Chapter 1 –
The moment the blonde stepped into the towering glass
building something lit a few of the occupants with a frenetic energy that
should have marked the beginning of an apocalypse. Maybe it was. Buffy Summers was not only in
The identification of the young woman had first been relayed to Gunn who quickly picked up the phone to call Wesley. Wesley in turn called Fred and finally Lorne was alerted by the head of the science department. In a burst of an almost comedic meeting, they all arrived in the lobby at the same time. Synchronized footsteps had them all marching toward Angel’s office as one unit which only made Harmony extremely suspicious.
Not willing to be left out, she hurried after them while uttering a meek warning to the them.
“Angel did say no interruptions.”
It was unheeded as Wesley pushed the door open but he immediately stopped in his tracks. Everyone behind him didn’t let Wesley’s sudden lack of movement stop them. The watcher was pushed further into the room by their momentum as the elevator was rapidly approaching their floor. Which made any hope of a casual encounter quickly deteriorate.
It was the yelp of surprise and anger that had them all turning away.
Spike quickly stood in front of Angel blocking his Sire from their view.
“What the hell is wrong with the lot of you?” Spike groused.
“Harmony was given explicit instructions for no one to enter.”
“Well, we’re sorry,” Fred said. “We didn’t know that…well, that…the two of you would…be well…”
“That I would be giving my mate a blow job,” Spike said with a laugh. He glanced over his shoulder and into amused brown eyes. Everything was back in its proper place and he stepped to the side.
“Yeah, that,” Gunn said. “Uh, can we turn around now?”
“What is it?” Angel asked. His voice was suddenly filled with concern. His entire top management had converged into his office unannounced which usually signaled a catastrophe of some sort. He rose to his feet to stand beside Spike.
“Well, we actually have a situation…” Wesley started, but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat at the door. “And she is the…”
“Buffy?” Spike asked with wonder. His head cocked to the side as he took in the sight of his former lover. She was even more beautiful than he remembered; her blonde hair was almost silver against her tanned skin, slim and elegantly dressed in black slacks, dainty black sandals and a red silk tunic. There was nothing left of the girl he once knew. The vision before him was all woman.
“Hi, honey, I’m home,” Buffy said, with a smile. “And from the expressions on your faces, I would say you weren’t expecting me.”
“Well, no,” Angel said. “We figured you were busy with your new beau, The Immortal.”
“Jealous?”
“I don’t think that’s the word I’d use,” Lorne interrupted the staring standoff between the triangle that had once caused quite a bit of tension from everyone who knew them. And it seemed doomed to do so again.
The Slayer made her way into the office, only stopping on
the other side of the desk from the two vampires. She quickly looked them over.
Her eyes widened as she glanced into their eyes then forced herself to look at
their hands again. At the matching wide platinum bands on the ring finger of
their left hands. The rings they had exchanged only a few weeks after their
return from
Everyone leaned closer to the three, waiting expectantly for what would happen next. Buffy was still apparently stunned as she stared at her former lovers. There was a quick shake of her head before she swallowed.
“You moved on,” Spike said, softly. It had to hurt her. Yes, she had moved on but Angel had been a big part of her life. And hopefully somewhere in her heart so had he. “We thought it best not to tell you.”
Harmony moved to get a better view. There wasn’t anything that was going to keep her from watching the Slayer Slut taken down a notch. Good for Blondie Bear. He had moved onto someone who appreciated him. She stumbled, latching onto Lorne to keep from tumbling to the floor.
“I suppose that is why you’re all in here,” Buffy said, quietly. She was going to keep her dignity no matter what happened. “To watch my reaction to the news? To see me wail and cry because I’m the one that got left behind?” Her eyes fell on Harmony. “Or to get a spot of revenge watching me get dumped? Sorry to disappoint, folks. I got over these two a long time ago.” Yeah it was a partial lie but she wasn’t putting on a show for anyone. She hadn’t earned the title of cold bitch for nothing. She turned back to Angel. “I got over you when you went into cahoots with the ultimate evil. And you,” she turned her eyes to Spike. “You, I got over as soon as I realized everything you told me was a lie.”
“A lie? Me? I never lied to you,” Spike postured. “It was you that was doing the lying.”
“I didn’t lie when I told you that I loved you,” Buffy whispered. “But I knew it meant nothing to you when I found out that you were back and didn’t care enough to find me. Yes, if it makes everyone feel better, I cried…a lot. But I’m over it now.”
“So, now that we are clear that none of us gives a crap anymore,” Angel said, stepping closer to Spike. No one, not even Buffy, was going to hurt his Childe anymore. “What exactly are you doing here, Buffy?”
“On business,” she said. “If we could speak privately?”
“Any business that concerns me concerns them,” Angel responded, tilting his head as he took stock of his ex. She wasn’t uncomfortable. He kind of admired her balls for coming in here. He respected her pushing aside her feelings even if he knew she was lying. It was too late to care though. Decisions had been made that couldn’t be undone. And they were ones that he didn’t want to undo. “Shall we take a seat?”
Buffy looked around at all of them and nodded. Angel led the way into the conference room where they all took seats. She was to the right of Angel while Spike was on his left, across from her.
“It concerns the Immortal…”
“Your lover,” Spike laughed. “What do you need from us? A magic potion to keep up with his sexual prowess?”
One perfectly plucked brow rose as she shook her head. “No, Spike, I can handle him just fine.” She paused as she let her eyes rake over that body she adored. “You should know…”
“What about the Immortal?” Angel said, with barely concealed anger. “This is getting us no where and I don’t see what we can do…”
“Forget it,” Buffy snapped, standing up. Her arms crossed in front of her. “I was hoping that you might still be concerned about…now what was it that Cordelia called it? The mission, but I guess you’re too busy being Mr. Powerful to bother. Oh, yes, thank you for letting us know about her, too.” She turned and made her way to the door before she turned to look back at them scathingly. “I’m in town on business. I was trying to respect your turf but you just want to play games. I’ll do what I need to do and get out. Don’t cross me. I’m still playing for the good side.”
She turned on her heel and slammed the door shut, leaving a stunned silence behind her. Angel stood, barely able to conceal the flood of emotions that seeing Buffy had caused. He looked at his mate, swallowed and headed for his private elevator without saying a word. He couldn’t.
When the hell had their lives become a pissing contest? When had the love between them become nothing more than a weapon to hurt each other with? And like Buffy he wasn’t going to let the others get their jollies from watching him break down. He strode without looking back. Spike was right behind him. He didn’t object. Because his Childe was probably the only one that could possibly understand. They rode to the penthouse apartment in silence.
It was only when the doors closed behind them that Angel spoke.
“It’s really over, isn’t it?”
Spike froze, cocking his head as he stared at Angel. “I thought we agreed on that when we became mates.”
“Yes, we did, didn’t we?” Angel turned to the other vampire. “I guess I always imagined her being that lost little girl forever. Go ahead and laugh. I know that I’m the one who set her free so she wouldn’t be, but she doesn’t need or want me anymore.”
“It hurts me, too.”
“Well, as you would put it, I guess that makes us a couple of bloody ponces, huh?”
Spike laughed, pulling his Sire into his arms. They held each other as they contemplated the woman who still held the power to shake up their world. Angel cupped Spike’s face, turning those features he loved so much so that he could feed upon their beauty. This was who he belonged to now. This was who he shared his world and life with. Not a Slayer that slept in the enemy’s bed.
“I love you, Ang,” Spike whispered.
They both issued a soft sigh before their lips met. It had taken a century for them to reach this understanding. It didn’t matter if no one else approved. All their strength and trust was in each other. Sometimes it was tender between them and sometimes it felt like they were trying to kill each other. But always the loyalty was there for them to hold onto.
“I guess we need to find her,” Angel said, leaning his forehead against Spike’s. “Find out what is causing such a ruckus with her. Then get her out of town before she does much more damage.”
“Sounds good to me,” Spike said.
But neither really believed it. Buffy was back and nothing was ever going to be the same again.
~~~~~~~
It hadn’t been hard to find her. A quick computer check revealed that a Buffy and Dawn Summers were checked into a suite at The Beverly Hilton. Spike was nervous about seeing Dawn again. Their relationship had never reached the level of friendship they first had. It was one of those lingering regrets he was never fully able to shake even after all this time.
“It’s going to be okay,” Angel reassured him as they made
their way down the hall. “It’s business. We’ll handle it and send them back to
“Yeah, we sure ain’t mature enough to handle seeing them on a daily basis.”
“Ass,” Angel teased. But he grew silent as they stopped outside the door. They looked at each other before Angel finally knocked on the door. They could hear movement on the other side then someone pressing against the door. There was a surprised gasp and someone fumbling with the locks. It was Dawn and it made Spike grin as she opened the door to them.
“Hello, niblet,” Spike said, stepping into the room without being invited. He glanced around the standard hotel suite’s main room; there was a couch and two chairs facing a television hidden in a hutch, and a small kitchen was along the front wall. It was as he figured, nothing interesting.
“What are you doing here?” Dawn asked, crossing her arms. “Buffy isn’t here and she doesn’t want to see you.”
Spike turned to the girl he once knew, but found a woman staring at him. A smile twisted his lips as he took in the legs that were now impossibly long and the lush brown hair framing a beautiful face that had lost its girlish roundness. The girl was only a former shadow to this creature before him. He bet that she didn’t lack for any male attention.
“That’s right,” a squeaking voice said from the doorway that apparently led to one of the bedrooms.
Spike turned surprised eyes to find Andrew striding into the room. The boy was defiantly looking at him as he came to stand next to Dawn. The two tried to appear threatening in their protectiveness of the Slayer. Spike had to swallow back a laugh at the thought.
“What did you say?” Spike menacingly asked, leaning closer to the two.
“I said that Dawn is right,” Andrew bravely said. “Buffy doesn’t want to see you.”
Spike had to hand it to the two. They were willing to stand up for Buffy. She needed that kind of loyalty in her life after the treachery of that last year in Sunnydale. A part of him was sad that it wasn’t him anymore. He pushed back the feelings. They wouldn’t serve any purpose at this point in his life.
“We’d rather hear it from her,” Spike said. “Until then we’re staying.” He flopped down on the couch and threw his feet up on the small table. “So, why don’t one of you be a dear and get a thirsty vampire a beer.”
Even Angel cringed at that. Spike grinned as his Sire’s eyes rolled in amusement.
“Get out,” Dawn said with fury in her eyes. “I don’t know who the hell you two think you are, but we don’t need or want you around.”
“Going to call security on us, Dawnie?” Angel asked. “What are you going to say? That you have two vampires you need to evict from your suite.”
“How about I just stake you?” Dawn asked, backing up to a side table with a bag on it. “If I do that then it’s taken care of, isn’t it? None of us have to worry about you.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a stake. Her hand held high she approached the couch again.
“Dawn,” Andrew said. “Buffy didn’t say anything about letting us dust them. Maybe you shouldn’t.”
“Do you really think that you’d have a chance of succeeding, lil’ bit?”
“Don’t call me that,” Dawn said with a calmness that revealed the maturity she’d achieved to keep up with her beauty.
It seemed that the younger Summers had changed quite a bit. There wasn’t a trace of fear in her trembling body or righteous indignation. It made Spike ache and he suddenly felt bad about acting like an ass toward her.
“Dawn, I’m sorry…”
“You always say you’re sorry,” Dawn said, crossing her arms blinking back what he suspected were tears. “It doesn’t work anymore. Please leave, just leave.”
A defiant Dawn he could tease, a pissed off Dawn he could handle, a crying Dawn tore Spike’s heart out. Hurting her or Buffy wasn’t something he could do. Not even now. He stood, reaching for her, but she stepped back. Her head dropped as she held herself.
“I didn’t come here to hurt you,” Spike whispered through the emotions choking him. He cleared his throat. “We wanted to see if we could help Buffy. This is hard on all of us.”
“Bullshit,” Dawn screeched surprising all of them. “You broke your promises and you left us, you son of a bitch.”
And with that she punched him.
to be continued…
