Renewal and Restoration
Author: buffy1
Email: buffy1(underscore)fanfic via Yahoo Uk
Spoilers: All of Buffy and Angel including season 5, to be safe.
Rating: PG (slightly graphic in parts)
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them. When I'm done they'll be better than new!
Distribution: You're welcome to it; just tell me where it's going first.
Summary: Set two years after 'Chosen' and the year after 'Not Fade Away'. Angel is back to running Wolfram and Hart with the rest of AI when they receive devastating news.
Pairings: A/Nina to start with, B/A, B/S friendship, W/F
Author's note: This is my take on what happens next. In this version Fred was saved and she doesn't stay as Illyria. Also Wesley and Gunn didn't die! I don't know Nina that well so just bear with me. To those who reviewed: sorry if the beginnings are a bit graphic. I'm not trying to scare anyone. They won't all be that way. There might be one or two more and that's it. I just feel it will help you understand the emotions in later chapters. The song is "Even in Death" by Evanescence.
A/N 2: This chapter is not for Nina fans! Nina fans see A/N 3 at end of chapter.
Chapter four
She had fled. The survivors hunted down until only she was left. She ran. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, even as her lungs burned for air. She wouldn't stop, not until she was safe. The others were gone, she was alone. She could hear her captors chasing her. They weren't far behind. She had to go faster. Faster and faster the trees blurred so she could no longer see where she was, or where she was going. She could hear them, firing their guns in hope to slow her down. She ran and ran until a deep stinging sensation burned in her leg. She fell, her momentum knocking her off her feet and into the deep ditch she had been trying to avoid. In her leg was a dagger. Probably poisoned. Her captors made their way into the ditch. Upon reaching her one of them gripped the dagger, twisted it, and yanked it out painfully. She woke up screaming.
"How can Buffy still be alive? They found her body! Well yes it went missing, but that doesn't prove anything. Demons have a tendency to lie! You can't go around believing in things just because you wish they were true," Wesley argued.
Give me a reason to believe that you're gone
I see your shadow so I know they're all wrong
Moonlight on the soft brown earth
It leads me to where you lay
They took you away from me but now I'm taking you home
"She's alive, Wes, I know it. I would have felt her," Angel replied.
"Angel, I know you think you and Buffy share some kind of connection, but you have to forget this... idiocy and move on," Wesley suggested. Angel shook his head no,
I will stay forever here with you
My love
The softly spoken words you gave me
Even in death our love goes on
"I can't Wes. Not as long as I know she's out there. I have to go and find her," Angel explained, but Wesley had had enough,
"Angel! Just stop it, all right? Buffy's death has affected us all, but you don't see us acting this way! Move on. Buffy's dead."
Some say I'm crazy for my love, Oh my love
But no bonds can hold me from your side, Oh my love
They don't know you can't leave me
They don't hear you singing to me
'No, she isn't,' Angel thought, 'I know she's alive, I just know it'.
And I can't love you, anymore than I do
I will die, but real love is forever.
Several people looked up as a pretty blonde woman strolled through the door. She smiled politely and waved at a few of them. They looked at her strangely and waved uncertainly. She walked in perkily, her shoulder-length blonde hair hung free around her shoulders.
"Hey Nina," Fred greeted when Nina approached her. Nina smiled at her politely and moved on. When she reached Angel's office she knocked on the large door. After hearing the invitation, she entered the office.
"Hey honey! Watcha doin'?" She asked, skipping up to the desk. The way she was dressed and they way she acted reminded Angel of a schoolgirl. Nina wore a short pink pleated skirt, tiny white blouse, a pair of white knee-high socks and black high-heeled shoes.
"Working. You know what? I'm glad you're here," Angel said.
"Really?" she asked grinning. Angel nodded,
"Yeah."
"Well you must be feeling awfully tired...why don't you let me help you with that?" Nina said, trying to sound seductive and failing miserably, while climbing into his lap. Angel started to laugh, but disguised it as a cough,
"Nina, would you please sit down for a moment? Over there," he asked gesturing to the seat across from his desk, when she moved to sit in his lap again. Nina shrugged and hopped over to the seat.
"I don't think we should see each other anymore." Nina went bug-eyed.
"WHAT?? WHY??" Nina screeched. She had told her family all about the guy she was going to marry.
"It's not working out," Angel answered calmly.
"YES IT IS!" she argued, still screaming at the top of her lungs, "YOU CAN'T BREAK UP WITH ME!"
"I just did," Angel pointed out, "We can still be friends, but I can't see you anymore. I don't have feelings for you."
"IT'S THAT GIRL ISN'T IT? THAT LITTLE ROMAN GIRL YOU USED TO GO OUT WITH!!"
"It's more than that. She's my soulmate, and she's the one I need." Nina opened her mouth to speak.
"Goodbye Nina. This can end on good terms or just end badly. But either way, it ends now. I would prefer it was on good terms," Angel said. Nina slumped in defeat,
"All right." She trudged out of the office and closed the door. Moments later Angel heard wailing sounds and a crash. Angel looked up from his paperwork momentarily but then disregarded it thinking it was another demon client. Then he smiled, 'Free at last'.
"I take it you broke it off with dog girl then," Spike said strolling through the office door. Angel looked up at him,
"What makes you say that?" Angel asked. Spike plopped himself down in a chair opposite Angel desk and lit a cigarette,
"Well it's obvious. I'm very perceptive. I've always been able to pick up on what's just happened and how people are feeling," Angel looked at Spike with a sceptical look on his face, "Plus you've got dog girl throwing tantrums outside screaming about what an idiot you are. Hmm...she's right you know?" Spike added, taking a drag on his cigarette. Angel threw Spike a scathing look.
"Fine. Yes I broke up with Nina. I've been meaning to for a while,"
"Right, mate. Especially since you found out Buffy was alive and free."
"Get out Spike," Angel said.
"What? Why?" Spike protested.
"Just go!"
"All right All right! Bloody hell peaches, don't get your knickers in a twist!" Spike said walking out the door. 'When will this day end?' Angel thought to himself. Suddenly a loud knock came from the door,
"What now?"
"Angel?" Wesley asked, opening the door and walking inside the office.
"What is it Wes?"
"We just received reports from our offices in South America. Demon populations are being slaughtered all over the continent. Not one demon has survived."
To be continued...
Thank you to the following for their reviews:
Out-of-Reality
Queen Boadicea – the speech was iffy to me too. But hey, they're grieving.
Lynne
Captain Sporty
The Highlander
jessygrl
Queen-Nikki-luvs-Angel
A/N 3: I realise that I bashed Nina a lot in this chapter. If anyone out there likes Nina don't be offended and I'm going to write a more impartial break up scene between Nina and Angel and put it on my site. I'll let you know when I put it up.