A Different Girl, A Different Guy
Spoilers: Set right approximately right now in the series so all around spoilers for this season
and others past may crop up.
Disclaimer: I think it's quite obvious i don't own them or i would have all you rabid fans,
much like me, beating down my door to smother me with gifts and adoration. You can do that
anyway if you want, but you can't get Spike. I'm keeping him chained to my bathtub and he's
all mine! Ya hear me, ALL MINE!
Feedback/Reviews: Who needs reasons when ya've got heroin. (just a trainspotting quote, i'm only
addicted to reviews and Spike)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Buffy and Spike are gonna get together. Ya know they are. And if not, well then,
they will here. ;>
Author's note: I debated whether to stop here but then i decided to be evil and stop this chap
at a cliffhanger. Review if you want me to continue cause i won't post a new chap until I get
at least one review. I'm so evil. It's Spike. He's a bad influence.
Buffy sat out on her back steps looking up at the stars. Everyone was inside laughing and
reminiscing now that the danger was over but she had just wanted to be alone. Well, maybe she
wouldn't mind if Spike came around, she thought, he usually did when she was feeling like this
anyway, but he had been really shaken up from the whatever his dream world had been and he had
disappeared into the night, as eager to be alone as she was. She wondered what it had been like
for him. While she wasn't sure, she had an idea and it must have been so incredibly hard for
him to resist it. Especially without a soul. Her brow puckered at the thought. Her mind had
been whirling back to the soul issue lately, and the more Spike showed her his loyalty and love
she began to wonder just what a soul did to a person. It obviously made a huge difference in
Angel, but somehow other things made Spike the creature he was. The creature she was beginning to
love.
The hairs prickled across the back of her neck, alerting her to a vampire presence. It wasn't
Spike. Her body, which had so intimately known both vampires, could discern the difference between
the two particular blood drinkers that meant so much to her. It was definitely Angel. She didn't
say anything but turned her profile slightly towards him, acknowledging his prescence.
He made no sound as he moved down to the steps and settled near her, his jacket brushing her arm.
They sat perfectly still for a moment, both looking out into the night, their thoughts turned
inward. Angel broke the silence as he said softly, his eyes those of a former love, the fires
gone, "I don't know what to say, Buffy."
His voice used to melt her heart, his nearness set it aflutter, and the moments with him
had always seemed as if the world had been concentrated down to the five feet surrounding them.
Now she wondered where Spike was and what he was doing. "I think I do," Buffy said solemnly. She
cleared her throat and looked down at her hands, "I'm sorry you found us like that but I'm not
sorry for what I was doing." She stole a quick glance at Angel and couldn't help but be relieved
as he nodded his head in acceptance. "I was just a little girl when me met and you were this
beautiful lost soul and everything was death and romance. But I'm not her anymore. And I don't
think you're that lost soul, either."
"I think you're right Buffy." He couldn't resist touching her and his hand cupped her cheek gently.
There was a time when Buffy would have snuggled into his hand and closed her eyes in ecstasy, but
now she met his eyes evenly and smiled at the gesture. A part of her would always love him, that
wasn't up for debate. "Spike is...well, Spike is Spike and I think I understand," Angel said. "He
loves you."
"Yeah...i know.."Buffy answered softly, pulling away from his touch that felt like it belonged
to a different life and a different girl, "He's really been here for me. He's matched me and
fought by my side. I can't even really explain...So much has changed since...," Buffy said
slowly, trying to puzzle out how she felt as much for herself as for an explanation to Angel.
A tiny cry wafted out to the porch and Angel's features tightened with anxiety."Go ahead, Angel,
go take care of your son," Buffy said.
His eyes shone concern while his whole face showed and eagerness to go find his son in the tangle
of women vying for their turn to hold the baby. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I think we're done." And the words all of a sudden seemed so much more. A different girl,
a different guy, she thought again.
Angel met her eyes a moment and there was a sadness but also a distant acceptance that the words
rang true for him too. He turned and walked into the house and the door slammed shut with a finality
she had never quite noticed before. She turned back to the darkness and her eyes unconsciously
scanned the yard, expecting to see his figure traipse out of the shadows with panther-like grace.
His body dipping to one side as he approached her with his confident swagger that tightened her
skin in anticipation and caused her breath to catch in her throat. But he wasn't there and she
felt a tight emptiness in her stomach. *Come home, Spike...* she thought to the night, hoping
her silent cry would somehow reach him.
She stood up slowly and turned, her movements loose and expectant. She lingered at the door
a moment longer than necessary befor entering the loud brightness of her house. She walked
across the shadowed kitchen and leaned in the doorway to the front room, not ready to join the
festivities just yet. Angel held his baby cradled tight to his chest, all his attention focused
on the swaddled bundle. Willow's voice at her shoulder made her jump as she said, "Angel with
a baby, a family, wow."
Buffy followed Willow's gaze to Angel and the baby again lingering as she watched him turn and
smile at Cordelia with genuine warmth and familiarity. There was a closeness there. As she watched
the silent exchange her eyes lingered on Cordy and she said, "Yeah, I think he does."
Willow gave Buffy a funny look at the strange word choice and sucked in a deep breath as she
prepared to drop a bombshell on her best friend. "I can fix him y'know."
"Huh? What?" Buffy asked in a shocked voice, her chest tightening at the thought. Her eyes filled
with pain as she said in a quiet accusing whisper, "why now?"
"I don't know Buffy. I just can, though. I just know how all of a sudden, it just kinda came to
me the more I held the orb of Thessula. That could be you with him. Your family." Willow said
hurriedly and as Buffy looked into her big brown eyes she knew it was the truth.
*That could be me....*
TBC
continue...