Destiny - Chapters 5 & 6
Oct. 24th, 2003 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
psubratAuthor: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: William and Buffy blur the lines between Watcher and Slayer while something horrible happens to Dawn...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Dark of Night"
As if on cue, the full moon in its splendor revealed itself from behind the clouds. What had been darkened was now alight with an eerie glow. What had been perceived to be lost was now found. The Slayer and her Watcher stood in the backyard entwined in one another. The moonlight danced over the young woman’s blonde hair giving it the look of a shimmering golden waterfall. The Watcher held his charge close, savoring every moment she allowed him to hold her like this, letting her sobs subside. He buried his face in her silky hair and breathed deeply. She smelled of vanilla with just a hint of roses. He wasn’t a religious man but as he closed his eyes, he prayed to whomever would hear him to let him be able to hold her this way, forever.
The Slayer wrapped her arms around her Watcher’s neck and allowed him to pull her closer. She melted into him as he stroked her hair and whispered softly into her ear. Her body ached for him. As she closed her eyes, she let her senses take over. It was then that she realized that the old familiar smells of tobacco and alcohol had been replaced by the scents of aftershave and soap. It was just one of the many changes she would have to get used to now. Her mind reeled as she replayed his words over and over again. I don’t love her. I love you. Had he really uttered the words? She had been too busy beating on his chest and screaming at him to know for sure, but she had her answer after looking into his sapphire eyes. This was really happening.
Dawn had heard the screaming as if Buffy and William had been in the room next door or right outside of her bedroom. The highly agitated voices had awakened her, not from a deep sleep mind you, but from somewhere in between. Who really sleeps well the night before the first day of school anyway? It certainly wouldn’t be her this evening if the two of them kept it up. "Note to self," she sighed as she pulled the pillow over her head, "close bedroom window before going to sleep." After about five minutes, and with some hope, she removed the pillow, only to be assaulted with more of Buffy’s shouting. Great, her sister really had a flair for the dramatics. She wished they would just make up already and put the rest of them out of their collective miseries.
She held her breath when she heard Buffy shout "I already loved you!" Had her sister finally said it? Had she really finally admitted it to him? Her heart began to soar. This was it! Finally! Then she heard Buffy cry out, "I already loved you and you left. Just like they all do. Then...then you come back, and you’re not even the same person I fell in love with." Uh oh. This could get ugly. Eventually it was Buffy’s sobs that disturbed her the most as they drifted in through the window. Concerned, she threw back her covers and sluggishly pulled herself out of bed. She made her way to the window with the assistance from the moonlight that was streaming through it. She arrived in time to see William pull her sister into an embrace, trying to calm her. That’s when she heard him say it, "I don’t love her. I love you." A wide smile broke out on Dawn’s face as she watched her sister slump against her Watcher’s chest. They had both said it. Now maybe she could get some sleep.
As she watched the two embrace, her mind drifted off to thoughts of Steven. Their relationship wasn’t one of puppy love; it felt much deeper than that. It wasn’t just some teenage crush either. It felt old and familiar, comfortable. She felt as if she was destined to be with him. She could tell by looking in his eyes that he felt the same. He was so different from anyone else she had ever met and it made her feel good. It was nice to know that she wasn’t the only freak her age. The thought made her smile. She closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. Suddenly her room came to life and she snapped open her eyes. A portal began to appear behind her. She stood quickly, and walked to the shimmering air. Once it stabilized, she noticed that it had opened on the same place she had seen with Steven the other night.
The car ride to Wesley’s place had only taken a few minutes. They parked the car and made their way into the apartment. He hustled Steven through the door and flipped on the lights. His new place wasn’t as comfortable as his place in Los Angeles. It was stark in contrast. He hadn’t hung anything up on the walls, nor taken the time to unpack many of the boxes. To him, this wasn’t home: it was just a layover to his final destination, whatever that would be. He cleared some boxes off the couch and motioned for the teen to sit down. Steven eyed the couch warily but took a seat on the far end, as far away from Wesley as possible.
"Do you want anything to drink or to eat," Wesley asked off handedly.
Steven shook his head and lowered his eyes.
"Surely you eat?" He studied Angel’s son closely. The boy looked well nourished and healthy.
"I make do," Steven said quietly. He felt overly confined in this apartment, like a caged animal.
Wesley noticed Steven’s tense posture. "You may leave anytime you wish to after we talk, so relax. Are you sure you don’t need anything?"
Again Steven shook his head.
"Alright then. I suppose I should properly introduce myself to you. I’m Wesley Wyndham-Pryce." He waited to see if his name brought any type of reaction from the boy. None. "I used to work for your father...Angel, back when we helped people."
"Monsters do not help people," Steven snapped at him.
Wesley nodded his head. "Right. Well Angel did. Angel was special. Did you know that he was cursed with a soul?"
Steven shrugged. "Maybe my father mentioned it in passing." His face dropped at the mention of his father. Almost immediately anger replaced any reflection that was there. "It doesn’t matter! Angel was still a monster."
"That might be so. But he had a soul. That gave him the ability to do good things. He was to eventually be rewarded by the Powers for his help. Angel was supposed to become human."
"That’s a lie!"
"No. It was prophesized, as was your birth. You see you are quite the miracle. A child of two vampires; not something that happens everyday you know."
"What does this have to do with me," he demanded. He was growing impatient with the history lesson.
Wesley snorted. The boy was just as impatient as his father had been. "Connor..."
"Don’t call me that!" He hated the name Connor more than he hated the monster that had given it to him.
"Fine. Steven. I work for people who are very interested in you. These people were Angel’s enemies. They would like you to help them."
"To do what," Steven asked curiously.
"To help them gain control of Sunnydale. I’m sure you’ve realized its mystical significance by now."
Steven nodded.
Now for the lie. "They want to rid Sunnydale of the monsters. To make it safe for everyone, not just a few people. But first, first we need to get rid of those who stand in our way."
"Who?"
"The Slayer and her friends."
It seemed like they stood in the embrace forever, letting their emotions wash over them. Finally, William pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes. Despite her puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, he was so taken by her beauty that he could barely speak, let alone breathe. Absently he reached up and gently brushed away a stray tear from her face. She leaned her face into his hand and kissed his palm.
"Buffy," he choked. "Please say it again. I need to hear you say it again." He was certain he had imagined everything. He held his breath as he waited for her to speak.
She looked up at him through the tears and smiled. "I love you, Spike."
He crushed her body to his again and began to weep tears of joy. He had waited for what seemed like centuries to hear her say those words, and now that she had finally spoken them, nothing would ever become between them again. Nothing.
She rested her head against his chest while he held her and she listened to his heartbeat. It was strong and steady. It was comforting to her. The phrase "where do we go from here" played over in her mind as it had the night Xander had summoned Sweet. She needed to know what was next for them. She wanted to make sure they had a future. "Spike," she whispered. "Now what?"
He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head to look him in the eyes. "Now I’m going to kiss you," he snarked.
She swatted him playfully and smiled broadly. "I’m serious, Spike. What does this all mean?"
He put his arm around her and led her over to the back steps. Once they sat down, he continued. "I suppose we should suss out how we’re going to handle things, between us and around everyone else. I’m sure Xander..."
"To hell with Xander!"
William looked at her in surprise and chuckled. "That’s my girl." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "I want you to know something," he said becoming deadly serious. "I’ll never leave you again. Ever."
"Promise?"
"I promise. I love you Buffy."
She closed her eyes as he touched his forehead to hers. She began showering his face with kisses and when their lips met, she swooned. She needed him. Every part of him. Souled or not. Human or not. She was his and he was hers. She finally realized the truth with every fiber of her being...they were destined to be together. There was something so familiar about this scene, almost as if she had lived it before. It never even occurred to her that she had dreamed it once, not so long ago.
William broke off the kiss and pulled her onto his lap. They sat there for several moments gazing into each other’s eyes. He noticed that everything around him was glowing softly from the moonlight. It was like a dream, a dream he never wanted to wake from.
She cocked her head to the side when she saw a grin appear on his face. "Wanna share the happy?"
"Thought I already was, Luv." He grinned at her again and laughed.
She frowned. "What’s so funny?"
"Not funny. Just...good." He paused for a moment and then added, "You know, Rupert saw this coming."
"He did?" Buffy asked incredulously. Despite the fact that she and Giles had talked about it, she just couldn’t imagine him discussing it with Spike.
"Yep. Said he’d beat me to a bloody pulp again if I hurt you. Don’t have any plans on it though."
"Good because he wouldn’t be the only one."
"Throw me to the wolves would you," he teased.
She pouted. "Only if you piss me off enough."
"Oh look at that pouty lip. I’m gonna get it."
The two of them laughed at their inside joke. Neither of them would have fathomed to guess that Willow’s wonky "My Will Be Done" spell from over two years ago would eventually be right on target.
Without speaking, he pulled them both to their feet and then led her inside the house. Slowly they made their way to the living room. He would have preferred Buffy’s bedroom but he didn’t want to wake the Bit. The curtains were open and the moonlight filtered into the room. He looked into her eyes once again. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss intensified as their need to be together grew. He hungrily met her tongue with his as he pulled her body to him. After what seemed an eternity, they both broke off the kiss to come up for much needed air, breathing heavily. Slowly he began to unbutton her blouse. His hands were shaking. All he could think about was making love to her, right here, right now.
Buffy felt like she was going to explode. Anytime his hands or lips touched her she tingled all over. She needed to be with him, to feel him love her. She felt him push her blouse off her shoulders and kiss her neck. Her knees buckled and she thought she was going to faint from the sensation. She could feel him slip his arm behind her back to steady her. She hungrily kissed him back when his mouth met hers once again. Heat and desire were emanating from them. This was it. Tonight they were going to consummate their love. Tonight...
Dawn’s scream pierced the air.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Dawn's disappearance unexpectedly cuts short Buffy and William's reunion...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Moonlight Dancing"
Dawn peered into the portal. She was positive that this was the same place the portal had opened on that night she was with Steven. This time, it was darker and there was no one to be seen nor heard. She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to decide if she should close the portal and forget about it or go through and check things out. The idea of finding out more about Steven was intriguing. Finally, curiosity got the better of her and she cautiously stepped into the room. It reminded her of a hotel lobby. She was just going to check things out, like she had when her first portal opened. Little by little her vision grew accustomed to the darkness. She chided herself for not grabbing her flashlight from her desk before stepping through the portal. If she was going to keep snooping around like this, she was going to have to start carrying one.
A cabinet on the other side of the room caught her attention. It looked somewhat familiar to her. She wandered over to look inside. Her breath caught in her chest as she recognized some of the contents. Weapons. This was no ordinary hotel. She knew this place. Or did she? The fact that the monks had given her false memories didn’t help; she was no longer sure what was real and what was implanted. This was frustrating. There was a little gnawing sensation at the back of her mind telling her that she should know this place, yet her mind remained cloudy. She quietly walked over to the front doors and looked out into the night. Wherever she was it was around the same time of night as Sunnydale, or at least close to it. Warily she tried to open the front doors, but they were locked. Okay. No way to get outside to see where she was.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a computer monitor with a scrolling screensaver. It was located behind the main counter. Maybe that would give her some clue to her current location. The desk where the computer resided was cluttered with papers. She turned on the desk light after glancing around the room to make sure she was still alone. The soft light illuminated a two-foot area on each side of the lamp. A silver framed picture sat near the telephone. Taking it in her hand, she studied the picture with great interest. A young, dark haired woman was smiling brightly and holding an infant in her arms. She thought she knew the girl, but again with the uncertainty. Gently she set the picture down and started to go through the loose papers on the desk. There had to be something here to tell her where she was. She glanced over to the portal, it was still there shimmering and humming. Good. After a few seconds she found something with letterhead on it. As she held it up to the light to read it, a hand fell on her shoulder.
Dawn’s scream pierced the air.
Buffy and William froze at the sound of Dawn’s scream. They quickly untangled, all thoughts of reuniting quelled. Dawn needed their help. Shifting into Slayer mode, Buffy went to the weapons chest, pulled out a sword and threw it at William. She grabbed a crossbow for herself. Heedless of her semi-nudeness, she bolted up the steps, taking two at a time, William close behind. It took less than a minute from the time they heard Dawn’s scream to the time they reached her bedroom door. She kicked the door open and charged into the room. It was completely empty.
"Dawn!" Buffy screamed. "Dawn? Where are you?" Panic began to take hold of her. Where was her sister? She scanned the room searching for a sign, anything that would tell her what happened. There was nothing out of place.
William threw open the door to Dawn’s closet, silently hoping the teen was hiding inside. It was empty save for the girl’s clothing. He turned to Buffy and shook his head. He could see the fear in her eyes.
"Where could she have gone? She didn’t come downstairs. We would have seen her." Her voice trembled, mostly out of anger than out of fear. She knew deep down that her sister could take care of herself. But still, Dawn was her responsibility.
"Luv," William said quietly as he walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "We’ll find her. Okay?"
Buffy nodded slowly. She walked over to her sister’s bed. To her it looked as though Dawn had gotten out of bed willingly, no signs of a struggle. She glanced over at the window. It was open.
William followed her gaze. "There’s no way..."
"This is Sunnydale," she stated flatly. "Anything is possible."
"Right," he sighed. Still, the girl couldn’t have gotten far. It hadn’t taken them that long to get up the steps! From what he could tell, the widow hadn’t been forced open.
"You go outside and look around. See if you can find any tracks. I’m going to call Xander, maybe even Anya and let them know Dawn’s missing. We’ll do a sweep of the town and then meet with them at the Magic Box."
He nodded.
Without hesitation, the two walked out of Dawn’s room and hurried toward their assigned tasks, both hoping the other would find some important clue as to the whereabouts of the missing teen.
Wesley watched as a wide grin crossed Steven’s face. It was almost chilling. He narrowed his eyes and spoke. "Do you know what a Slayer is?"
"I know what and who the Slayer is," Steven replied as he moved to the edge of his seat. He wanted to know more. Now.
"Good. Then I won’t go into details about Ms. Summers. Tell me though, how did you find out about her?"
He shrugged. "I overhead Fred and Gunn. They were talking about how Angel could love only one person. Her."
"Ah, yes. Buffy." He didn’t see Steven’s dark expression at the mention of her name.
"She loved that monster." He was angry. Disgust was rising in his voice as he continued. "How could anyone ever willingly love something like that, especially a person whose quest it is to kill them?"
Wesley stared in shock at the boy. He noted that Holtz had done a nice job brainwashing the child. "Buffy loved Angel. That’s true. They have a bond that no one has been able to break. Now do you understand why my employers want to get her and her friends out of the way?"
Steven nodded. He had already made up his mind. "I will help you. Tell me what I need to do."
Wesley smiled at the teen. This had been easier than he had expected. "There is one other thing..."
"And that is?"
"Dawn."
The forest was usually quiet this time of night. No creature could be heard, not even of the nocturnal variety. The Master paced in the cave, waiting for the next meal to be dropped off. He could feel himself become stronger every time he fed. His minions were starting to grow in numbers now. They were bringing him offerings, as were the ones who had betrayed him. It was such a shame that they hadn’t let him turn the first one. She would have made a splendid bride. They had wanted to use her as a calling card for the Slayer. Every time his thoughts dwelled on the Slayer he became angry and anxious at the same time. This time...this time she would be judged and he would be her executioner. The thought thrilled him. He closed his eyes and remembered the taste of her. She had been so young then. Would she taste sweeter now?
In his mind he played out every scenario, every detail of what it was going to be like to confront her again. Should he kill her instantly or torture her slowly? Perhaps he would even turn her friends before turning her, that way she would suffer more by watching their pain. She would become his right hand and his bride. He could not think of a more fitting end to her life. The night of his release was coming and she had no idea. He had been strong the night he had died at her hands, but he would be even stronger this time around, virtually indestructible. And there was nothing they would be able to do to stop him. The Last Judgment was going to make the Harvest and the Night of St. Vigeous look like child’s play. The Order of Aurelius would be reborn.
Buffy hung up the phone after waking Xander and explaining the situation to him. He was going to check the cemeteries and neighborhoods closest to his place and then meet up with her at the Magic Box in a few hours.
"Don’t worry Buff," he had said. "We’re gonna find her and she’s gonna be okay."
If only she could believe that. Where could Dawn have gone? What could have taken her? Buffy closed her eyes and heard Dawn’s scream roar through her mind. She shuddered. Had she failed her sister again?
The sound of the backdoor slamming closed snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see William staring at her, concern filling his eyes. She looked away. She could tell that he had found nothing to help them find Dawn.
William glided across the kitchen to take her in his arms. "It’s going to be alright, Pet. We’ll find her. She’s strong you know, like her big sis."
For the second time that night, Buffy cried.
"Hush, Luv. It’s going to be okay." He tried to comfort her as best he could but he was worried about Niblet just as much as she was. A thought occurred to him as he stroked Buffy’s hair and rocked her in his arms. "Buffy," he said kissing her on top of her head. "What if something didn’t take her?"
She looked up at him with a puzzled expression. What was he trying to get at?
"Just hear me out. What if she opened a portal and went through? You know how she’s been about wanting to investigate things. A real Harriet the Spy she is. What if she went through and..."
"And something got her? What if something on the other side pulled her through? How will we ever find her?" She was almost in hysterics now.
Great. This is not what he’d had in mind. He just wanted her to be open to the possibility. "No. I’m saying, worst case scenario, what if she went through to snoop and someone startled her..."
"Spike...William...God I don’t even know what to you call you anymore. Either way, what you’re saying is she could be trapped somewhere. No. I refuse to believe that. Something has her and we have to find her. We have to!"
William nodded. "Alright then. Let’s go do a quick sweep of the town. If she’s out there, we’ll find her."
Buffy quietly thanked him with a kiss. She grabbed the crossbow and they made their way out into the night.
After she was finished screaming, Dawn grabbed the hand on her shoulder and spun around like Buffy had taught her. Her attacker was much larger and stronger than she was, but she wasn't going down without a fight. She threw all of her weight into the move, and they both went crashing to the floor. Before her attacker could compose himself, she was up and across the room, heading for the weapons cabinet. She was terrified when she heard her assailant’s moan and the sound of him getting to his feet. Panicking, she chose a battle-axe that was much heavier than she had anticipated.
The footsteps were getting closer. She brought the axe up to her shoulder and started swinging blindly. However, the weight of the axe combined with her shaky footing sent her sprawling, face down, to the floor with a scream. Pain shot through her ankle and up her leg. Bloody hell. Had she just broken something? She lay quietly as she tried to assess her situation. That’s when she heard the footsteps again. They were closer than before. She could sense him standing over her. Closing her eyes, she summoned all of her courage. As the man’s hand touched her leg, she yelled and rolled away, scrambling to her feet.
"Don’t come near me asshole," she threatened. "I’ll kill you!"
She tried to look around the room for an escape route. That’s when she discovered that the portal had closed. Of course it had. It had probably closed as soon as that guy had grabbed her from behind. Damn. Now she was stuck here for sure. "Okay. Okay. Breathe deep and focus," she whispered to herself. If she could just calm down enough to think about Buffy she’d be able to open another portal and go home. As soon as she had quieted herself down, that’s when she noticed that the footsteps had stopped. Suddenly the room was filled with light. Her hand flew up to her eyes to shield them from the glare.
"Dawn," the male voice asked from somewhere across the room. "Is that you?"
She lowered her hand. Her eyes widened. "Angel?"
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: William and Buffy blur the lines between Watcher and Slayer while something horrible happens to Dawn...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Dark of Night"
- 5 -
Moonlight Dancing
Moonlight Dancing
As if on cue, the full moon in its splendor revealed itself from behind the clouds. What had been darkened was now alight with an eerie glow. What had been perceived to be lost was now found. The Slayer and her Watcher stood in the backyard entwined in one another. The moonlight danced over the young woman’s blonde hair giving it the look of a shimmering golden waterfall. The Watcher held his charge close, savoring every moment she allowed him to hold her like this, letting her sobs subside. He buried his face in her silky hair and breathed deeply. She smelled of vanilla with just a hint of roses. He wasn’t a religious man but as he closed his eyes, he prayed to whomever would hear him to let him be able to hold her this way, forever.
The Slayer wrapped her arms around her Watcher’s neck and allowed him to pull her closer. She melted into him as he stroked her hair and whispered softly into her ear. Her body ached for him. As she closed her eyes, she let her senses take over. It was then that she realized that the old familiar smells of tobacco and alcohol had been replaced by the scents of aftershave and soap. It was just one of the many changes she would have to get used to now. Her mind reeled as she replayed his words over and over again. I don’t love her. I love you. Had he really uttered the words? She had been too busy beating on his chest and screaming at him to know for sure, but she had her answer after looking into his sapphire eyes. This was really happening.
******
Dawn had heard the screaming as if Buffy and William had been in the room next door or right outside of her bedroom. The highly agitated voices had awakened her, not from a deep sleep mind you, but from somewhere in between. Who really sleeps well the night before the first day of school anyway? It certainly wouldn’t be her this evening if the two of them kept it up. "Note to self," she sighed as she pulled the pillow over her head, "close bedroom window before going to sleep." After about five minutes, and with some hope, she removed the pillow, only to be assaulted with more of Buffy’s shouting. Great, her sister really had a flair for the dramatics. She wished they would just make up already and put the rest of them out of their collective miseries.
She held her breath when she heard Buffy shout "I already loved you!" Had her sister finally said it? Had she really finally admitted it to him? Her heart began to soar. This was it! Finally! Then she heard Buffy cry out, "I already loved you and you left. Just like they all do. Then...then you come back, and you’re not even the same person I fell in love with." Uh oh. This could get ugly. Eventually it was Buffy’s sobs that disturbed her the most as they drifted in through the window. Concerned, she threw back her covers and sluggishly pulled herself out of bed. She made her way to the window with the assistance from the moonlight that was streaming through it. She arrived in time to see William pull her sister into an embrace, trying to calm her. That’s when she heard him say it, "I don’t love her. I love you." A wide smile broke out on Dawn’s face as she watched her sister slump against her Watcher’s chest. They had both said it. Now maybe she could get some sleep.
As she watched the two embrace, her mind drifted off to thoughts of Steven. Their relationship wasn’t one of puppy love; it felt much deeper than that. It wasn’t just some teenage crush either. It felt old and familiar, comfortable. She felt as if she was destined to be with him. She could tell by looking in his eyes that he felt the same. He was so different from anyone else she had ever met and it made her feel good. It was nice to know that she wasn’t the only freak her age. The thought made her smile. She closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. Suddenly her room came to life and she snapped open her eyes. A portal began to appear behind her. She stood quickly, and walked to the shimmering air. Once it stabilized, she noticed that it had opened on the same place she had seen with Steven the other night.
******
The car ride to Wesley’s place had only taken a few minutes. They parked the car and made their way into the apartment. He hustled Steven through the door and flipped on the lights. His new place wasn’t as comfortable as his place in Los Angeles. It was stark in contrast. He hadn’t hung anything up on the walls, nor taken the time to unpack many of the boxes. To him, this wasn’t home: it was just a layover to his final destination, whatever that would be. He cleared some boxes off the couch and motioned for the teen to sit down. Steven eyed the couch warily but took a seat on the far end, as far away from Wesley as possible.
"Do you want anything to drink or to eat," Wesley asked off handedly.
Steven shook his head and lowered his eyes.
"Surely you eat?" He studied Angel’s son closely. The boy looked well nourished and healthy.
"I make do," Steven said quietly. He felt overly confined in this apartment, like a caged animal.
Wesley noticed Steven’s tense posture. "You may leave anytime you wish to after we talk, so relax. Are you sure you don’t need anything?"
Again Steven shook his head.
"Alright then. I suppose I should properly introduce myself to you. I’m Wesley Wyndham-Pryce." He waited to see if his name brought any type of reaction from the boy. None. "I used to work for your father...Angel, back when we helped people."
"Monsters do not help people," Steven snapped at him.
Wesley nodded his head. "Right. Well Angel did. Angel was special. Did you know that he was cursed with a soul?"
Steven shrugged. "Maybe my father mentioned it in passing." His face dropped at the mention of his father. Almost immediately anger replaced any reflection that was there. "It doesn’t matter! Angel was still a monster."
"That might be so. But he had a soul. That gave him the ability to do good things. He was to eventually be rewarded by the Powers for his help. Angel was supposed to become human."
"That’s a lie!"
"No. It was prophesized, as was your birth. You see you are quite the miracle. A child of two vampires; not something that happens everyday you know."
"What does this have to do with me," he demanded. He was growing impatient with the history lesson.
Wesley snorted. The boy was just as impatient as his father had been. "Connor..."
"Don’t call me that!" He hated the name Connor more than he hated the monster that had given it to him.
"Fine. Steven. I work for people who are very interested in you. These people were Angel’s enemies. They would like you to help them."
"To do what," Steven asked curiously.
"To help them gain control of Sunnydale. I’m sure you’ve realized its mystical significance by now."
Steven nodded.
Now for the lie. "They want to rid Sunnydale of the monsters. To make it safe for everyone, not just a few people. But first, first we need to get rid of those who stand in our way."
"Who?"
"The Slayer and her friends."
******
It seemed like they stood in the embrace forever, letting their emotions wash over them. Finally, William pulled back so that he could look her in the eyes. Despite her puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks, he was so taken by her beauty that he could barely speak, let alone breathe. Absently he reached up and gently brushed away a stray tear from her face. She leaned her face into his hand and kissed his palm.
"Buffy," he choked. "Please say it again. I need to hear you say it again." He was certain he had imagined everything. He held his breath as he waited for her to speak.
She looked up at him through the tears and smiled. "I love you, Spike."
He crushed her body to his again and began to weep tears of joy. He had waited for what seemed like centuries to hear her say those words, and now that she had finally spoken them, nothing would ever become between them again. Nothing.
She rested her head against his chest while he held her and she listened to his heartbeat. It was strong and steady. It was comforting to her. The phrase "where do we go from here" played over in her mind as it had the night Xander had summoned Sweet. She needed to know what was next for them. She wanted to make sure they had a future. "Spike," she whispered. "Now what?"
He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her head to look him in the eyes. "Now I’m going to kiss you," he snarked.
She swatted him playfully and smiled broadly. "I’m serious, Spike. What does this all mean?"
He put his arm around her and led her over to the back steps. Once they sat down, he continued. "I suppose we should suss out how we’re going to handle things, between us and around everyone else. I’m sure Xander..."
"To hell with Xander!"
William looked at her in surprise and chuckled. "That’s my girl." He gave her a peck on the cheek. "I want you to know something," he said becoming deadly serious. "I’ll never leave you again. Ever."
"Promise?"
"I promise. I love you Buffy."
She closed her eyes as he touched his forehead to hers. She began showering his face with kisses and when their lips met, she swooned. She needed him. Every part of him. Souled or not. Human or not. She was his and he was hers. She finally realized the truth with every fiber of her being...they were destined to be together. There was something so familiar about this scene, almost as if she had lived it before. It never even occurred to her that she had dreamed it once, not so long ago.
William broke off the kiss and pulled her onto his lap. They sat there for several moments gazing into each other’s eyes. He noticed that everything around him was glowing softly from the moonlight. It was like a dream, a dream he never wanted to wake from.
She cocked her head to the side when she saw a grin appear on his face. "Wanna share the happy?"
"Thought I already was, Luv." He grinned at her again and laughed.
She frowned. "What’s so funny?"
"Not funny. Just...good." He paused for a moment and then added, "You know, Rupert saw this coming."
"He did?" Buffy asked incredulously. Despite the fact that she and Giles had talked about it, she just couldn’t imagine him discussing it with Spike.
"Yep. Said he’d beat me to a bloody pulp again if I hurt you. Don’t have any plans on it though."
"Good because he wouldn’t be the only one."
"Throw me to the wolves would you," he teased.
She pouted. "Only if you piss me off enough."
"Oh look at that pouty lip. I’m gonna get it."
The two of them laughed at their inside joke. Neither of them would have fathomed to guess that Willow’s wonky "My Will Be Done" spell from over two years ago would eventually be right on target.
Without speaking, he pulled them both to their feet and then led her inside the house. Slowly they made their way to the living room. He would have preferred Buffy’s bedroom but he didn’t want to wake the Bit. The curtains were open and the moonlight filtered into the room. He looked into her eyes once again. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss intensified as their need to be together grew. He hungrily met her tongue with his as he pulled her body to him. After what seemed an eternity, they both broke off the kiss to come up for much needed air, breathing heavily. Slowly he began to unbutton her blouse. His hands were shaking. All he could think about was making love to her, right here, right now.
Buffy felt like she was going to explode. Anytime his hands or lips touched her she tingled all over. She needed to be with him, to feel him love her. She felt him push her blouse off her shoulders and kiss her neck. Her knees buckled and she thought she was going to faint from the sensation. She could feel him slip his arm behind her back to steady her. She hungrily kissed him back when his mouth met hers once again. Heat and desire were emanating from them. This was it. Tonight they were going to consummate their love. Tonight...
Dawn’s scream pierced the air.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Dawn's disappearance unexpectedly cuts short Buffy and William's reunion...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Moonlight Dancing"
- 6 -
Worst Case Scenario
Worst Case Scenario
Dawn peered into the portal. She was positive that this was the same place the portal had opened on that night she was with Steven. This time, it was darker and there was no one to be seen nor heard. She chewed on her bottom lip, trying to decide if she should close the portal and forget about it or go through and check things out. The idea of finding out more about Steven was intriguing. Finally, curiosity got the better of her and she cautiously stepped into the room. It reminded her of a hotel lobby. She was just going to check things out, like she had when her first portal opened. Little by little her vision grew accustomed to the darkness. She chided herself for not grabbing her flashlight from her desk before stepping through the portal. If she was going to keep snooping around like this, she was going to have to start carrying one.
A cabinet on the other side of the room caught her attention. It looked somewhat familiar to her. She wandered over to look inside. Her breath caught in her chest as she recognized some of the contents. Weapons. This was no ordinary hotel. She knew this place. Or did she? The fact that the monks had given her false memories didn’t help; she was no longer sure what was real and what was implanted. This was frustrating. There was a little gnawing sensation at the back of her mind telling her that she should know this place, yet her mind remained cloudy. She quietly walked over to the front doors and looked out into the night. Wherever she was it was around the same time of night as Sunnydale, or at least close to it. Warily she tried to open the front doors, but they were locked. Okay. No way to get outside to see where she was.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a computer monitor with a scrolling screensaver. It was located behind the main counter. Maybe that would give her some clue to her current location. The desk where the computer resided was cluttered with papers. She turned on the desk light after glancing around the room to make sure she was still alone. The soft light illuminated a two-foot area on each side of the lamp. A silver framed picture sat near the telephone. Taking it in her hand, she studied the picture with great interest. A young, dark haired woman was smiling brightly and holding an infant in her arms. She thought she knew the girl, but again with the uncertainty. Gently she set the picture down and started to go through the loose papers on the desk. There had to be something here to tell her where she was. She glanced over to the portal, it was still there shimmering and humming. Good. After a few seconds she found something with letterhead on it. As she held it up to the light to read it, a hand fell on her shoulder.
Dawn’s scream pierced the air.
******
Buffy and William froze at the sound of Dawn’s scream. They quickly untangled, all thoughts of reuniting quelled. Dawn needed their help. Shifting into Slayer mode, Buffy went to the weapons chest, pulled out a sword and threw it at William. She grabbed a crossbow for herself. Heedless of her semi-nudeness, she bolted up the steps, taking two at a time, William close behind. It took less than a minute from the time they heard Dawn’s scream to the time they reached her bedroom door. She kicked the door open and charged into the room. It was completely empty.
"Dawn!" Buffy screamed. "Dawn? Where are you?" Panic began to take hold of her. Where was her sister? She scanned the room searching for a sign, anything that would tell her what happened. There was nothing out of place.
William threw open the door to Dawn’s closet, silently hoping the teen was hiding inside. It was empty save for the girl’s clothing. He turned to Buffy and shook his head. He could see the fear in her eyes.
"Where could she have gone? She didn’t come downstairs. We would have seen her." Her voice trembled, mostly out of anger than out of fear. She knew deep down that her sister could take care of herself. But still, Dawn was her responsibility.
"Luv," William said quietly as he walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "We’ll find her. Okay?"
Buffy nodded slowly. She walked over to her sister’s bed. To her it looked as though Dawn had gotten out of bed willingly, no signs of a struggle. She glanced over at the window. It was open.
William followed her gaze. "There’s no way..."
"This is Sunnydale," she stated flatly. "Anything is possible."
"Right," he sighed. Still, the girl couldn’t have gotten far. It hadn’t taken them that long to get up the steps! From what he could tell, the widow hadn’t been forced open.
"You go outside and look around. See if you can find any tracks. I’m going to call Xander, maybe even Anya and let them know Dawn’s missing. We’ll do a sweep of the town and then meet with them at the Magic Box."
He nodded.
Without hesitation, the two walked out of Dawn’s room and hurried toward their assigned tasks, both hoping the other would find some important clue as to the whereabouts of the missing teen.
******
Wesley watched as a wide grin crossed Steven’s face. It was almost chilling. He narrowed his eyes and spoke. "Do you know what a Slayer is?"
"I know what and who the Slayer is," Steven replied as he moved to the edge of his seat. He wanted to know more. Now.
"Good. Then I won’t go into details about Ms. Summers. Tell me though, how did you find out about her?"
He shrugged. "I overhead Fred and Gunn. They were talking about how Angel could love only one person. Her."
"Ah, yes. Buffy." He didn’t see Steven’s dark expression at the mention of her name.
"She loved that monster." He was angry. Disgust was rising in his voice as he continued. "How could anyone ever willingly love something like that, especially a person whose quest it is to kill them?"
Wesley stared in shock at the boy. He noted that Holtz had done a nice job brainwashing the child. "Buffy loved Angel. That’s true. They have a bond that no one has been able to break. Now do you understand why my employers want to get her and her friends out of the way?"
Steven nodded. He had already made up his mind. "I will help you. Tell me what I need to do."
Wesley smiled at the teen. This had been easier than he had expected. "There is one other thing..."
"And that is?"
"Dawn."
******
The forest was usually quiet this time of night. No creature could be heard, not even of the nocturnal variety. The Master paced in the cave, waiting for the next meal to be dropped off. He could feel himself become stronger every time he fed. His minions were starting to grow in numbers now. They were bringing him offerings, as were the ones who had betrayed him. It was such a shame that they hadn’t let him turn the first one. She would have made a splendid bride. They had wanted to use her as a calling card for the Slayer. Every time his thoughts dwelled on the Slayer he became angry and anxious at the same time. This time...this time she would be judged and he would be her executioner. The thought thrilled him. He closed his eyes and remembered the taste of her. She had been so young then. Would she taste sweeter now?
In his mind he played out every scenario, every detail of what it was going to be like to confront her again. Should he kill her instantly or torture her slowly? Perhaps he would even turn her friends before turning her, that way she would suffer more by watching their pain. She would become his right hand and his bride. He could not think of a more fitting end to her life. The night of his release was coming and she had no idea. He had been strong the night he had died at her hands, but he would be even stronger this time around, virtually indestructible. And there was nothing they would be able to do to stop him. The Last Judgment was going to make the Harvest and the Night of St. Vigeous look like child’s play. The Order of Aurelius would be reborn.
******
Buffy hung up the phone after waking Xander and explaining the situation to him. He was going to check the cemeteries and neighborhoods closest to his place and then meet up with her at the Magic Box in a few hours.
"Don’t worry Buff," he had said. "We’re gonna find her and she’s gonna be okay."
If only she could believe that. Where could Dawn have gone? What could have taken her? Buffy closed her eyes and heard Dawn’s scream roar through her mind. She shuddered. Had she failed her sister again?
The sound of the backdoor slamming closed snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see William staring at her, concern filling his eyes. She looked away. She could tell that he had found nothing to help them find Dawn.
William glided across the kitchen to take her in his arms. "It’s going to be alright, Pet. We’ll find her. She’s strong you know, like her big sis."
For the second time that night, Buffy cried.
"Hush, Luv. It’s going to be okay." He tried to comfort her as best he could but he was worried about Niblet just as much as she was. A thought occurred to him as he stroked Buffy’s hair and rocked her in his arms. "Buffy," he said kissing her on top of her head. "What if something didn’t take her?"
She looked up at him with a puzzled expression. What was he trying to get at?
"Just hear me out. What if she opened a portal and went through? You know how she’s been about wanting to investigate things. A real Harriet the Spy she is. What if she went through and..."
"And something got her? What if something on the other side pulled her through? How will we ever find her?" She was almost in hysterics now.
Great. This is not what he’d had in mind. He just wanted her to be open to the possibility. "No. I’m saying, worst case scenario, what if she went through to snoop and someone startled her..."
"Spike...William...God I don’t even know what to you call you anymore. Either way, what you’re saying is she could be trapped somewhere. No. I refuse to believe that. Something has her and we have to find her. We have to!"
William nodded. "Alright then. Let’s go do a quick sweep of the town. If she’s out there, we’ll find her."
Buffy quietly thanked him with a kiss. She grabbed the crossbow and they made their way out into the night.
******
After she was finished screaming, Dawn grabbed the hand on her shoulder and spun around like Buffy had taught her. Her attacker was much larger and stronger than she was, but she wasn't going down without a fight. She threw all of her weight into the move, and they both went crashing to the floor. Before her attacker could compose himself, she was up and across the room, heading for the weapons cabinet. She was terrified when she heard her assailant’s moan and the sound of him getting to his feet. Panicking, she chose a battle-axe that was much heavier than she had anticipated.
The footsteps were getting closer. She brought the axe up to her shoulder and started swinging blindly. However, the weight of the axe combined with her shaky footing sent her sprawling, face down, to the floor with a scream. Pain shot through her ankle and up her leg. Bloody hell. Had she just broken something? She lay quietly as she tried to assess her situation. That’s when she heard the footsteps again. They were closer than before. She could sense him standing over her. Closing her eyes, she summoned all of her courage. As the man’s hand touched her leg, she yelled and rolled away, scrambling to her feet.
"Don’t come near me asshole," she threatened. "I’ll kill you!"
She tried to look around the room for an escape route. That’s when she discovered that the portal had closed. Of course it had. It had probably closed as soon as that guy had grabbed her from behind. Damn. Now she was stuck here for sure. "Okay. Okay. Breathe deep and focus," she whispered to herself. If she could just calm down enough to think about Buffy she’d be able to open another portal and go home. As soon as she had quieted herself down, that’s when she noticed that the footsteps had stopped. Suddenly the room was filled with light. Her hand flew up to her eyes to shield them from the glare.
"Dawn," the male voice asked from somewhere across the room. "Is that you?"
She lowered her hand. Her eyes widened. "Angel?"
