Disclaimer: same biz as last chapter with songs and ownership. By now we've all established how much I own… which is, uh, nothing! On with the story!
ONCE MORE WITH FEELIN part 2
"You sang about theories?" Spike was trying to take it in as Tuscany sat on the edge of the tomb in his crypt. Tuscany was giggling.
"Yeah and Anya did this heavy metal out burst about bunnies," Tuscany was laughing now.
"What did Buffy sing about?" Spike leaned forward intently.
The laughter died slowly on Tuscany's lips as she felt the first pangs of envy, "Oh you know… togetherness and what not."
"Figures," Spike groaned and slumped in his chair.
"So have you sung anything yet?" Tuscany was curious.
"Not yet. I'm pretty sure I remain immune. Thankfully. Imagine if Buffy came here and I starting serenading my bleeding heart out."
"I predict an ass kicking finale of the literal kind," Tuscany added helpfully. Spike was cranky. He was sick of the prejudice Buffy held against him.
"It ain't fair," Spike began moping.
"It's not. You looked after Dawn. I woulda killed her," Tuscany wasn't serious but she switched into consoling mode.
"And no body really understands," Spike was letting his emotions take control and he was speaking with more feeling. Tuscany searched the crypt for any empty bottles of alcohol. When her eyes found none she assumed a compassionate look.
"They only see the vampire. The monster," Spike continued to rave, "They never bother to see the man. Vampires are capable of feelings too you know."
"I know," Tuscany gently assured him.
"I know you do. You don't treat me like the bloody plague. You listen to me…" Spike gazed into the young slayers eyes. Tuscany felt her heart swell.
"… And that's why me make good friends, convict. Same level we are. Outsiders and not welcome."
Tuscany's heart quickly deflated and became devoid of all hope but she wouldn't interfere or hinder. Buffy could use a man like Spike in her life. Someone with such dedication.
"She could come round," Tuscany tentivaly suggested.
"She's not like that Tusc, She… She wouldn't. It's wrong," Spike spat out the last word, "her bloody Scooby's would never let her do it. Never let her taste the bad side."
"They don't know what it taste's like," Tuscany eyes were unfocused.
"That's right. They don't know," Spike aggressively agreed, "No one knows."
There was building music in the background and Tuscany only got a second to catch what was happening before Spike opened his mouth and burst into song.
Spike: No
one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad
man
Behind blue eyes
And no one knows
What it's like to be
hated
To be fated to telling only lies
But my dreams they
aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only
lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
No one
knows what its like
To feel these feelings
Like I do, and I
blame you!
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of
my pain and woe
Can show through
No one knows what its
like
To be mistreated, to be defeated
Behind blue eyes
No
one knows how to say
That they're sorry and don't worry
I'm not
telling lies
No one knows what its like
To be the bad man,
to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes.
Spike looked embarrassed and Tuscany looked taken back. Her heart was breaking for him and her crush was developing.
"That just came out," Spike confessed.
"Hey at least you can sing," Tuscany tried to reassure him, "And how come you got the mellow rock tune?'
"Don't tell anyone, Convict. I'm not really much for the baring of my soul to everyone I meet."
"Your secret dies with me," Tuscany crossed her heart.
"Yeah well, love, you learn around here… that things don't always stay dead."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"You're doing it wrong," Buffy told Tuscany as she messed up her punch yet again.
"No I'm not," Tuscany snapped back… sick of her older sister telling her what was right and wrong. She had been doing it continually. Nothing Tuscany did was right and she was always wrong.
"Your hands not tight enough," Buffy argued.
"Well no. I don't tighten to impact and since there is no impact hence the no tightening," Tuscany demonstrated in the air.
"Did your watcher teach you that?" Buffy put her hands on her hips.
"Yes."
Buffy got a knowing look on her face that aggravated Tuscany.
"He was evil not incompetent," Tuscany cried.
"Will you just accept you're wrong and learn the right way," Buffy was getting sick of this fight.
"Because you have seriously considered and looked at my side of the argument?" Tuscany demanded.
"Who's been a slayer longer?"
"Oh my god! You're impossible," Tuscany threw her hands in the air exasperated.
"Fine you want to discuss this… then lets discuss this," Buffy sat abruptly and stared at Tuscany.
Tuscany searched for words and came up with something great.
Tuscany: What's the point in trying to meet you in the middle
You got your point of view.
There's nothing I can do
Can't change your mind
Can't leave it all behind
You're living in the past
We talk and talk
This goes on for hours
About how I should be
Why is only?
Don't wanna fight
Don't wanna waste my time
Buffy this can't last
I'm moving on, moving on
Can I go now?
Say what you have to say
Happy you got your way
There's nothing to discuss
Can I go now?
Given your point of view
Said what you wanted to
What's the point in this?
Can I go now?
Say what you have to say
Happy you got your way
There's nothing to discuss
Can I go now?
What's the point in trying to reach a compromise?
When you're the judge and jury
What's the story?
I can't make you see that I'm not always wrong
Can't make it right
It's time to move on I'm moving on
Yeah yeah
Can I go now?
Say what you have to say
Happy you got your way
There's nothing to discuss
Can I go now?
Given your point of view
Said what you wanted to
What's the point in this?
Tuscany broke into a dance routine that had her spinning around the room!
Lets call it a day
I'll pack my bags be on my way
Well sure don't need to stay
I'm not welcome anyway
Buffy opened her mouth to say something but Tuscany held up her hand to prevent her interrupting!
Well that's all right and that's ok
There's nothing left to do
Maybe I'm not for you
So why don't you let it go
Tell me what's the point in all this
Talk talk talk talk talk talk
We could go day and night
Still wouldn't make it right
Can I go now?
Say what you have to say
Happy you got your way
There's nothing to discuss
Can I go now?
Given your point of view
Said what you wanted to
What's the point of this?
Lets call it a day
Can I go now?
Why don't you let me?
Can I go now?
Can I can I go now
Can I go now?
Tuscany ran out of the room leaving an opened mouth Buffy.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tuscany was walking along the road in her work out gear still. She had left the Summer's house and gone for a run. She was sweating and angry.
"Spike got the cool chilled rock and I get the perky stuff. I'm not perky… that's Buffy or Dawn. I'm defiantly a rock chick…. Or maybe punk!"
Tuscany knew she was ranting as she walked down the street. She realised she had no idea where she was. She looked up and around. People were giving her odd looks.
"Good to know muttering to one's self is not considered normal in the states, either," Tuscany turned around to see two police man performing an interpretive movement, "And they're all looking at me? I don't believe this."
Tuscany spotted the magic Box across the road and quickly crossed. Luckily it was open. She threw open the door and ran inside. Anya, Xander and Giles looked up.
"Tell me have a lead," Tuscany pleaded.
"You sung too," Xander asked sitting down.
"Please don't ask?" Tuscany took a seat next to him.
"Book number or pop hit?" Anya questioned.
Tuscany considered the question, "Pop hit."
"Damn," Anya looked thwarted.
"You're welcome to it," Tuscany offered disgusted.
"Thank you very much. I can use it to make lots of money on radios and round shiny discs," Anya perked up.
"We have a problem," Giles spoke for the first time.
"I'll say," Tuscany agreed with Mr. State the obvious.
"A man spontaneously combusted. Burned up from the inside," Giles was anxious.
"Not a good thing right?"
"Burning, death… No not a good thing," Giles informed the group, "We need to research."
"I'm on it," Tuscany said pulling out a book.
Xander smiled, "you're getting the hang of this."
"And maybe you can patrol tonight," Giles told the slayer as she flipped open the book.
"Again… I'm on it."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Buffy didn't know why she was at Spike's door. She had no possible explanation for the impulse that was bringing her here. In fact lately she had more incentive than ever to avoid this place what with the musical. She didn't want to admit to herself on of the reasons. Tuscany had been spending lots of time here and that made her feel uncomfortable. She couldn't understand it. Why was she threatened? Tuscany was barely a woman and Spike was bordering 200. Buffy remembered however that she had been 16 when she met Angel and there was an age difference. She commanded herself to stop thinking about this. If Spike wanted to shag her sister it wasn't her issue. It wasn't like she was jealous at all.
She threw open the door and walked in.
"The sun sets and she appears. Come to serenade me?" Spike appeared from the lower level of his Crypt.
"You know what's going on," Buffy walked in further.
"Well, I've seen some damn funny things in the last two days. A 600 pound Chirago demon making like Yma Sumac, that one will stay with you. I remain immune, happy to say," He deliberately didn't mention his song with Tuscany and held up a bottle, "Drink?"
Buffy sat down, "A world of no. So any idea what's causing this?"
"Oh. So that's all. You've just come to pump me for information," Spike looked disappointed.
"What else would I wanna pump you for?" Buffy winced, "I really just said that didn't I?"
"Yeah, well ... don't wanna bore you with the small talk. Don't know a thing," Spike opened his door for her.
"What's up? You're all bad 'n moody," Buffy was confused.
"Nothing. Glad you could stop by," He tried to evade her but she persistently stared, "It's nothing."
"What?" Buffy demanded leaving no room for compromise.
Spike: I
died
So many years ago.
But
you can make me feel
Like it isn't so
And
why you come to be with me
I think I finally
know
Mmm, mmm.
You're scared.
Ashamed of what you
feel
And you can't tell the ones you love
You
know they couldn't deal
Whisper in a dead man's
ear,
It doesn't make it real.
That's great.
But I don't wanna play.
'Cause being with you touches me
More
than I can say.
But since I'm only dead to you
I'm saying stay away
And
let me rest in peace.
Let me rest in peace
Let me get some
sleep
Let me take my love and bury it
In
a hole six foot deep
I can lay my body
down
But I can't find my sweet release
So
let me rest in peace!
You know
You've got a willing slave
And
you just love to play the thought
That you might
misbehave.
But till you do I'm telling
you,
Stop visiting my grave
And let me rest in peace.
I know I should go
But I follow you like a
man possessed
There's a traitor here beneath my
breast
And it hurts me more than you've ever
guessed If my
heart could beat, it would break my chest
But I can see you're unimpressed
So
leave me be.
And let me rest in peace
Let me get some
sleep
Let me take my love and bury it
In
a hole six foot deep
I can lay my body
down
But I can't find my sweet release...
Let me
rest in peace.
Why won't you
Let me rest in peace?
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tuscany watched Buffy jump out of the grave and Spike sit up. She shook her head. It was only a matter of time before Buffy gave into temptation. Tuscany could see that now… Just as clearly as she knew she had to stake Michael. And she had thought she would never move on but here now before her in the most unlikely form was a man that made her laugh and feel beautiful. A man who had welcomed her into his life while others had been wary. A man who was in love with her much more beautiful big sister and Tuscany couldn't blame him for that. Spike and Buffy had been through so much together she wasn't surprised he had developed feelings for Buffy. And didn't Buffy deserve some good now. She had just died and she wasn't dealing… not matter how much she pretended to her friends. Tuscany could see what Buffy's friends couldn't because they didn't want to see. Tuscany had no choice but to notice. Tuscany knew then she had to make a choice. She watched Spike walk away. Knowing that she would never have any life with him and yet feeling like just being around him made life ok for a second. Like she was ok for just one tiny second. Where she didn't feel guilty about what she felt, thought and wanted. Where she could be her and he could appreciate her! And they were friends already. No doubt about it but could Tuscany bear not having more. She started walking away… through the graveyard. She could leave this place! Get out and leave all these ugly feelings behind. She was reflecting on her train of thoughts when she felt the pull in her stomach. Tuscany groaned. She recognised the tug and urge and she opened her mouth and sung.
Tuscany: Moon up above I'm taking this ride on my own to be alone.
Get me away from it and find me a man of the world. I'm feeling blue
Tuscany looked back the way she came. To where Spike's crypt was and sighed
And now I finally got to know you
I don't feel the need to hold you
Yes I dread my life without you
Think I'll stay on my…on my
Tuscany paused and sung outwards as if to a whole audience
Something beautiful
In every way it's one unhappy life
Leaving you to her
Tuscany contemplated leaving Sunnydale.
But if I stay here would it work?
It's something beautiful
And every day it's what I have to learn
Sleeping over half way to feeling it's all good and well
Woke up this morning head of whys and won'ts any more
Tuscany was startled as an apparition of Michael appeared from before he had been vamped. He was laughing and holding his hand out to her.
And fact my future's set in stone if only I could kill the ghost
But the fear of letting go has brought me here
On my…on my
Something beautiful
In every way it's one unhappy life
Leaving you to her
But if I stay here would it work?
It's something beautiful
And every day it's what I have to learn
She was still singing to Michael and he watched with a frown on his face.
We had something beautiful
To you I remain faithful
We're both hearing different sides
What now?
Tuscany pushed the ghost away and walked in the opposite direction hands in the air. An unseen chorus joined in with a harmony.
Something beautiful in every way it's one unhappy life
Leaving you to her
But if I stay here would it work
Something beautiful
And every day it's what I have to learn.
The chorus disappeared and Tuscany was left to sing the last heartfelt verse by herself.
Something beautiful in every way it's one unhappy life
Leaving you to her
But if I stay here would it work
Something beautiful
And every day it's what I have to learn.
Tuscany finished singing and there was a thundering applause from an unseen audience. Tuscany kicked the closest gravestone.
"I'm starting to really hate, Sunnydale!"
AN: last part of Once More With Feeling tomorrow. Sleep time now! Hope you're liking it!
MD666