By PassionFish
A/N – Thanks to Marsters’ Girl for beta’ing this fiction!
Chapter
Twelve:
--- Day
Thirty-Nine ---
Buffy ran her free hand through sandy brown/
peroxide blonde hair, absently twirling a curl of soft hair between her
fingers. It had nearly grown
out...well; it was more half-and-half now.
Still short, but soft.
She lay on her side, her head propped up on her
other hand, and she gazed at the man who had shared her bed for the last two
months.
At the demon.
He was beautiful
She had never thought that a man could ever be
described as beautiful, but that’s what he was. Gentle and angry, irritating and engaging, annoying
and....perfect, for her at least.
*And that’s
all that matters. *
God knows how long she'd lain there; it felt like a
long time. But it was peaceful, never
the less. However, the stillness was
not to last as a book caught the corner of her eye. Leaning forward she pressed a kiss to his shoulder before
reaching over to slide the book of the desk behind him.
Settling back into the pillows she flipped back in
the book, eager to know what else had taken place after that fateful night that
had thrown a vampire and heiress together.
***
18th March,
1871
I have
heard from Mabel, who heard from Reverend Jameson who in turn was informed by
Lord and Lady Whitick that my saviour from that dreadful night has decided to
move here and has in fact purchased the Hartright residence; now to be known as
Dartmoore House.
William Dartmoore.
What an
elegant name! I know I should not
entertain such thoughts, that they, in themselves, are folly, but I long to
meet him once more. Since that
terrible...incident I have thought of nothing else. Mabel is quite humoured by it, I think.
I have had
a few nightmares since that night, but the thought of my dark saviour is all I
need to right my senses, and all is well again. Oh, how I long to see him one more time. There is something about him. Something I can't quite put my finger
on. His skin is as pale as any I have
ever seen...yet his manner, the way he spoke, that implies something
darker. There is something that draws
me to him. Something of the devil in
him, I think.
***
Buffy chuckled quietly to herself at Elizabeth's apt
deduction, her eyes briefly glancing to her still sleeping lover, who had
shifted at the noise but not woke. She
moved her eyes back to the page, scanning the shorter...and honestly more
mundane entries.
Days went by and Elizabeth continued to inform her
diary of the contents of her day; long spring rides, beautiful country walks,
and endless days of books.
Until...five entries later, something interesting
emerged.
***
24th March,
1871
Oh, the
most wondrous thing has occurred. So amazing
that I did not think it possible; had not dared to hope. Mr. Dartmoore arrived this late
afternoon. Actually, more like evening,
but that is of no matter! He said he
would have come sooner had not business in town kept him away.
He
expressed his deepest regret for not arriving sooner. I tried to put him at ease, but he swore that he would not rest
‘till the villain was in gaol.
Conversation was slightly stilted at first, but as the evening wore on I
felt as thought it had evolved to a more peaceful pace.
It is
nearly eleven o’clock and as I write I am anticipating the ring of the church
bells as the new hour arrives. William
left almost an hour ago, with the promise to return soon. I mentioned my love of gardens through the
course of the night, and he has offered me the use of his gardens whenever I
would like...once they are up and running.
He has just
moved in and he says the house is in disrepair, though I think he is
joking. But he is to hold a party, one
month from now and I am to attend. When
I asked as to whether I had a choice in the matter, he simply replied no, and
that it was fate.
I have
never believed that it was such a wondrous thing, ‘till now.
***
Buffy lifted her eyes from the page, sighing as the
happiness from the girl escaped the words she wrote. As she continued to read she became enamoured with the tale of
their engagement. Elizabeth continued
to weave her life like a love story, and pure euphoria emitted from every page
as she described how William wooed her, with flowers and expensive
chocolates. Long walks through his rose
garden; arose garden created especially for her.
***
16th April,
1871
The party
was a most joyous occasion, filled with food and dancing and laughter. I was the envy of every girl there, for
William paid me every ounce of attention.
Much to the upset of my childhood playmate, Edward. So to indulge him I danced once with him,
which in turn upset William!
Men are so
ridiculous!
But William
is the worst. Overtly possessive and
territorial!
William
squirreled me away, which was most improper; though I dare say he did not
care! Nor was it the most improper
thing he indulged in that night! The
fiend pushed me right up against the billiard's table and kissed me! But I could not resist him. I love him so much.... and he kisses so
well; his gentle touches wipe away any reservation I might ever have.
Never have
I experienced anything as amazing. He
is everything I have ever dreamt of.
He is my
Adonis. My perfection.
And I am
his.
***
Buffy smiled, stopping her reading only to brush her
lips across her lover's head, as he snuggled up against her in his sleep.
Buffy paused as she came to an entry different in
format. The writing was smudged, but
still legible. A gasp caught her throat
as she continued to read.
***
5th May,
1871
I don't
believe it.
I
can't.
It’s
impossible. An abomination.
How could
such a creature exist?
How could
God allow it?
How can I
love such a creature?
And, if he
is to be believed...
How can he
love me?
***
Buffy pouted at the abrupt turn in the story. Elizabeth had not said how it was she came
to know of William's condition; but it was obvious she was torn. Buffy could only relate to the feelings she
knew must have been coursing through her alter ego as she wrote.
How often had Buffy asked herself much the same
thing? It was easy while they were
here; she knew that, but would it last when the got home? Would Spike be able to deal with the crap
her friends would pile over him?
Would she?
"Love?"
Buffy looked down through unhappy eyes, into the
vampires sleepy, worried ones.
"Are you okay?
You read something sad?"
Spike sat up, curling one arm around her.
"What?
Uh, no...Yeah, maybe."
Buffy admitted. "She just
found out about William's, your, case of vampiritis...and I, guess she asked
some pertinent questions...got me to thinking..."
"Did you just say 'pertinent'?" Spike asked with a grin.
Buffy rolled her still-troubled eyes, "Not
funny. I do read you know."
"Not by choice..."
"Spike!"
"I'm sorry, love...." He turned serious, his voice softer. "What happened?"
"Just thinking about what might happen
if...when we get home."
"Scoobies and all that?"
Buffy looked away.
"Yeah..."
Spike leant forward, tilting her head up. "I'm not letting you go,
Slayer." He brushed his lips
across hers, only breaking the gentle kiss when he heard her tummy rumble. He smiled down at her, "Hungry?"
Buffy grinned sheepishly. "I guess so..."
"Stay here." He kissed her again.
"I'll bring something up."
"Thanks.... don’t be long."
"I won't, pet."
As he left Buffy lay back with a content smile, grabbing
the book and flipping further into the book; knowing that it had to get better
since she'd already read the wedding!
There were nearly three weeks worth of entries that
revolved entirely around Elizabeth's fear...and William's eagerness to please
her. She had let him visit her a week
after the discovery and Buffy's heart melted as she read the extent the vampire
had gone in order to win back 'her' affections.
Finally the day came when
she was to forgive him and Buffy's heart soared as she read the entry.
It was the
first of June. William had finally
persuaded her to visit him, and after a peaceful dinner he had taken her out
into the moon lit garden.
The garden
was littered with tall candles, casting their light across the petal-strewn
lawn. William had taken her hand and
led her to the little alcove at the back.
There she had sat and watched as he dropped to his knees before her and
a small velvet box materialised in his palm.
A tear
dropped from her eyes as she nodded and watched her beloved slide the ornate
diamond ring on to her finger. Her arms
slid tightly around his neck as he crushed her to him in his embrace.
A cheer
rang out behind them as the servants celebrated along with them. But the couple could hear nothing, not the
sound of their voices, nor the bark of the dogs...nothing but their heavy
breathing as they embraced passionately.
Spike yelped, only just managing to let go of the
tray in time as Buffy pulled him on to the bed beside her.
"Thought you were hungry." He said, when she broke away to breath.
"Sex now...food later." Spike shrugged, kissing her again.
--------
Back to
present day...
Midnight had come and gone, Richard had gained passage
through the tunnels into the Council's building; but could go with him no
further. They had upped their watch of
him, and he was certain they would both be caught if they went together.
So Giles now travelled alone.
The whole building seemed silent, but Giles knew
otherwise. He had to be quick or they'd
find him. Richard hadn't been a
fool. No wonder he'd wanted Giles to
come to England instead.
Since his arrival he had been treated with such
mistrust...but that was normal. What
wasn't was the-
"There you are." A click resounded around the tomb of an office, as the lock
finally turned and the cabinet opened.
Giles put down the lock-picking kit and opened the door. Giles grinned, rather happy with
himself. It had been years since he'd picked
a lock; "Haven't lost the touch, mate."
Of course it had helped that Willow had blessed the
kit; enabling it to bust through most magical barriers and everyday locks!
He skimmed the files, searching, searching....
"Ah."
He lifted out an aged tomb, rather well preserved. A quick skim of the contents ensured that he
had the right book. "Bingo."
He was just moving to close the door when a snarl
was heard from behind him.
Giles turned and took in the seven-foot creature in
front of him. It snarled again, its
head brushing the over hanging light.
"Bugger."
The Watcher’s eyes scanned his surroundings for
something he could use as a weapon.
"I take it my arrival was not as welcome as I
thought..."
He spotted his bag; an axe pointing out of the
top.... just behind the creature, if he could only-
Giles gasped as the creature's head rolled to the
floor and purple goo spurted everywhere.
"Couldn't let you have all the fun, old
man."
Giles grinned at Richard before grabbing the diary and
getting the hell out of there!
---------
--- Day Fifty ---
"What’s this?" Buffy smiled at Spike as she turned the package over in her
hands.
"Present.
Open it." He urged a bit
nervously.
Buffy smiled again, tearing away the brown wrapping
paper to reveal..."Oh, Spike..."
"It’s a diary." Spike began to explain.
"Figured you might like to write somethin' too, seeing as you...I
mean it was just a thought. If you
don't want it, just use it for firewo-” He flustered himself before Buffy
interrupted.
Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck. "It’s beautiful, Spike. I love it."
***
Buffy picked up the ink pen that had accompanied the
diary and carefully began her first entry.
6th September, 1872.
She laughed at the absurdity of the year, before
beginning to write. She recalled the
first thirty days of their time together in brief terms, but as their last
twenty days came about her writing flowed; she too eager to express to paper
the happiness, excitement, and enjoyment she had felt these past three weeks.
Buffy wrote of their nights 'on the town' as Spike
had put it. They had visited a pub
about a week and a half ago, in a very rough part of town, and had met some
vampires. Buffy realised how much she
had missed slaying...which had resulted in the preparation of a sparring room
for the two of them; and then the mother of all sparring matches!
Since then they had gone out nightly, Buffy feeling
unable to sit back and let people die, once the existence of vampires in this
time was thrust in her face.
Four days ago it had snowed and Buffy had been faced
with her first wintry experience.
The two had gone out as soon as night had fallen,
and the grounds had been alight with candles as they played in the snow. The dogs had heard their shouts and screams
as they pelted each other with snowballs.
Two beautiful snow angels and a ridiculous demon snowman had been
destroyed as three dogs escaped, barking wildly at their master's display. Ivy, their Labrador, had gone crazy once
she'd seen the snow pile and immediately felt that her only course of action
was to eat the whole thing. Her
partner, Holly, had joined in the fun, and eventually all the nine dogs were free
and frolicking around the garden.
Buffy had laughed as she watched them, for the first
time in a long while wishing for one modern convenience - a camera; so as to
capture the moment forever.
Spike had watched her euphoria openly, knowing that
there was nothing as close to heaven as this.
He amended his thoughts, as he lifted her up in his arms to warm her
frozen fingers and red nose by the roaring fire.... then once again in bed.
Nothing on earth could match this feeling…
Continued in…Chapter Thirteen!