Title: Spoken From the Heart
Author: PyroChilde
Summary: All things considered, there are very few certainties in this world and one of those undeniable facts of life is Andrew's complete inability to keep his mouth shut. What happens when Buffy finds out that our favorite bleach blonde vamp is undead and kickin' once again?
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, you know the drill.
Spoken From the Heart
By: PyroChilde
Chapter 5: Walking on Cloud Nine
He didn't know how long he sat there, staring down at the letter in his hands as salty tears streaked his face. His hands were trembling and he felt as if the world had narrowed down so that all that existed was him and the words on that precious page before him. It may have been hours, days, a lifetime that he sat there or it could have been mere minutes, Spike couldn't be sure. He sat there, unable to move for fear of shattering the euphoria that had settled over him. Finally, after an eternity basking in the new feelings rushing through him, Spike was able to pull himself together enough to move. He stood having decided on what he had to do next. Unable to release his hold on the thing that was beginning to feel like his salvation, Spike carefully folded the paper and stored in carefully in his right front pocket. Taking a deep breath, Spike took the first of many steps that would lead him home.
For as long as Spike could remember, he had been searching for something. In life it had been the love of a woman that would never look at him with anything but disdain. William had dreamed of Cecily Underwood for most of his adult life and he wanted nothing more than to be hers and have her be his. One night had devastated any chance of that and he had been sent fleeing into the night. In a dark alley William had been shown the tiniest amount of affection from someone of the opposite sex and his poet's heart was hers for the taking.
In death it had been the acceptance of a family that would always find him lacking in some way and the love of his sire, a woman that would never truly be his that had him forever searching. Drusilla was to be his deliverance from mediocrity, his dark princess. Instead she had taken what he offered and then run to her Daddy at every opportunity. Spike would have laid the world at her feet if given the chance, but his sire would never be his alone. The rest of his family looked down on him, nothing he could do ever enough to satisfy them. Finally, upon being chipped and falling in love with that slayer, Spike was truly lost. He had been reduced to a lovesick puppy, eagerly begging at her feet for any crumb of emotion.
It had become so ingrained in him over the years that he would never be good enough, smart enough, tough enough, and important enough. He had been told so many times that he was unworthy that it had become something he instinctually believed to be true. Now, after so very long feeling inferior, to be told that he was wanted and needed, after hearing nothing but how unlovable he was that he was loved by the most amazing woman he had ever known, Spike was walking on cloud nine.
The vampire moved towards the bedroom to don his usual all black attire complete with doc martins and leather duster, continued on to the front door. He opened the front door of what now seemed and incredibly sterile, unwelcoming apartment. When he stepped out the front door, keeping to the shadows to avoid the dangerous morning sunlight, Spike walked with his head held high and a confidence in his step that, for the first time in years, was not from male posturing and false bravado. He had the love of a truly incredible woman and a fierce warrior. She had judged him and found him worthy of her love and her respect. Nothing could dampen his mood as he made his way toward his destination.
As the blonde turned the corner into the shaded alley, he was infinitely grateful for his choice in apartment location. The all day sun proof access to Los Angeles' underground network of tunnels had been the overwhelming reason for taking that apartment and the vampire was praising his foresight as he came to the manhole cover. Moving the disc, Spike dropped down into the tunnel below with feline grace. Not bothering to replace the cover, he took off at a dead sprint through the sewers all the while exalting the fact that vampires didn't need to breathe. The short trek was completed in a matter of minutes; the supernaturally enhanced speed doing wonders in cutting down the time it took to arrive at the underground parking lot of Wolfram and Hart. As he ascended into the main garage from the passage below, he cast a look at the Dodge Viper in lot B6. He idly thought that he would miss taking that car joyriding while the magnificent poof got his knickers in a twist. Shaking his head slightly, he proceeded through the parking lot into the offices of Wolfram and Hart.
He sauntered through the door as if he owned the place, and in a place like Wolfram and Hart, that was quite the accomplishment. Though the cocky attitude wasn't anything new coming from Spike, those that saw him that day sensed a change in him. It may have been the way he stood up just a little bit straighter or maybe it was the rare smile on his face unlike the smirks he usually wore. When Fred saw him, however, it was his eyes that did it for her. The ever-present pain that had swirled in his blue irises since he'd materialized in Angel's office was absent and in its place was an almost giddy look that contrasted with his very nature. Fred couldn't help but smile at seeing it.
"Hey Spike!" What brings you by so early?" the bubbly Texan asked. She'd always liked the blonde and she was happily intrigued by the apparent change in him. It seemed the arrogant, sarcastic cynic was gone to be replaced by an almost childish optimism. It made Fred happier just being around him. There was just something about Spike, like a little boy playing at being the Big Bad, that made her want to protect him. She knew it was ridiculous to feel that way about a once vicious killer, especially when that person was a century and a half old vampire. Still, she couldn't help having a soft spot for Spike.
"Oh you know, just need to borrow a jet luv." Spike responded with a grin, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet like a little kid. His eyes glittered with mischief and Fred had a feeling that the vampire hadn't exactly planned on asking to borrow the company aircraft.
"Oh really?" she asked, eyebrow arched and a smile curving her lips. Fred giggled like a schoolgirl and rolled her eyes at his antics. Grabbing his elbow lightly, she pulled him into her lab still laughing lightly.
"What's going on Spike?" She asked, feeling a bit like a mother questioning her naughty five year old. She knew that something had to have happened to cause such a sudden change in behavior. The young woman was rewarded with another huge grin. It made him look so much younger and Fred decided that she would love to see this side of him more often.
Spike let out a put upon sigh, but the smile never left his face. The token protest out of the way, he pulled the letter from his pocket. He wanted to get to Rome as soon as possible but he liked Fred and he wasn't about to give her the brush-off. She had been kind to him and had gone out of his way to try and help him. Holding the letter like it was something precious, and it was. Not looking up from the paper in his hands, Spike attempted to explain just how much it meant to him. As the sweet Texan listened, Spike glanced up and watched the emotions drifting through her eyes. By the end of his tale, her eyes were filled with determination and there was that starry eyed look you sometimes see in people after the hero saves the day and gets the girl in so many chic flicks. Fred smiled brightly at him in a way that warmed his heart before she spoke.
"I'm going to help you Spike." She announced, her tone leaving no room for argument. All Spike could do was offer a heartfelt "Thank you pet" and breathe a sigh of relief.
It was so much easier to procure the Wolfram and Hart company jet when the one requesting its use was the head of the science department and a close personal friend of the CEO, though Angel was, of course, left in the dark about the impending departure. Winifred Burkle was a flurry of activity as she made phone calls and gave orders. It only took about fifteen minutes before she sat down beside Spike to place her hand gently on his shoulder to inform him that he would be on a flight to Rome in less than an hour. In fact, the jet would be fueled and ready to go in thirty-five minutes.
When the time came for Spike to leave for the hangar, Spike stopped to thank Fred again for her help. She mumbled some nonsense about cyrumption that Spike didn't understand, but she seemed so excited he didn't have the heart to say anything. Smiling fondly at her, Spike pulled the blubbering woman into his arms for a tight embrace.
"If you ever need anything luv, don't hesitate to call. I can't thank you enough for all you've done." Fred nodded and smiled warmly. When their good-byes were said, Spike left for the hangar. The plane that would take him home to his slayer was waiting for him.
TBC
AN: Alright, so maybe this is going to be a bit longer than I anticipated. I guess we'll see where is goes from here :-D Leave a review if you'd like to know what comes next.