Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.
A/N: As always reviews are greatly appreciated, a few quotes etc may be used and obviously belong to the very talented people who wrote them - Loverswalk89
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
*Bruises*
'I've been told, I've been told to get you off my mind. But I hope I never lose the bruises that you left behind. Oh my lord, oh my lord, I need you by my side'
Buffy followed the to vampires through the corridors of the monastery. "Are we close?" asked Buffy
"Yeah shouldn't be much further luv" said Spike
Angel opened a door, a bright white light beamed out of it causing them to shield their eyes.
"I'm guessing we go in" said Angel
The other two nodded and followed him inside. Once there the door slammed behind them the light slowly dimmed and revealed a man in light brown robes with white hair.
"Ah I've been expecting you" he smiled "So this is the Slayer"
"One of" Buffy corrected him
He circled around her. She stiffened up ready to act should there be an attack "No I was right you're still the original"
"Maybe..." said Buffy
"And Angelus" he circled around Angel too "Such a ferocious demon in your time"
"I've changed" Angel protested
"I see that" he said tapping Angel's chest to reveal a ball of white light. Angel looked down amazed that he could see his soul.
"And William the Bloody. Such a rare demon" said the monk
"Rare?" Spike asked
"Of course. A vampire who goes through those trials to get his soul back... very rare indeed" the monk smiled
"This is great... the compliments and all but I was sent here for a reason" said Buffy
"Ah yes, the Shanshu Prophecy" he giggled "The Scrolls Of Aberjian that foresaw the coming of a vampire with a soul that would play a pivotal role in the apocalypse. As a reward he would be restored, it's a great prophecy"
"So what happens next?" asked Buffy
"Well as you know the prophecy only spoke of one vampire with a soul not two. So The Powers That Be have bestowed upon you Slayer the choice" he explained
"Great" Buffy rolled her eyes
"They have also bestowed the power to me to enact your wishes" the monk told her
"So you're gunna make one of them human?" She asked
"Yes" he smiled
XXXXX
Dawn paced the kitchen whilst Willow and Xander sat at the table. "What do you think is happening?" asked Dawn
"Dawnie sit down" said Willow softly "I'm sure everything is fine"
Giles stepped into the room closely followed by Andrew "Any news?" Giles asked
"Not yet" said Xander
"Do you think Spike is gunna be a cool human?" asked Andrew
"You think Buffy would choose him?" asked Giles
"She loves him" said Andrew
The room fell silent, each of them knew that Andrew was right.
"She'll chose Angel" said Xander
"Nuh-Uh" Andrew protested
"Guys! It doesn't matter who she chooses" said Willow
"Actually it kinda does" said Dawn
"I'm sure she'll make the right decision" said Giles
XXXXX
"So how does this work?" asked Buffy trying not to catch either vampire's eye.
"An ancient incantation whereby I extract the vampire's demon" the monk told her
"And will they remember anything from their demon life?" asked Buffy
"Yes, everything will be as it was with the exception of a beating heart" said the monk "It's decision time"
Buffy turned to the vampires that now stood in front of her. "I want you both to know that this decision hasn't been easy. I visited two alternate realities where each of you were human"
"Buffy..." Angel started
"Please let get this out, my decision isn't based on who I'm gunna have the perfect life with... because honestly neither life was perfect. My decision is based on what's best" She told them
"Your choice Slayer" the monk prompted her
With tears in her eyes she finally spoke "Angel" she told him her voice barely above a whisper
Angel swept her up in his arms. Buffy immediately looked at Spike who was crushed. He stood there for a moment before taking off.
Buffy broke free from Angel's arms "Spike!" She attempted to follow him.
The monk prevented her from leaving.
XXXXX
Spike stormed out of the monastery walking directly past Faith who dropped her cigarette on the floor and stamped on it before quickly catching up with the vampire
"Hey!" Faith called out "What happened?"
"What do you bloody think?" Spike spat as he carried on walking
"Where are you going?" Asked Faith
"As far away from that bitch as possible" said Spike
Faith slowed down and looked back at the monastery and sighed
XXXXX
Angel sat in a sacred circle whilst the monk chanted in Latin as he moved around the vampire "ut 'non est vivere tantum non moriatur. vos adepto ut vivat usque ad mortem. vampire et cum animus tuus fuerit expletus Fatum et shanshu. Homines fieri. Hoc praemium tuum" the monk chanted
Buffy looked on as white lights surrounded Angel gradually spinning faster around him until a bright white light exploded before her eyes. She shielded her eyes until the light dimmed. The monk had now disappeared leaving Angel laying on the ground.
She quickly went to his side "Angel!" She cried
Angel woke slowly and smiled "I can feel it beating Buffy"
Buffy smiled brightly "That's amazing... can you walk? Are you hurt?"
"No I feel..." he smiled "Alive"
He got to his feet and put a protective arm around Buffy "C'mon let's start our lives together..."
Buffy paused and moved his arm away from her shoulder "Angel I told you, this decision wasn't made based on who I'm going to spend my life with..."
"What?" Angel looked hurt "I thought you wanted this, I thought you wanted us again"
"That's what you wanted" said Buffy "It's different, we're different. I'm not the same girl I once was"
"Buffy... I want my life to be with you" he told her
Buffy took a deep breath with unshed tears in her eyes "I don't"
XXXXX
Buffy helped Angel out of the monastery and passed him over to Faith. "Where is he?" Buffy asked
"He took off a while ago" said Faith
Buffy began to run in an attempt to catch up to Spike.
"Hey big man how does the heartbeat feel?" asked Faith turning her attention to Angel
"I'll let you know when it's not broken" he said sadly
"Ah emotions... gotta love em" she smiled helping him into the car.
XXXXX
Buffy saw a flicker of peroxide blonde hair in the distance she picked up speed in order to catch up with him. She finally got within touching distance and tackled him to the floor
"Bloody hell!" Spike winced
"What the hell Spike!" yelled Buffy
The both got to their feet "Shouldn't you be off shagging Peaches?" He asked
"Oh real mature!" She yelled at him
"What's left to say Slayer? I'm second sodding best again!" He yelled back
"I love you!" She blurted out
Spike looked at her for a moment and laughed before becoming serious again "No you don't" he spat bitterly
"I do! I have for a long time" she told him
"And yet you chose him"
"I chose him to become human because it was the right thing to do! You don't even want to be human! You just wanted it because that's what you thought I wanted!" She cried "You'd be miserable you'd miss this and you'd live to resent me for it"
Spike thought for a moment and he knew she was right. He liked his life as it was, the thrill of the kill, vampire constitution, rapid healing abilities. Angel was a fool to give it all up.
"Why are you here?" He asked "Giving me my last bloody crumb again before you run off with Angel into the sunset?"
"Why are you such a jerk?" she asked
They stood in silence for a moment
"I will always love Angel. But I let him go, I gave him the normal life he deserves" she told him
"You're a real piece of work y'know that Summers" he snapped walking away from her
"What are you talking about?" She asked trailing behind him
"The normal life he deserves? And what the fuck do I deserve?" He asked grabbing her shoulders shaking her slightly "Tell me that Slayer! What do I deserve!"
"Me" she whimpered
He let go of her shoulders and she fell to the ground, he took a deep unneeded breath and looked at her. Her eyes full of tears that spilled down her cheeks. He steadied himself
"This..." he said quietly his voice barely above a whisper "This is why I don't deserve you, all I do is hurt you"
Buffy clambered to her feet "I hurt you too" she reminded him
"And you think that that is gunna make for a great relationship luv?" He asked
"Maybe not but it's different now..." she grabbed his face in her hands "Do you love me?"
He looked into her eyes "I love you, you know I do... but is that enough?" He asked taking her hands from his face.