Life Changes

Nearly three years had passed since Buffy had arrive in London. She and William had seen neither hide nor hair of Angelus or Darla and they were glad for it. They had also grown closer in their personal relationship. Buffy got the feeling that there was a big change coming.

"William, are you feeling alright? You've been really quiet all morning," she commented as they sat in the parlor.

"Fine. I apologize if I have seemed distant. I have been contemplating something very important."

"Oh? Like what?" Buffy asked.

William cleared his throat and looked at his hands for a moment or two. He wasn't entirely certain how to proceed. Much like when their relationship began, he was not very well versed in such matters.

"I know...your family is not here with us...and nor is my mother." He paused to keep from crying. "However, I would be very honored if you would be my wife."

Buffy blinked. Had she heard him right? Had he really asked her to marry him?

"I...I don't know what to say."

"You need not answer right away. I would not expect you to."

"I...ok. It's just...so sudden. I wasn't...you really want to get married?"

"Very much so. It was a blessing finding you in the square that day. I never thought I would find a woman who I could spend the rest of my life with. Especially not a woman so amazing as you, Anne."

"I...I never thought I'd get married...especially not at nineteen. But...I'm really happy you found me that day too."

"Then you accept?"

Buffy thought for a few minutes about what it would mean. She would have a husband, someone to share her life with. It was something she never thought she would get to experience being the Slayer. But she didn't have to hide that from William. He had known for years what she was and had spent the better part of the last three years accompanying her on her nightly patrols.

"I do. I would be honored to marry you."

"Wonderful." He couldn't keep himself from crossing the room and wrapping her in his arms. Without thinking, he pressed his lips to hers. He pulled away almost instantly.

"It's ok. You don't have to stop," she said, reaching a hand up to run it along his cheek.

"It was...I hadn't meant to do that."

"Spontaneity isn't a bad thing." She gave him a smile and leaned in to kiss him back.

After getting over the shock of his own action, William allowed himself to enjoy the feeing of her lips against his. They had rarely been so intimate. They still slept in separate rooms. After all it would have been improper for an unmarried couple.

"We will have to make preparations," he said after they stepped apart.

"Right...preparations...what preparations?" Buffy sunk back onto to the love seat.

"Well...arrangements with the priest and your dress of course. And guests."

Buffy let out a little laugh. "William...who would we invite? We don't exactly know many people."

"We know some," he countered. He sat down beside her, taking her left hand in his right.

"We have time to worry about this. Why don't we go out and celebrate? A show perhaps?"

"That sounds nice."

"Then we will go."

They stood and William ushered her towards the door. She wrapped a light shawl around her shoulders and allowed him to lead her out to the coach. They sat in silence as the horse pulled the carriage over the cobblestone streets and into the heart of the town. they arrived at the theater with just enough time to purchase tickets. They walked into the theater and found two vacant seats. The curtain pulled back and the play began.

A short way into the first act, a man leaned across the arm rest and tapped Buffy on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, Miss," he said.

Buffy looked over. "Yes?"

"You wouldn't happen to be a Slayer would you?"

Buffy's eyes widened. In the haste to leave the house, she had neglected to grab any stakes.

"How...who are you?" she hissed.

William looked over and took Buffy by the hand. "Is something wrong?" he whispered.

"I think we need to go outside," Buffy answered.

The man sitting beside her nodded his head and followed them out of the theater.

"How do you know I'm the Slayer?" Buffy demanded as soon as they were a safe distance of the theater.

She looked around for anything wooden she could break off. William watched as her gaze darted around and reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a stake and handed it to her. The man standing opposite them held up his hands defensively.

"Oh I did not mean to frighten you, Miss. I was sent to find you. I'm from the Watcher's Council."

"The Watcher's Council?"

"Yes."

"I think you're a little late. I've been here for like...four years."

"We were caught off guard by your arrival, Miss Summers. There is only supposed to be one Slayer."

"I know the prophecy. Look, what do you want?"

"I suggest you answer her question, Sir. You are interrupting a very good performance."

"My apologies. But it was imperative that I determine whether you were who I believed you to be."

"You can tell the Council to leave me alone. I don't need a Watcher and I really don't need you looking over my shoulder."

She took William by the hand and began to lead him back into the theater. The man from the Council stood where he was for a moment or two before beginning to follow them.

"I can assure you the Council would guarantee you all the resources you require."

Buffy turned around. "And I can assure you that I already have all the resources I need."

"I understand your hesitation. However I believe you should come with me."

"No, I don't think you understand. I don't like the Council. I don't trust it, or you. So I'm going to say this one more time. Leave us alone. You don't, you'll see just how dangerous a Slayer can be."

With that, Buffy and William walked back into the theater. The man simply shook his head before turning around walking to a waiting coach. The Council would not be pleased.

--

The evening seemed to drag on as the group searched for answers in Giles' books. Ethan had yet to regain consciousness.

"Is he ever going to wake up?" Faith asked through a yawn.

"Eventually."

"Unless Giles put him in a coma," Xander said.

"Oh! We could splash cold water on him. That might wake him up," Willow offered.

Angel moved from where he stood watching by the counter and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Giles called.

"Bathroom."

Xander's brow furrowed. "Bathroom...why is he going to the...oh. Right. I get it now."

"So I'm thinking, maybe you should let me have a go at Sleeping Beauty here. Show him what a Slayer can do."

"I'm fairly certain he knows that already," Giles replied without looking up from the book in his hand.

Angel returned with a cup of water and dumping it on Ethan's head. The man began to cough and sputter, his eyes opening.

"What the...bloody hell," he coughed.

"Look whose awake," Angel said, leaning in close.

Ethan blinked a few more times before his vision cleared. He would have jumped if his arms hadn't been bound behind him.

"My, my, Ripper. Hostage taking...that's a new direction."

"Hey, sleaze. How about you tell us how to get Buffy back before my fist gets friendly with your face," Faith spat, pushing Angel out of the way.

"You must be the other Slayer."

"Faith. He's no threat to us in his...condition."

"Oh come on. Let me hit him. Angel got to hit him."

"Once," the vampire reminded her.

"Children, can we focus please?"

Ethan just laughed, wincing in pain. He was fairly certain he had a few broken ribs. He recognized Willow and Xander from the year before.

"You think keeping me tied up is going to get you answers?"

"Well we aren't going to untie you if that's what you think," Xander replied.

"I told you about the curse, you git. I don't know anything more."

"Yes, you said it was a one way time travel curse. But as I'm sure you know, we've located all of the possible curses. You're going to tell exactly which one it was."

"Hell if I remember, Ripper. With all the knocking around you did to my head."

"It's rather hard I'm sure."

"You really don't get it. Even if I tell you which spell it was, there is no way to bring her back. That's why it was a one-way spell."

"We can create our own spell," Willow said.

"Can we do that?" Xander asked.

"Sure…I mean…I can handle it. Can't be too hard."

"Magics of this sort are dangerous, Willow. Too dangerous for you to perform, even with help."

"That's what you said about re-ensouling Angel and that turned out just fine."

"It didn't stop Buffy from stabbing me through the heart with a sword."

"Hey, that wasn't my fault. Besides, you were the one who almost got the world sucked into hell."

"Enough. The point is, you can't do it."

"But Giles, why not? I know I can do it."

"Because you'd be invoking Chaos. You'd be raising forces much darker than anything you've ever seen before. And I won't let you go down that path."

"Then how are we supposed to get Buffy back?"

"I…I don't know."

"I still say our little friend here does it for us," Faith said, fixing Ethan with a dark look.

"Do you really think she'd want to come back here after being in the past for so long?" Ethan asked.

"What do you mean…it's been two days."

"For you maybe. But in the past, years have gone by. For all you know she's dead."

"She isn't dead," Angel spat, grabbing Ethan by the throat.

"You seem sure of that," he croaked out.

"You didn't count on us having a link to the past did you?"

"Still hasn't brought her back."

"Somebody please knock him out again. He's pissing me of."

"Oh I'll d it." Faith took a swing at Ethan, landing a punch to the left temple of his head.

Giles glared at both Faith and Angel. As much as he hated to admit it, beating up Ethan wasn't going to solve their problem. He was still curious as to why Ethan wanted to send him back to the past. Now, he would have to wait until Ethan regained consciousness again.

"Whoah…it's getting late," Willow remarked. It was after midnight.

"You should get some rest," Giles said.

"Too full of adrenaline to rest," Xander muttered.

"We're going to have to move him before school starts. Can't risk the Principal finding him."

"Bring him to the mansion. He won't be going anywhere."

"You sure about that?"

"Yeah. Though we may have to gag him just in case he wakes up," Angel answered.