The Nearness Of You
By the way a book I highly recommend is Vicious Bliss: Fallen by Claudia D. Christian. It is absolutely fabulous! Claudia also writes FanFic that is really good and she is just the nicest lady.
All right, as requested I have turned Xander into less of a raging ass, now he is just a butt head.
Thank you, to the fabulous people that review; Hellmouth2, gypsy-jin, Brittany, Angeloholic, Charmed-angel4, Stephanie04321, Amandamanda3, pixiecorn, Spuffygrl. You all have made my day!
By the way Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Or slaughtering of an entire indigenous people day! Depending on your viewpoint… Mmmm people… (I'm sick, I know)
Please keep reviewing, even though I am unworthy. I luv you all!
-----You Don't Know Me-----
"I'm fine," Cordelia practically growled at Angel. He was such an insensitive asshole!
"What's wrong?" Angel asked again for what seemed like the millionth time.
He had asked Cordelia to watch Connor while he patrolled with Faith. She accepted, but acted surprisingly cold to him. In fact she was rather un-Cordelia-like, because he could barely get one-worded answers out of her.
"Nothing," she snapped at him, completely frustrated at his denseness. How could he be so stupid to miss how in-love with him she was? Buffy was ruining everything, again.
"Please talk with me? I don't know why you are upset, but it won't get better if you don't talk about it," Angel pleaded. Angel had a feeling that Cordelia was jealous of Buffy, but he was determined to convince her there was nothing to be jealous of.
"You want to know why I'm upset, stupid?" Cordelia yelled, "because I'm in love with you and I thought you were in love with me! But then Buffy crashes back into town and you are licking her boots. That is why I am upset," the beautiful brunette punched him square in the jaw and began to walk away.
"I'm sorry," Angel said grabbing Cordelia's hand to halt her. "You're right, ever since Buffy has come back I've been following her around trying to rekindle our relationship. But I talked with her and I will always love her, but we have both moved on. I love you, even though I don't deserve you."
"Don't think that gets you off the hook completely with me, mister. I'm expecting dinner and presents as well," Cordelia said before giving Angel a brief and chaste kiss.
"I am sure I can arrange that," Angel said sighing in relief. He definitely wouldn't mind making up with Cordy as long as he didn't lose her.
o8o8o8o
Darmian sat alone in a dark corner at the seedy bar. Emma was safe and happy. Spike was a good father Darmian admitted begrudgingly to himself as he downed another shot of Jack Daniels. So what now? Emma was his whole world and now she didn't need him.
"She still needs you," the distinctly feminine voice purred in his ear like a sensual lover. 'The Powers' could be real assholes; they chose to speak to him in a seductive voice this time. Darmian was determined not to listen to their lies.
"Fuck off," Darmian grumbled into the nothingness that surrounded him. Other people in the bar gave him funny looks.
"She still needs you," the sultry voice repeated.
"Emma has her father, what could she possible need me for? She is surrounded by people who love her. I love her too, but what reason do I have to stay? Are you just never going to let me die? Already lived longer then I wanted to," Darmian argued with the voice.
"They cannot protect her. Only you can," the voice assured him.
"What do I have to do," it was not a question; Darmian was bending to the will of 'The Powers', again.
"Protect her," the voice said cryptically.
Darmian smacked his head onto the table in front of him. "I think I knew that part," he said in frustration, "What do I protect her from?"
Darmian did not receive any answer, the voice was gone and now the occupants of the barroom were looking at him like he was insane talking to himself. They had clearly not heard 'The Powers That Be' (very annoying).
o8o8o8o
"You felt it," Willow said eagerly.
"It's no big deal," Tara said putting a nightgown on.
"It is a big deal, honey," Willow assured Tara.
"N-no you would have figured it out," Tara said softly. Willow cupped Tara's face between her hands and gave Tara a warm kiss.
"I hugged Emma and I got nothing. You didn't touch her and you were able to feel it. You are so amazing," Willow praised her girlfriend for being in tune with the little Summers girl.
The two women climbed into bed and fell asleep holding each other.
o8o8o8o
"Fuck," Faith yelled out in exasperation. She and Angel were supposed to patrol tonight, but Cordy threw a tantrum. Meaning Faith would have to patrol alone.
"Hey there gorgeous," Xander ran up to her.
"Hey yourself. Angel con you into patrol?" Faith asked looking around the dead cemetery for any movement.
"Sorta, he said you were alone tonight. So I ran over to keep you company," Xander said grinning boldly.
"Anya kick you out?" Faith asked with a humorless laugh.
"You got it. Forgot to pick up milk on my way home. I'm locked out until I get some. So I'm going to dawdle with you, if you don't mind," Xander offered.
"Nah, I need the company. Angel ditched me for queen bitch," Faith grumbled.
"Yeah, but she has her good moments too," Xander said patting Faith's arm.
"You still in love with Buffy?" Faith inquired.
"No," Xander denied.
"Was she a better slayer than me?" Faith asked quietly.
"Buffy was and still is a great slayer. You are too, you just do things different from her," Xander said eyes darkening.
"Like the boinking vampires thing," Faith laughed out.
"Not her finest moments," Xander replied.
"Xand-man, the kid was right. Let her go," Faith said walking past him.
"I was there first," He said indignantly.
"No you weren't. Angel got to her first and later Spike," Faith said flippantly. "You were never on her line up."
"So I should just stop caring about her?" Xander grimaced.
"Just be her friend, dumb ass," Faith assured him.
o8o8o8o
"We should charge," Anya declared. Pushing chairs back to their places. She and Giles were left to reorganize the Magic Box after everyone went home.
"I'm sorry what?" Giles asked picking up a few discarded books. He was completely oblivious to what Anyanka complaining about this time, not that he cared to listen to the former vengeance demon.
"Every time there is a meeting, it disrupts our money making. If we make them pay to rent this place out there would still be money coming in," Anya explained in a chipper voice as if that were the only obvious answer.
"Y-yes I see what you are saying Anya. But I fail to see the point in charging ourselves to use a space we already own," Giles sighed cleaning his glasses.
"I just want more money," Anya reaffirmed.
"Why are you here?" Giles asked after a moment of silence. "You missed the earlier meeting."
"I'm getting paid to clean and besides I prefer to just get the basics on these meetings. They are boring and go on forever with you people and your feelings," Anya said glaring at the glass display case that had smudge marks on it.
"What about Xander, weren't you two doing something tonight?" the exhausted man asked hoping she would just leave him alone.
"Not until he begs forgiveness. Not only does he ditch me for his friends, but also then he doesn't remember to buy milk. And he is the one who drank the last of it," Anya exclaimed, stomping her foot to emphasize her point.
"How unforgivable," Giles said sarcastically.
"Damn strait," Anya agreed clearly missing what Giles had said.
"Anya not everyone is as capitalistic as you. Especially Xander, he is a laid back fellow who has a good heart. When his mouth doesn't get in the way," Giles responded.
"So you are saying I should have sex?" Anya asked wide-eyed.
"W-what! N-no I never said anything like-" Giles sputtered in shock.
"Thanks Rupert," Anya said before prancing out of the store.
"I think I'm getting too old," Giles said to the empty store.
"Surely you don't believe that Rupert," the familiar voice said from behind him.
