Author's note: (dodges tomatoes) okay, hey everyone and so sorry for leaving this one so long to simmer I am just so worried nowadays for my chapters and that they won't be up to par, because from this point on the chracters are going to be a little off kilter-after all they've had a lot of growth during the course of the fic. Secondly because of that nomination that i sorely wish i was worthy of! so here is the next installment for Katkot81! I too know the hazard of a summer job! keep on trudging.
ChapterXX – Amsterdam: Reactions and Problems
There are times when cell phones can be the most annoying contraptions in the world. Such times are during the climaxes of movies, during sex and when your one true-love and soul mate-that you have fought through hell to reach-That you have searched far and wide for-and risked flying at peak season on COACH-and you love with every cell in your being has just told you that she has agreed to share a lifelong bond with the very last person in this world (or the next) that you would ever want her to leave you for (you would seriously rather she were dead, in hell and in torment than she be with this guy).
It was in this last scenario that Angel's phone played the opening bars to 'Mandy'.
The anticlimactic disturbance was punctuated with a mocking comment from Spike, who seemed to have gained back his cocky attitude at Buffy's revelation.
"You, peaches, have bleeding tragic taste in music."
Angel, growled at him-and wanted to do ever so much more- but he checked the caller ID and knew that he needed to take the call. He had forgotten to inform the Sunnydale group of the happenings in Amsterdam.
He was however stung when Buffy agreed with the peroxided asshole.
"What?" he demanded into the innocent piece of metal.
"Angel?" Giles's electronic voice sounded a little worried.
"I'm in the middle of something, Rupert." Angel snapped.
"Are you?" the eagerness in the watcher's voice was palpable.
"Yes." He bit out between clenched teeth. "A very bad something."
"er, well," the watcher continued sounding slightly crestfallen. "It's appears that we are too. Perhaps you can get to a land line? This may take some time."
Angel glanced up at the two blondes. They were both staring at him questioningly He covered the receiver and addressed them.
"Do you think I could-"
"Telephone?" Buffy asked.
Angel nodded.
Buffy gestured to the phone on Spike's desk. Angel picked up the receiver, and was about to remind them that he was making an international call, but when he glanced towards them, he had to look away.
Spike had pulled Buffy on to his lap and kissed her, tenderly cradling her head in his hands. When he finally pulled away he smiled at her.
"Possessive, insecure bastard." Buffy said with a smile, she pressed her forehead to his. "You already knew all of that stuff."
Spike nodded.
"But hearing you say it-especially to the poof." He said, closed his eyes for a moment. "Words fail me, love."
Buffy laughed softly.
"Good." She said. "You have better uses for that mouth."
And then she kissed him again.
Angel was barely able to smother a growl. He focused on his conversation with the watcher as Giles picked up on the other side. Anything to drown out the words being shared by the two blondes.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Well, to be quite frank-"
"Spit it out, Giles."
"The apocalypse." The watcher said. "It seems this new, er 'villain' that has rolled into Sunnydale has proved herself invulnerable to Faith's attempts to destroy her. We could use all the help we can get. Come back here as soon as you can. And if you find-" there was a long pause. "-Buffy, tell her she's sorely needed," another pregnant pause."and sorely missed."
"I- uhm, I'll see you tomorrow, Giles." He said, he lowered the receiver and then cleared his throat to separate the blondes. "It appears we have a problem."
Buffy arched an eyebrow, she slid off her husbands lap and crossed her arms.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "Like an apocalypse-y problem?"
Angel nodded.
"This is the job for the Slayer, Buffy." He said. "Faith can't fight her, But you're much older than Faith, much more experienced. The world needs you, Buffy."
Buffy took one long unreadble look at him and then turned on her heeland walked out the door.
Spike snorted and shook his head.
"Way to mosey into her good graces, Peaches." He said with a roll of his eyes. He stood and swaggered after his wife. "You'd better let me handle this one."
A lot of things were running through Buffy's mind as she strode away from Angel. She needed to just be a place that was elsewhere. The growing distance between her and the brooder and the reassuring vibes her mate sent her, were helping a great deal. She walked into the kitchen to see Doyle and Kit just where she had left them when she had gone to check on Spike and Angel and make sure they weren't trying to kill each other.
She didn't want Angel blood on her nice carpets not matter how much she wanted to kick his ass up and down Main Street.
Kittie spooned a large helping of Strawberry ice cream into her mouth and gave her mother a look that was as knowing as one could expect from a four year old child.
"Is the big one gone, mum?" she asked in Dutch.
"No," Buffy sighed, pulling the girl into her arms and getting her much needed Kit-cuddle. The little girl sensed this and immediately wrapped her own arms around her mum. Buffy reveled in the comfort her daughter brought her. And smiled her thanks as the little girl pressed as kiss on the slayer's cheek.
"I take it, the big forehead-ed one said something along the lines of going back to California?" Doyle asked, it was more of a statement then a question.
Buffy nodded, Doyle had learned the language long ago. So he was comfortable with the Dutch dynamic.
"Doyle, I don't want to go back to the states." She said miserably. She let go of Kit and threw herself onto a stool. "I don't think he gets that the whole slayer over the hell mouth thing is really not my problem. Really not my thing anymore." She looked at him miserably. "I don't suppose you were sent by the powers to give us another important update?"
Doyle sent her an apologetic smile.
"I'm afraid so, Buff." He said.
"You serious, Doyle?" she asked deflated-ly. "This thing is really meant for Spike and I to come barging in and saving the day?"
Doyle frowned thoughtfully but shook his head.
"Well, I got the vision of the hell and death and blood and stuff if that's what you mean." He offered. "But the powers weren't telling me to come to you in particular. I came to warn you about Angel and to give my goddaughter her much awaited birthday present. Not to go on about the end of the world. I was going to mention it though."
Buffy stood, seeming more relaxed now that she knew that the powers didn't seem to be tapping her specifically.
God she hated the powers. Whenever she saved the day, whenever she was tapped, she just felt so used.
Deciding not to dwell, she walked over to the fridge fixed herself a generous second helping of coffee Ice cream.
"Really?" she asked spooning the creamy confection into a bowl. She decided to steer the topic clear of slayage. She didn't think Kit knew what an apocalypse was and by her questioning looks, Buffy could tell she was listening to their conversation. "I didn't think you brought anything with you."
Doyle shook his head.
"Didn't'." he said. "I was about to board a plane when I ran into Anya and she popped back in to drop off my bags. She even warned me that some hooligans were trying to 'run a while whilst taking your material possessions'."
Buffy laughed.
"So what did you get her?" the slayer asked. "I hope its not one of those play dough things again because those hardened up like a big crusty gross mess."
Kit grinned at her mother. It was an expression that would have even the bravest of men shaking in their shoes.
"Super soaker." The girl said.
Buffy blanched.
"A super soaker?" she exclaimed, mentally thinking of all the trouble her daughter could get into with the glorified water pistol.
"For Kit and that bastard husband of yours."
Buffy glared at him.
"Do you know what kind of trouble Kittie could get into with that thing?" she demanded, and then immediately realized something much, much worse. "Do you know what kind of trouble SPIKE could get into with that thing? Kit's Teacher ALREADY hate me!"
Kit grinned in a stunning imitation of her Dad and then went back to her ice cream which really was more interesting than watching the grown ups fight.
"You're the slayer!"
"Doyle!"
"Slayer?"
Buffy turned to see Spike walk in and she immediately forgot the light hearted argument she had been having with Doyle. Spike tilted his head to one side a clear invitation to join him in the hall. She cast an apologetic look at Doyle and followed her mate out.
Boo. Serious thoughts.
"I don't want to go." She informed him as soon as they had gotten out of the kitchen. She cocked her head and struck a defiant pose. "And you can't make me."
Spike stared at her incredulously. Then decided to change tactics. she obviously didn't want to disscuss this head on.
"Sweetheart, I could make you do anything." He said tucking his tongue behind his teeth and leering at her. She sent him a dirty look and he sobered immediately. He sighed. Didn't seem like she wanted to skirt the issue immediately. "If you don't want to go, pet, we don't have to."
Buffy nodded.
"But you want to." she said looking down.
"Well, yeah." He said honestly. "I like this world." He paused, letting her remember that night years ago when their lives had changed forever. "But more importantly, my girls are in this world and that makes me want to make sure it stays around for a little longer."
"But you know what I hate?" she said throwing up her hands in frustration. "The whole guilt trip. I mean, I'm so sure I missed out on like a whole lot of apocalysises-"
"Apocalypses, pet."
"Apocalypses," she conceeded long since used to Spike's obsessive correcting ofher grammar. "But now I know about this one. And that makes it that much harder. Because now I could theoretically not go but then worry about it. They told me about it and made it my problem and now I have to be homing beacon Buffy and trot back to hell mouth like a good little puppy." She crossed her arms. "Well, I'm not doing it."
Spike looked at her carefully, then he cupped her cheek gently and wiped away the two tears that leaked out of her eyes. She hadn't even realized that she was crying. She had done a lot of crying today, sadness and anger, but this was different, this was absolute dread and frustration, a lot more powerful and lot more subtle than her mere pissed-of-ness at Angel. She had to go back to life that she now hated given what she had.
"Okay, luv." Spike said reassuringly. he just stood there cupping her cheek gently, knowingthat shewould not be comforted any other way."Its your decision. It will all be okay. I promise."
Buffy nodded decisively and re-entered the kitchen to finish her ice cream. Apparently, she and Spike had been in the hallway longer than she realized because standing in the kitchen, next to Doyle was Angel a figure she pointedly ignored. Her eyes fell onto her little girl, kit had just finished her humungous serving of ice cream and had put her plate in the sink. She grinned at her mother and then frowned as she took in the suddenly moist eyes.
"Are you okay, mummy?"
Buffy thought for a moment and then nodded. She picked up Kit and twirled her around.
"Good." the little girl replied. "I was getting worried." the little girl paused for a long moment, studying her mum with eyes identical to her father's. "Are you sure about that?"
Buffy knew she was talking about something else, but she re thought everything she had said earlier.
She couldn't do it. She couldn't cool her heels while she knew there was an apocalypse going on. Not if she could do anything to stop it.
She'd do it for Kittie and her new family.
"No." she said pulling the little girl back into her embrace."But don't worry, sweetie. It'll all be okay."
She caught Spike's eye over her daughter head, and then cocked her head in confusion as he smirked at her.
He winked and then said,
"I've already got the passports."