Rating: PG

Timeline: after B/4, A/1

Other Spoilers: Charmed Season 3

Disclaimer: See index page. Don't own 'em. Will return 'em. No infringement. No money.

Description: In an unknown place of refuge, two men meet. Fugitives each in their own way. And discover they have a common story.

Feedback: bloody_mary3333@angelfire.com
 
 

The two men were sitting by the fireside, watching silently how the flames were consuming one log after the other. The girl sneaked up behind them, asked in a low voice if there was anything she could do for them.

No, everything was just fine, the man in the armchair replied.

Shyly, she glanced to the other one.

He held her gaze, a grin spreading over his face. Thank you, nothing, if we are still talking about the drink.

She giggled and blushed, then returned to the lobby to look after the other guests.

The man in the armchair raised a brow. "I can't believe this still works."

His counterpart in the rocking chair smiled. "Women are predictable."

The man in the armchair sighed. "If you believe that, you still have much to learn, young man."

"Young man. Interesting you call me that. You look younger than I am."

"Things are never quite the way they seem. I am much older than you."

"Please don't get worked up with me if I doubt that. It doesn't matter. I will rephrase my statement – most women are predictable."

Now, the man in the armchair chuckled slightly. "Lucky me, so I've met an exception."

"Sounds like we have more in common than I thought. Mine was an exceptional woman."

"Not as exceptional as mine."

The man in the rocking chair raised his eyes from the fire to face the other man. "Now I'm curious. Tell me more."

"I wouldn't know where to start."

"What about... your name?"

"Names are of no importance."

B shrugged. "Sounds okay to me. Let us just assume I will refer to you as A, your girl is B, and I shall be C. No names. No identities. Just experiences. So, what about your mysterious story, A?"

A made a rejecting gesture with his hand. "I'm tired."

"It's still early. The nights are long in this part of the world."

"It's a long story."

"I got time," C insisted.

A stared into the flames as he began his story. "She was beautiful. And strong. And so very young."

C nodded. "Reminds me of someone."

"And I fell madly in love with her the first time I saw her. Thought it was just a crush first. And the more I got to know her, the more my life depended on having her near." He sighed. "But you can't get rid of old ghosts that easily. There were some things I didn't tell her about me in the beginning."

B frowned. "What kind of things? Year of birth? Past love affairs?"

A's smile was a bitter one. "One could call it that, yeah. At the end of the day, her mother hated me, her mentor hated me, and her friends hated me."

B nodded compassionately. "Don't tell me anything about friends and family! The sisters are the worst thing."

"Oh, yes, especially when they are younger. Nothing but trouble!"

"Well, elder sisters are no better! Think they are goddesses! How many sisters did yours have?"

"One. More than enough, if you ask me."

C burst out laughing. "How about three?!"

"Three???" A asked in a shock.

"That's what I thought, too. It was a miracle she was allowed to bring me to her sister's wedding. But she was stubborn. And always had a mind of her own."

A's gaze was drifting like into a distant past. "She... B, I mean... always defended me, no matter what her friends said."

C moved closer to the fire, drawing his chair nearer to A, lowering his voice. "Sounds like my story so far."

"Yeah, usual story. Boy meets girl. There was one situation when she died. That was when I realized I couldn't lose her."

C's face was stern. "Same story. Apart from the fact that I was sent to kill her. And I was determined to go through with it. Then we made love, and everything changed." He frowned and looked at the other man questioningly. "Did I say anything wrong?"

A's voice sounded like from far away. "You couldn't possibly know... But you're right, it changed everything."

"Don't tell me," C added, all-knowingly, "Was too close for you, you hurt her and cheated on her with your ex?"

A raised his head. "What about you?"

"Not exactly," C admitted, "Was just a guess. We had some much more serious problems."

A's eyes were fiery, his voice shaking with passion, as he replied: "You have no conception of the word serious."

C nodded slowly. "Maybe I don't. Well, end of story, it didn't work out. I never really got over her. And neither did you, right? No matter what, women are unpredictable," C closed his story.

"And yet I still see her," A replied thoughtfully, "Her shining hair, like liquid gold."

"So what are you waiting for? Go for it!", C encouraged, "Aren't you going to reclaim her?"

A shook his head, insecure about what to say. "I might. What about you? Are you going to ask her forgiveness?"

"I might. It's just hard to love someone like me if you are someone like her."

"That's what bothers me as well. To make an understatement, I... have made mistakes. In the end, I thought it was better for us to be apart. Well, and then I beat up her new boyfriend," A added with a smile that one could almost call proud.

C gave A an approving look. "Not too bad. If beating up was all you did – I would have killed everyone who would have dared to touch her. No one did." A shadow fell over his face. "And yet, a close girlfriend of hers died because of me. I don't think she ever truly forgave me."

A's look was full of compassion. "Also a friend of hers died because of me. B could have stopped the murderers, but I deliberately distracted her. I knew what would happen. Her fellow warrior's blood is at my hands. And there was that other woman..." His voice trailed of.

C put a hand on his shoulder. "It's better to talk about it. Believe me."

"She was a friend of B's as well. She held my salvation in her hands. And I killed her." He closed his eyes, as if to shut away the memories.

"I can top that. My own girlfriend destroyed my hope of salvation because she no longer believed in us."

A cast him a contemptuous look, full of bitterness. "Well, my girlfriend stabbed me with a sword and sent me to hell."

C sighed. "All right, you win!"

A shook his head. "I deserved it. I was a monster."

C laughed scornfully. "How bad can it be? I mean, you're not a demon or anything!" Then he regarded A closely for the first time in the conversation. "Wait a minute. You are."

A nodded. "And so are you. Don't look that shocked, don't think I never heard of you. If it's ANY consolation, women go for that red and black look. Pretty daring for a demon to fall in love with a white witch."

C shook his head in disbelief. "Big words for the meanest vampire ever, who fell in love with the Slayer! I can't believe I didn't recognize the legend among traitors until now!"

"You're giving me too much credit, Balthazor."

"I don't think so, Angelus."

"Angelus. I'd rather not remember who last called me that."

"What did she call you? The Slayer, I mean."

"Angel. Just Angel."

"Pathetic. But appealing, somehow. By the way, I would prefer if you called me Cole. So, what are we to do now?"

Angel smiled. "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."

"You might want to refrain from killing me though I was a district attorney. Then I might consider talking to Buffy on your behalf."

"When does the next train leave for San Francisco?"

"I have no idea. Do you know how on earth to get to Sunnydale?"

Angel chuckled. "A demon who can't find the Hellmouth? Cole, you're lost for ever."

"The important thing is whether Buffy will listen to a demon at all."

"You might want to give her a call first."

"Probably. Is there any trick with Phoebe?"

"Believe me, she WILL talk to you. Good luck, vampire."

"Good luck to you, demon."
 
 

The end