Rating: PG-13
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
The guardian's neck snapped to the side. Buffy watched in shock as the old woman fell to the floor and Caleb stepped over her body. He smirked at Buffy. "I'm sorry; I didn't catch that last part on account of her neck snapping and all. Did she say the end is near? Or here?"
Buffy swung the scythe at his head with all her might. She would wipe that smug grin off his face even if she had to take his whole head with it. But Caleb caught the weapon and it was all she could do to prevent him from wresting it from her grasp.
The battle started in earnest then, Buffy and Caleb trading blows that would have killed an ordinary mortal. Buffy fought with determination, but as she knocked him to the floor and moved in for the kill, she sensed another presence. It may have been the split second distraction, or the fact that she knew she was no longer fighting alone, but her blow came an instant too late and Caleb caught the scythe as she plunged it down toward his chest.
He was back up in an instant and landed several blows of his own. Buffy found herself lying on the ground now, watching her own weapon slicing through the air toward her neck. She waited until Caleb was fully committed to his swing. She was prepared to jump out of the way at the last instant, but then she heard another voice.
"Hey!"
A fist struck Caleb, knocking him across the room.
"Thanks," she said without turning her head away from Caleb. "I guess now I can't get mad at you for following me on my solo mission." She reached out instinctively for the hand she knew was there, and let him help her to his feet. She turned her head as she stood. "Angel?" she gasped.
"Yes," he said slowly. "And... I wasn't following you. I just got here." He gave her a confused look that mirrored her own.
She looked around, temporarily dazed. "I thought..."
Angel followed her glance with his eyes as she swept through the room. Her eyes came back to him. He shrugged and stepped toward her. "Well, at least you could tell me you're glad to see me."
"I..." she mumbled as she sidestepped him and quickly retrieved her weapon.
Caleb was stirring.
Buffy raised the scythe, catching Caleb on her upswing as he started to stand, nearly slicing him in half. She held the scythe above her head, waiting, watching him. He tottered for a second, laughing insanely, and then slumped to the ground. Buffy brought the blade down in a glittering arc, severing his neck. She stared at the body a moment, then she knelt and wiped the blade on the back of his coat, removing all traces of his blood.
"I could've told him he was gonna lose," Angel gloated. He looked at Buffy and smiled.
She returned his look with a tense smile. "It's not that I'm not grateful... but why are you here?"
"I heard you could use some help." He closed the distance between them.
As the adrenaline started to fade, Buffy felt that familiar tingling sensation she had come to associate with Spike. But now there was something extra, a different sensation. She told herself it must just be that she'd been away from Angel so long that she'd forgotten. But she swiveled her head around anyway, searching the room one last time.
"What are you looking for?" Angel asked.
"I just can't shake this feeling, that Sp... that someone is here." She shook her head to clear it.
"So, you're not happy to see me?" Angel searched her face, trying to decipher her strange behavior.
Buffy looked at him and forced a smile. Angel would be an asset in the battle and she really had missed having him around. She took a half-step forward.
Angel moved his arms slightly, opening them in a tentative invitation.
She let the scythe drop from her hand and stepped into his arms, pressing her lips to his.
Angel pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. They stood like that for a long moment, lost in memories. Then reality invaded. Angel's hands loosened their hold on her.
Buffy also let go and pulled back. She looked down, avoiding his eyes, and pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. "Um."
Angel shifted his weight and took a slight step back. "Yeah," he said, not meeting her eyes.
"I never expected that to happen," Buffy said.
"Me either."
"You too?" Buffy asked.
Angel nodded. "Just," he moved closer, "One more time." He leaned in cupped the back of her head, pulling her forward, and kissing her again.
Buffy leaned in stiffly, her eyes locked on his throughout the kiss.
After a moment he blinked and pulled back.
Buffy wiped at her mouth and shook her head slowly. "I guess that's it."
Angel put his hands in his pockets and shifted uneasily. He looked like he was trying to understand something that eluded him. Finally he said, "Yeah, I guess so." He shook his head too. "Who would've thought?"
"So. You found someone in LA?" Buffy tried to lighten the mood and ease their embarrassment.
Angel grinned and then caught himself and frowned. "Found, lost, found again... it's complicated."
Buffy chuckled. "It always is with us." She looked down and scuffed her toe along the ground. "Anyone I know?" She looked up to gauge his reaction. "Faith maybe?"
"What? God no!" Angel exclaimed. "I mean, she's a nice enough girl, now, but... no."
Buffy stared at him.
Angel looked uncomfortable, and took a couple steps back. He said the name so quietly that Buffy almost missed it. "Cordy."
"Cordelia!" Buffy brought her hand up to cover her mouth and stop herself from laughing. "She finally got to you. Amazing."
"It wasn't like that." Angel looked up and met her eyes. "We've worked together since she arrived in LA. Spent a couple years getting to really know each other. And then, things just sort of changed." He looked embarrassed and goofy at the same time. "You know?"
Buffy nodded, "Better than you might expect."
He gave her a warmer smile, "You too?"
Buffy nodded again.
"One of the Scoobies?"
Buffy looked away and remained silent.
"You're going to make me guess?" He waited patiently, but she was looking down again. She picked up the scythe and carefully inspected it. "Ok, there's Giles," he started to list off names.
Buffy's head shot up and she made her ewww face. "Disgusting much? Giles is like my dad!"
Angel nodded. "Then there's Xander, and that strange geeky guy I haven't met before."
Buffy looked shocked and a bit amused. "You think Giles, Xander, or Andrew is my type? Eww. Taken. And double-ewww."
Angel shrugged his shoulders. "If you don't want to tell me, it's alright." He smiled at her. Then he reached up, put his hand on her shoulder, and squeezed it gently. "I'm just glad you found someone. I don't want you to be alone. Whoever he is, he's very lucky."
At that, Buffy let out a snorting chuckle.
Angel gave her a questioning look.
Buffy waved it away. "Nothing. It's just...you would think he...we would be lucky. I doubt he would agree with you." She looked back up at him. "It's...complicated."
The realization hit Angel. "You haven't told him yet."
Buffy nodded.
Angel brought his other hand up to her shoulders and pulled her slightly forward until she met his gaze. "Buffy, you have to tell him. Don't wait. We're not all going to survive this, and then it'll be too late."
His look became wistful. He released Buffy and turned away, toward the stairs. "I was afraid to say anything to Cordy. When I finally did, it may have been too late. She's in a coma. I may never get another chance." He stopped at the bottom stair and turned to look at her. "How you feel. Being human. It's what life is all about." He reached out to touch the blade she held. "This is a means to an end. Life is about living."
Buffy swallowed hard, tears beginning to well in her eyes. "It's not that simple. You don't know how my friends would react." She sniffed and then took a deep breath to steady herself. "How you would react even. And... I'm so scared."
Angel gathered her into his arms. She let go of the scythe again as he rocked her back and forth gently. After a minute he pressed a kiss on the top of her head. "Buffy, love is scary, but it's also the only reason we keep going. You've got to face your fears, or you'll miss out." He reached down and lifted her chin with his fingers. "If there's any two people who should know that, it's us." He gave her a rueful smile.
Buffy searched his eyes briefly and then a tiny giggle escaped. She wiped at her eyes. "I guess you're right."
"Ok then. You go find your mystery man and tell him. I'll meet you back at your house." He let go of her and started back up the stairs.
"Angel," she called out in an uncertain voice.
He paused and turned.
"Will you promise me something? Something really important."
The pleading look in her eyes surprised him and affected him deeply. "Name it."
"Don't hurt him," she whispered. "No matter what, promise me you won't."
Angel stared at her warily. "You'll have to tell me who, before I can promise you."
Buffy looked panic-stricken for a split second, "Please. Just promise me."
"Okay. Okay," he said, trying to soothe her. "I promise not to harm him in any way." Why would she think he would hurt this man? Angel stood quietly, studying her face as relief washed over it. He could feel a calmness replacing her panic. It still made him happy to help her. He relaxed and let the sensation of her presence wash over him.
As he did, he suddenly felt a familiar tingle at the base of his skull and in his gut. His eyes flew open wide and he snapped his gaze to one of the large pillars on the far side of the room, behind Buffy.
Buffy followed his gaze as he jumped back down the stairs and tried move past her.
"What are you doing?" Buffy asked, the pitch of her voice rising with alarm. She had sensed it too, as soon as Angel had walked past her and started up the stairs. She had just hoped Angel hadn't.
"There's someone else here," Angel said, sniffing the air. A growl rumbled from his chest. "Someone who's trouble." He took another step forward but Buffy grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"You promised, Angel." The panic was back in her eyes and voice again. She wasn't ready to lose either of them.
Angel tried to shrug free of her. "It's not a human," he explained. "It's Spike. No doubt up to his old tricks." He waited for her to give some sign that she understood him. Instead she just stared at him, her wide eyes locked onto his. He was still immobilized by the slayer's vise-like grip.
She swallowed again, her eyes becoming soft and vulnerable. "Angel, you promised not to hurt him," she said, barely above a whisper.
He searched her eyes, his face a mask of confusion. "Buffy, I'm telling you, it's Spike. I'll take care of him, then we can get back to saving the world."
Buffy lowered her eyes for an instant, and he watched red spread upward from her neck to color her cheeks. She raised her eyes slowly. He saw her mouth working hesitantly before she said, "I know it's Spike."
Angel blinked. "What?" he gasped, pulling back from Buffy.
"It's Spike," she repeated.
As she said it, a figure stepped out from behind the pillar. Angel took in the black leather and platinum hair -- Spike.
Spike looked at Buffy, his jaw tense, but his eyes were soft as he looked into hers. She saw that same hope in his eyes that she'd seen earlier in the kitchen, and she smiled back at him. Spike nodded, and then shifted his gaze to his grandsire. The warmth and openness melted away, leaving only a cold, hard stare -- challenging him, but waiting for Angel to make the first move.
The three of them stood silently, as if rooted to the floor, Buffy barely breathing as the seconds stretched out, each of their minds whirling and trying to process what was happening.
Angel finally broke the silence. "I can't believe you think you're in love with... Spike." He shook his head and looked back at Buffy.
She stared at Angel with her mouth open. Helplessly she looked back and forth between the two men. "Angel, I..."
"Leave her alone," Spike interrupted, striding forward toward Buffy. She found herself moving forward, away from Angel, and meeting him halfway. "She doesn't have to explain herself to anyone. Least of all you." As he said the last, Spike came to a stop next to her. He flexed and then made a fist with his hand. Opening his hand again, he raised it slightly as if to touch Buffy and then let it drop down by his side.
The action was not lost on Angel. His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin smile. "I see."
Spike saw the predatory gleam in Angel's eyes and recognized the danger. Cordelia or no Cordelia, Angel still considered Buffy his concern. Spike was afraid he would use his and Buffy's uncertainty to drive a wedge between them, for her own good of course.
"You don't see anything, Angelus. You want to come and help fight, all good and well, but you keep your nose out of other matters that don't concern you."
Angel bristled at Spike's tone. He growled menacingly and stalked forward until he was only a couple paces from Spike. "You're telling me what to do now, boy?"
Buffy heard Spike's answering growl and shivered. She'd never forgotten how dangerous these two could be, but it was still a shock to be so graphically reminded of it -- to be the cause of it.
"I was never your boy. Not about to start now," Spike shot back. As he started forward, Buffy put out a hand to stop him.
Angel's face morphed. He grinned at Spike through razor sharp fangs as he growled again.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's waist to prevent him from leaping at Angel. She turned an accusatory glare on Angel. "You promised me," she snapped.
"I promised not to harm the man you loved." Angel swept his eyes up and down Spike. "He's not a man, and so far I'm not hearing anything about love." He leaned forward as if he intended to close the distance between them.
Spike strained against Buffy, baring his fangs at Angel, unwilling to back down, but she held him tight.
"Angel, don't even try to split hairs," she barked over her shoulder as she grappled with Spike. She lifted up one hand and brushed it along Spike's cheek, and then over the ridges on his forehead. He left off growling at Angel, and looked down at her. His face smoothed under her hand as he tilted his head and stared into her eyes. "Shhhh," she soothed him as she stroked his face again. "Spike?"
His eyes never left her as his expression softened. "All ears, Luv." He had stopped struggling and had wrapped his arms around her instead. Now he was gently stroking her back.
Angel looked on in amazement. The Spike he knew wouldn't be held back by anyone.
Buffy looked over her shoulder and was relieved to see Angel no longer looked as if he was about to attack Spike. "I think I figured something out, and I wanted to tell you." She paused, and he tightened his grip, fearing she was going to back away again.
His face relaxed and he fixed her with an open, hopeful look. Reaching up, he brushed a loose strand of hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear, and then hugged her again. "Whatever it is, it's all right, Buffy."
Buffy gulped, and took another breath. This was hard enough, without an audience. That brought her thoughts back to Angel, and she turned her head slightly, never breaking her eye contact with Spike. "Angel, you'll keep that promise and not harm Spike." She paused and gathered herself. "Or I *will* kill you again."
A look of wonder spread over Spike's face. And in spite of himself, he grinned at her, suddenly not caring if he looked like a complete fool in front of Angel.
Angel shuffled his feet and looked like he was going to say something, but Buffy had turned back to Spike. She caressed his cheek again, and was pleased when he leaned his face into her hand. "Spike, there's something else. Something I should have said a long time ago, but I was too scared." She blushed again and looked away.
Spike tried to wait patiently, but when she continued to look at her feet, he brought his hand up and cupped the side of her face. "Buffy, you don't have to..."
"Yes, I do," she interrupted. Forcing herself to look him in the eye, she opened her mouth, struggling with the words. "Spike, I love you."
Spike stared at her. After waiting for so long, now it seemed unreal. Then he felt Buffy pulling his head toward her. He brought his face down to meet hers and kissed her, releasing all the pent-up emotion of the last year.
As the two continued kissing, making small moans of contentment, Angel found himself in an awkward position. He still hadn't told Buffy about the amulet or the file. He ran his hands through his hair and then thrust them into his pockets. "I'll just tidy up here," he said to no one in particular.
He made himself busy, carrying the bodies of Caleb and the guardian outside. When he returned a few minutes later he found the two had grown quiet. He saw his childe and his former lover wrapped around each other, their eyes closed, swaying slightly back and forth. He wondered if they were aware of anything outside themselves. He couldn't help the twinge of jealousy he felt, but it was over-shadowed by the desire to finish the battle in Sunnydale and hurry home to LA and Cordelia.
When the two showed no signs of stopping, he walked over and picked up the scythe Buffy had dropped and examined it, trying to focus all his attention on it. Long minutes later, Angel sighed and looked up from the weapon. He cleared his throat once and then again when there was no reaction.
Slowly Spike lifted his head and glared at him. Angel ducked his head, letting Spike know he didn't want a fight. He lifted up the scythe by way of starting the conversation. "I thought I'd take this back to the house and let Faith watch it. Tell the others you'll be back... soon?"
Spike quirked his eyebrow, then looked at Buffy. She looked back at him and then shrugged. Without taking her eyes off Spike, she said, "Sounds good."
Angel's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them as Buffy tucked her face back into the crook of Spike's neck and he pulled her close against him. They sank back into their own world, oblivious to him. "I'll just go do that then. See you at the house in 15." He waved goodbye, but got no response.
He turned and walked up the steps and out of the tomb, muttering to himself. "No, don't stop on my account. I'll just show myself out." He turned and glanced back when he heard other noises emanating from the once quiet tomb. "Maybe I'll tell them an hour and 15 minutes." There was a loud crash followed by other, softer sounds. "Or maybe a couple of hours." He picked up his pace and hurried out of the graveyard.
The End?
Yes, I know it's not Buffy...
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