, and I caught one thing from you: uncertainty. Want to tell me why?" Lorne asked, his voice fading into silence. Angel still stared at the floor, this time wishing it would swallow him whole. And still he didn't answer.
"I have one word for you Angel: Mandy. If you don't give me a straight answer now, I'll make you sing it later, in front of her." Lorne threatened.
"I'm afraid." Angel admitted quietly, fearing Lorne's response. 'Spike would never let me forget that remark.' Angel thought to himself.
"That's okay to be afraid Angel, it's perfectly normal. This type of love is something you've never had before, so it's okay to be afraid. Just trust it, trust your love, and her. You're soul mates Angel, and that type of thing is very rare." Lorne reassured him.
"Thanks Lorne. Now, I have to make sure things are ready." Angel said, dismissing him. Lorne rose and left leaving the champion to prepare for battle.
C.O.S: Holtz's mansion
Holtz leaned against the fireplace as he stared into a blazing fire. He had lost track time hours ago. All that mattered to him now were the memories of what he had, and the thoughts of the man that took it all away. He could see their faces in his minds eye, the blonde ringlets that framed his younger daughter's face, and the looks of love on his older daughter, and wife's face. ' Soon your deaths shall be avenged and we will be reunited.' Holtz told the faces, as he considered his plans carefully. Angelus' torments were going quite well, he truly has no clue what is about to happen- that it's all going to end soon, and by that pretty little slayer's hand too.' He felt eyes on his back:
"Yes?" Holtz expectantly without turning around.
"The traps are set sir, I believe the time has come to make our retreat." The minion advised standing still awaiting a response.
"No, the time has not yet come. We will not retreat until they are outside the house." Holtz answered forcefully. Silence filled the air.
"Is that all?" Holtz asked.
"My spies outside the hotel told me they are preparing to move out." The minion told him, and withdrew.
Holtz slowly turned around and made his way across the room to an oak table with a crystal decanter half-full of brandy. He poured himself a half glass, picked up the rest of the decanter and made his way to a comfortable straight-backed chair in front of the fire. Putting down his burdens, he sunk into the chair. He picked up his glass and swirled it a little before taking a sip. As he took a second sip Holtz gazed into the fire: I'll be with you soon, my loves." He whispered to the flames.
C.O.S.: The hotel: "Alright, here's the plan: Zander: you, and Dawn go to the cemetery and look for where we think Holtz might be. I want Wesley, Spike, Buffy, Gunn, Fred and Cordelia surrounding the house. I'll go in alone." Angel instructed his team.
"But Angel..." Buffy began, but was cut off with a look.
"Don't make it any harder for me than it already is." Angel answered, pausing before continuing:
"Now, let's move out." Angel instructed leading the way towards the van. The team all piled silently into the van. Everybody stayed silent as they drove. Angel and Buffy were in the front seat. Angel was quiet, just as Buffy was.
Buffy kept glancing in Angel's direction expecting him to say something, but he never did. At one point she placed her hand on his arm and they shared a look of love and understanding. Buffy let out a sigh then; everything was going to be alright with them, they would work something out based on mutual trust, and the love the had for each other that was never going away. She also allowed herself a small smile at the marvelous fact that even after all this time apart they could still communicate with a look.
Well that's the end of another chapter.
Review and let me know what you think.
Peace Out, and happy reading
-AB