A/N: Alright, I've been gone on vacation and trying to catch up with my schoolwork so I'm really sorry about the NON updates. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things though. Please forgive me!
Thanks to
LoveMeFred, Emba, zayra, Damia
Song is by Jem, Flying High
Chapter 11: Secrets Revealed
Buffy scooched back on the small, luxurious sofa and away from Draco. He raised an eyebrow curiously, almost challengingly.
"Something wrong, princess?"
The small blonde nodded. "Yeah. I just met you, Draco. And I mean, you seem like a really nice guy but you also seem like a secret-y bad guy. I've done bad guys before and it never turns out good. They always end up biting me or trying to kill my friends and family or killing their fish."
"Their fish?"
"Uh-huh. And I mean, hey, I just met you. You have secrets, I have secrets. Secrets I'm not ready for you to know."
"How will I know when you're ready?" He asked gently.
"Because you'll be ready to tell me yours."
And that, was the end of that conversation. Draco did not make another move on Buffy with the exception of shameless flirting that neither could ignore. In fact, they seemed to get along quite well. Draco didn't know why he was being so kind and... sweet. Malfoy's weren't sweet, especially THIS Malfoy in particular.
Something about this girl made him feel different and he couldn't explain it. By the time he checked the grandfather clock that sat in the corner of the opposite side of the room, Draco realized it was midnight already.
"We should probably get some rest. I have a large agenda planned for tomorrow." He said while standing, black robes once more swishing as he offered Buffy a hand.
She took it and was pulled to her feet with a perplexed face. "Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?"
"Why, love, I get to give you the grand tour of the Malfoy Manor and I have a surprise in the gardens."
Buffy narrowed her eyes but did not question him any further. He led her to a gigantic suite with a queen sized bed that was layered with pure white silk and satin. It had four posters that held up a large canopy and pillows scattered across the sheets.
Draco led Buffy to a small- okay, definatley really really big- wardrobe and told her that there were nightdresses that should fit her in there.
"Will you be okay in here?" He asked, his left hand resting on her shoulder.
She smirked. "Why? Care to share my bed?" She winced and mentally slapped herself. "I didn't mean it like that I-"
He cut her off with a wink and equally persuasive smirk. "Sure you didn't." He kissed her cheek. "Sleep tight and dream of me."
"Of course."
The Next Morning
"Mistress Buffy? Mistress Buffy, Lollie is very sorry to awaken you, but Master Malfoy insists you wake up and meet him in the dining hall for a breakfast, Miss."
Buffy opened one eye to look at Lollie and then blinked, rubbing sleep away. She sat up and let the silken sheets fall to her waist. She yawned and stretched like a cat. "Thank you, Lolli. I'll be down in a few minutes."
The houself rushed off in such a hurry that Buffy wasn't even sure she had heard her. Standing up, Buffy went in search of an outfit and found numerous cloth items in the wardrobe that were definatley not there before. After she took a quick shower she changed into a knee-length flowy white skirt with small imbedded holed designs and a pale blue tank top. She decided it would be quicker just to let her hair dry on it's own instead of playing with it.
When she was finished, Buffy made her way down the long corridors that led to the stairway. She had made herself memorize the stairway to her room last night before bed.
'Step five, step four, step three, step two, step one-'
"You're late. What took you so bloody long?"
Buffy looked up from her train of thought. "Huh? Oh. I'm a girl, duh." She said it like it was the most obvious thing on this earth and then sighed. "You're lucky I was done. I counted a whole 57 steps."
Draco chuckled. "Too bad you can't apparate, isn't it? And there are 58."
"Damn you."
"Are you hungry?"
Buffy shrugged her small shoulders. "A bit. Why?"
"Can it wait for, oh... say half an hour?"
She scrunched up her nose. "Maybe. Why?"
He held out his hand to her once more. "Follow me." It was beginning to become a daily habit.
You can't know, oh no, you can't know
How much I think about you, no
It's making my head spin
Looking at you, and you are looking at me
And we both know what we want
So close to giving in
Draco led Buffy out two french veranda doors and onto a small stone pathway that had just enough room for the two of them walking side by side, hand in hand.
"Where are you taking me? My doom?"
"You'll see soon enough. I promise."
"Don't make a promise you can't keep."
"Why not?"
"I don't like liars."
The breeze was calm, but cool. Small bushes that held wildflowers and colourful petals surrounded them on both sides as they walked. Buffy listened to the soothing sound of the birds chirping and the faint scent of roses.
Feel so nice, oh yeah you feel so nice
Wish I could spend the night,
But I can't pay the price
Oh no, no
"Are ya gonna tell me now?" She asked impatiently.
Draco shook his head with a knowing smile. "No, but we're almost there."
"Promise?"
"I swear to it."
Suddenly, Draco pulled Buffy to a halt and put a hand over her eyes. She struggled and laughed at the same time. "Hey! What're you doing?"
Her laugh made him smile, a smile he hadn't realized he still had. "Just trust me. No peeking."
Buffy nodded. "Fine, no peeking. Not that could if I wanted to!"
But I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel you're high
Rocking me inside, it's too much to hide
They walked a few more paces and Buffy heard bushes or trees behind rustled and the sound of running water. It sounded like a- the hand fell from her face and down to the side of it's owner.
Buffy stood in awe at the beautiful scene before her.
Trees of all kinds scattered across the landscape and a tall, cascading waterfall of crystal blue water was set in the middle. Flowers were surrounding the two everywhere the turned and the sky was starting to dim a bit.
There was a small white blanket laid out on the lush green grass just in front of the waterfall and Draco took a seat on it. He patted the spot beside him but Buffy took no notice.
I know, oh yes, I know that we can't
Be together, but I, I just like to dream
It's so strange the way our paths have crossed
How we were brought together
It's written in the stars it seems
She climbed in front of him and sat in between his wide-spread legs and leaned her head back against his shoulder. "This is so.. incredible. I never knew such a thing existed."
"Glad you like it. Just one perk of the Malfoy properties. But 'tis my favorite, I must say."
Buffy relished in the gentle heat and the soft spraying mist that waved over the pair. She put her hands behind her so that they entertwined with Draco's.
"Remember all that stuff I said last night? About waiting?"
Draco nodded and swallowed a lump that had suddenly appeared in his now dry throat.
Feel so nice, oh yeah you feel so nice
I'd love to spend the night
But I can't pay the price,
Oh no, no
"Well I'm thinking about taking it all back." She manuvoured her body so that she was partially facing him.
Draco quirked a questioning eyebrow. "What about our secrets?"
"Not all secrets are good ones. Not all secrets are ones that the other needs to know... right?"
"No secrets are good secrets. All have bad outcomes. Buffy, listen to me. I know I've known you for less than a week and I feel like I've known you longer than I've known my own father."
A frown etched Buffy's lips. "I know what you mean. Okay Draco, first of all, I've been in three real relationships and I don't even know if Parker counts. They all turned out bad. Angel and I were in love. We really were. It was a love that I don't think I could ever experience again. But then we made love and he turned Angelus- evil and he killed... because of me. I had to kill him, Draco. I had to kill the one I loved. And I finally got him back but things just weren't the same. Is it ever? He left me. Left town."
Buffy let this all sink in for Draco. He pondered. "Angelus? As in the vampire? Scourge of Europe?"
She nodded. "Yeah. My second was Parker. I mean, I thought he was a nice guy. He was normal and all- that's what I wanted. Normal. Pfft- is there such a thing? Anyway, he was a jerk. That's when I met Riley. Perfect Iowa boy. Normal, sweet, cute... not normal. He worked this Initiative, government organization that hunted demons. He knew I didn't love him so he left. The country."
Draco sighed. "I think you've been through much worse than I."
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel you're high
Touching me inside, and it's too much to hide
The flaxen haired wizard looked up into Buffy's hazel eyes with sorrow. "My father was a Death Eater, someone who works for the Dark Lord, kills innocents for pleasure, basically, the dark side. I was raised to be the proper, aristocratic gentleman I am now. I would be beaten when I did wrong and was not praised when I did right. I was to do what he said, when he said it, act just like him. And I did. Until my seventh year in school. He was captured as a Death Eater and put in Azkaban, the prison here in Wizarding world. Dreadful place, really. I never really committed to a woman, or girl, before. I slept around with every girl in school. They nicknamed me the Slytherin Sex God." He smirked. "Which wasn't a lie."
"But you're not evil right?"
Draco shook his head. "Far from it, but I just can't get others to believe me. Once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy they say."
"Well that is true logically- for male at least. But I get what you mean. And I, by the way, don't think you're like that. People can change, I know I did."
Back to earth, where did you take me to?
I know there's no such thing
This painless love, well it'll catch us up
"Any more secrets, princess?"
Buffy bit her bottom lip. "Just one that I can think of."
"Oh yeah, what's that?"
"I'm the Slayer."
Draco knitted his eyebrows together. Slayer.. slayer... Oh! Oh... "As in THE Slayer?"
Buffy nodded and gave him her prize-winning puppy look. "Yeah. Well I mean, there are two of us now but I was the original."
"Wait- there can't be two. It's impossible. When one Slayer -"
"-dies another is chosen, yada yada yada. So I died! Big deal!"
Buffy could've sworn that those grey eyes of his almost popped out of the sockets. "You've died!"
She nodded. "Twice now, I believe. Unless this isn't considered dying... which I mean, I must've since I'm in Heaven with an angel."
Draco smirked. "That is the corniest line I've heard. Not even I have said THAT one yet."
Buffy giggled. "Sure you haven't, Draco."
And we can never win
But oh, I feel so alive
Oh, just wanna hold you
Hold you so tight
They never knew silence could be so loud. And then it happened. His lips brushed hers in a small, chaste kiss, but it was still a kiss. They both kept their eyes closed longer than necessary after pulling away and smiled.
Draco was the first to open his eyes. "May I do that again, princess?"
Buffy nodded. "Help yourself."
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
And I can feel you're high
Touching me inside, and it's too much to hide
He did just that. Draco leaned forward once more and captured her soft, pink lips with his own. It was gentle, yet passionate, and slightly rough all at the same time. This was different from kissing Angel or Riley, this was a kiss felt all things needed to make her temperature rise a few notches.
Together they sat there, snuggling in front of the waterfall on that little white blanket, kissing like there was no tomorrow.
And who knows? With this world, there just might not be.
And I'm flying so high
High off the ground
When you're around
No cliffies! Happy! Hehe.. I was gonna wait longer for the kiss- but I couldn't resist.
