Chancing Folly
“This
is the part that isn’t any fun, if there isn’t any screaming.”
Evil-Willow
– ‘The Wish’
****
Dawn
watched as Faith ran from Angel’s office out into the garden. She glanced across
at Wesley who had been staring at office door ever since Faith had closed it
behind her. The former Watcher strode purposefully across the lobby to the office,
slamming the door behind him. Her eyes lit with interest as she wondered what
was going on.
With
a shrug she turned her attention back to the Scoobies. Buffy was talking with
Xander and Willow, while Tara and Anya had joined Fred, Gunn and Cordelia. Spike
stood by himself, leaning against one the pillars as he smoked. Getting up from
the couch she walked towards him, smiling as she watched him watch her sister.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You
ok?”
“Fine.
You.”
“Fine.”
“Good.”
“You
and Buffy really need to talk.”
“Dawn…”
“No
listen to me,” the teenager interrupted. “I don’t know what’s happened between
you since you got sent back to that game. What with the kissing and stuff, I’m
inclined to say it was of the good. But I’ll bet you haven’t talked about it.
And if you don’t…”
“Nibblet…”
“If
you don’t, nothing’ll ever get resolved and you’ll go back to how it was before.
Believe me. My stubborn streak, I get from my parents.”
“I
have to go Dawn,” Spike told her quietly, wiping the smile from her face.
“What?
No you don’t. Where are you going? What do you mean you have to go? Why?”
“Dawn,
sweetheart, calm down.”
“No!
Buffy!!”
The
Slayer looked up at her sister’s shout and made her way swiftly to the girl’s
side. “What? What’s wrong? Dawnie are you ok?”
“He’s
leaving,” Dawn told Buffy, tears in her eyes. “Tell him he can’t leave.”
Buffy
looked stunned. “What?”
“Bloody
hell Dawn,” Spike muttered, shaking his head at his girls. “I’m not leaving,”
he told them firmly. “I just have to go somewhere. Got a few things to do, is
all. No need to make it sound like I’m moving to China.”
Both
Buffy and Dawn relaxed slightly. “What things do you have to do?”
“Just
things. Nothing important.”
The
Slayer frowned but didn’t push for an answer. “Well how long is it gonna take?
We were going to head back to Sunnydale.”
“Yeah,
you do that. Go home; get some rest. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
“Spike…”
Buffy began, but stopped when she saw the determined look on his face. She had
a feeling she knew what he had to do. She just hoped they’d be able to talk
about it later.
Stepping
closer to her, Spike cupped her cheek with his palm. “Nothing’s going to keep
me away from you for long.”
“I
know,” Buffy sighed, leaning into him.
Leaning
forward slightly Spike kissed her gently, not moving to deepen it, just holding
their lips pressed softly against one another.
Dawn
stepped back as Buffy moved closer, allowing the vampire and Slayer some privacy.
She started back towards Willow and Tara who were now seated on the couch when
the door to Angel’s office opened once again and Wesley emerged, heading for
the garden. Intrigued by what was happening between him and Faith, Dawn changed
direction and followed.
****
“So…”
Wesley said taking a seat beside Faith.
“So…”
she replied, swinging her legs playfully as she avoided looking at him.
“What
are you going to do now?”
Faith
sighed. “I don’t know Wes. I guess I’m a free woman now. Any suggestions?”
“One
thing does spring to mind.”
“Yeah
but Sunnydale’s not as much fun as it used to be. All the hot demons are taken.”
Wesley
chuckled. “It always has to be difficult with you doesn’t it?”
“You
wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No.
I wouldn’t,” he said seriously and turned her to face him. “Faith…”
The
Slayer pushed away from him and walked away from him to the other side of the
courtyard. “Wes, don’t do this.”
“I
wasn’t aware I was doing anything.”
“Whatever
it is you’re feeling it’s because of that damn game. Trust me, I feel it too.
One day in reality and you’ll be wishing me a million miles away.”
“Rubbish!”
“No,
it’s not. What’s really changed between us huh? Apart from the fact that you
saved my life?”
“What’s
changed is that we’ve both grown up!” Wesley shouted, advancing on her. “You
feel it too. You just said you do.”
“And
what do you want me to do about it?” she screamed back. “Stay here and shack
up with you? Two rogue demon hunters together?”
“Would
it be so bad?” he asked gently as he drew up next to her.
“Wesley…”
“Just
answer the bloody question!”
“No
of course not,” Faith practically sobbed, defeated. “Of course it wouldn’t be
bad. It would be amazing.”
Wesley
pulled the Slayer towards him and tipped her head up to face him. “So what’s
the problem?”
”I’ll screw it up. I always do. I’ve disappointed or hurt everyone I ever cared
about. I don’t want to do that to you again.”
“Then
stay here with me.”
“Are
you even listening to anything I’m saying?”
“I’m
listening, I’m just not paying attention.”
“Why
not?”
“Because
you’re an idiot.”
“And
this is supposed to attract me how?”
“Faith
for once in your life. Shut. Up.”
****
Dawn
smiled to herself as she watched the Slayer and former Watcher argue through
the French windows. Her eyes widened when she saw Wesley grab Faith around the
waist, forcing her to look at him. She glanced towards her sister hoping to
alert her to what was happening outside but found she was still entwined with
Spike. With a happy sigh she turned back towards the couple in the garden who,
to her surprise, were engaged in the very same thing.
“You’re still number one with the guilt trip mom.”
Buffy – ‘Amends’
****
“Are
you sure you’re going to get back before sunset?”
Buffy asked as Angel pulled up in front of her house. Giles had decided
to spend the night at the Hyperion so that he could make arrangements to go
home to England, but he had promised Buffy he would spend a few days in Sunnydale
before he left. Willow and Tara had been dropped off at the college, and Xander
and Anya at their apartment, leaving only Buffy, Dawn and Angel in the car.
“Yeah,
I’ll be fine. It’s only a two-hour drive.”
Dawn
glanced between them and rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the ride Angel. Hope we’ll
see you again soon,” she said cheerfully as she leaned up to press a quick kiss
to his cheek. “Don’t be too long Buffy ‘k?”
“Bye
Dawn!” Angel called after her as she raced from the car into the house and she
waved a hand in response, without turning to face him again.
The
Slayer and vampire sat in silence for a few minutes, before they both started
to speak at once.
“Buffy…”
“Angel…”
“No,
sorry. You first.”
“No
you. What did you want to say?”
Angel
smiled. “I wanted to say, I hope Spike makes you happy.”
“He
does,” Buffy responded simply. “I hope you and Cordy will be happy together.”
“We
will. I mean, I think we will. There’s still that happiness clause.”
“Right.
Well you know, I could get Willow to look into that for you.”
Angel
nodded in acknowledgement and the pair fell silent once again.
“I
better get going,” Buffy stated eventually. “Dawn’ll be waiting for me. We need
some sisterly bonding time, you know.”
“It
was good seeing you Buffy.”
“You
too,” the Slayer told him honestly.
“If you need any help in the future…”
“I’ll
give you a call.”
****
“Well that was short,” Dawn observed as Buffy entered the house. “I thought you’d be out there for hours having your conversation.”
Buffy frowned at her sister. “Our conversation?”
“Yeah,
you know. ‘Oh Buffy,’” Dawn explained, affecting a deep tone to imitate Angel,
“’I love you. But you know we can never be together.’ And then you say, ‘Oh
Angel.’” Dawn switched to a higher tone to emulate her sister. “’How will I
ever survive without you?’ Followed by either a big argument or five minutes
of smooching.”
“Dawn…”
“Yeah,
I know. So what happened to tonight’s conversation?”
“Didn’t
need it.”
“No?”
“No.”
Without
saying anymore Buffy stood and walked to the kitchen where she pulled a carton
of orange juice out of the fridge. Dawn trailed behind her, taking a seat at
the kitchen counter.
“Why
didn’t you need it?”
“Because
he’s in love with Cordelia.”
“And?”
Buffy
sighed, but faced her sister head on. “And I’m…”
“Yes?”
“None
of your business.”
Dawn
smirked. “I knew it.”
“You
don’t know anything.”
“Sure
I do.”
“Dawn!”
“What?”
“Aren’t
you tired?”
“Not
really.”
“Dawnie…”
Suddenly
Dawn’s face turned serious and she looked at her sister with some apprehension.
“Buffy I have to talk to you about something?”
“About
what sweetie?” Buffy asked, sitting down next to the younger girl when she noticed
Dawn’s unease.
“About
what happened. To me and Spike.”
“Ok.”
“It’s
gonna be weird.”
Buffy
swallowed uncomfortably, her own nervousness rising. “Alright.”
“We
were going to tell you together. But I think it’ll be easier if it’s just me.”
“Dawn
honey, you’re really freaking me out here.”
“Ok. Here goes. It started when Spike got staked…”
“Just
so we’re clear; you guys know you’re nuts right?”
Oz
– ‘Gingerbread’
****
As
Drusilla slept, Darla stood at window of their hotel room and smiled with silent
glee. Soon the game would be complete and everyone who had stood in her way
would be dead. Every person who had threatened her plans, who had destroyed
her once glorious existence as a force not to be reckoned with, would be gone
forever.
Even
Angel.
And
she was happy. Wildly, unbelievably, ecstatically happy. She could do anything.
With Dru or without her, she could rule again, this time second to no one. There
would be no one standing between her and the power she had once been promised.
The
light overhead flicked out and she was immediately alert, her true demonic face
instinctively searching the blackness of the room for the intruder. A prickle
fled down her spine as her eyes jumped nervously around the room.
She
knew this person.
“Who’s
there?”
She
took a step back and growled threateningly. “Look I’m warning you. You have
no idea what you’re dealing with. I swear this isn’t going to be pleasant.”
“No.
It’s not.”
The
flare of a match briefly illuminated the sculpted planes of the man’s face and
Darla gasped; part in fear, part in shock.
“Spike!”
“Ten
out of ten Blondie.”
“No!
It’s not possible. You’re dead.” Darla continued backing away from the figure
before her.
“No
need to get personal,” Spike answered the slight smirk on his face belying his
offended tone. “You’re dead too.”
“No
I mean… Dust dead. Eternal damnation dead.”
“Yet
here I am.”
He
stepped towards her, calm and controlled. She glanced up and met only menace
in his eyes. She had never seen him so cold before. It made her begin to regret
the things she had taught him, the things she had said and done to him. The
things she had made Angel teach him.
"You
know,” Spike continued, continuing to walk slowly towards her. “Buffy doesn’t
really believe I’ve changed all that much. She’s got a complex about what I’d
do to her if I ever got this chip out.”
Darla
felt the wall at her back and her eyes quickly moved around the room looking
for someway to escape the predator before her. She wondered how he’d managed
to out manoeuvre her like this but then he was talking again and she was drawn
back to him.
“Dru
on the other hand… She thinks I’ve gone soft. Not demon enough anymore. And
that was before I had this thing shoved in my brain. She must think I’m useless
now. The way you’ve always thought of me. And you know what…?” He was standing
right next to her now, his body not quite touching hers, his head bent low so
she could hear him every though his voice had dropped almost to a whisper. “They’re
both right.”
His
eyes flashed yellow and his fangs elongated as he smiled cruelly down at her.
“Dru knows I’d never hurt Buffy or Dawn.” He ran a finger down the side of her
face and the curve of her neck as he continued, “But what I want to do to you
makes me wonder if Buffy would be right to see me as anything but a monster.”
He
stopped as the words left his mouth and frowned. Darla let out a shuddering
sigh as Spike leaned back away from her.
Then
he shrugged. “Oh well.”
Grabbing
her by the throat he lifted her against the wall, her legs kicking beneath her
as her hands naturally came up to try and stop him strangling her. “Over 200
years as a vampire and your body still doesn’t understand it doesn’t need to
breathe,” Spike mocked her as she struggled against him.
“Spike,”
she choked, “please.”
“Please?
Already? It’s not fun if you start begging right away. Give me a chance to hurt
you first.”
“You
don’t want to do this.”
“No?
You sure? I’m pretty sure I’ve wanted to do this for over a hundred and twenty
years you malevolent bitch. Do you remember the torture you put me through?
The things you did to me? The things you did to Dru to hurt me? Well you made
me stronger alright. You taught me a lesson. Now lets see how much of it I remember.
‘S been a good few year since I put the old skills to the test. And I think
it’s only fair that you be the one to tell me if I passed or failed.”
He reached into the pocket of his duster and pulled something out. The metal glinted in the moonlight streaming through the window.
“Oh God.”
“No point calling for Him luv. He doesn’t listen to us. I’m sure He’s got more important things to do than listen to the desperate whines of an evil, murderous whore.” He raised the metal spike in front of her face. “I know it won’t kill you. But I’m sure it’ll keep you in pain until I get bored.”
Suddenly something attacked him from behind, the force of the tackle knocking him to the ground. “You’ve been a bad boy. Mummy’s disappointed in you.”
“Dru?” He struggled beneath her, but she held him down.
“Not to hurt Grandmamma William. Shh, shh. Be good for mummy.”
“I’m sorry Dru,” he whispered, feeling around for the weapon he had dropped. She looked down at him, and their eyes locked. Making his decision quickly, he backhanded her away from him and jumped to his feet, reaching back inside his duster as Darla charged at him with his railroad spike. It was over in seconds.
The metal spike clattered to the ground as Darla disintegrated.
Spike looked down at the ashes scattered around him. He threw the stake down next to the spike and turned away.
Dru sat cowering in the corner, her wide frightened eyes fixed on her former lover. Spike rubbed his hands over his face. “Go away. Go far away, do you hear me Dru? And don’t come back. Because the next time I see you I will kill you.” He walked towards the door, needing more than anything to get home to his girls.
“Why?”
He stopped, but didn’t turn to face Drusilla as he answered her. “I don’t want to kill you. I never wanted to kill you. I loved you. It meant something to me.”
“And Darla?”
He snorted. “Well I guess you were right. Don’t really think I’ve got the right mentality for torture anymore.”
“I was wrong.”
He did turn around then and found her standing close to him, watching him. Her eyes, for once shone brightly in a brief moment of lucidity. “You are the strongest of all of us William. The strongest and the bravest. My knight. Never forget why you’re here William. Why you were chosen.”
“Dru?” He wanted to ask her what she meant. What she knew about him and why he was there. But her eyes dulled once again, and the all-knowing angel turned back into the frightened child.
“Spike?”
“It’s ok Dru. I’m not going to hurt you. Remember what I said. Leave town; leave California. Leave the States and don’t come back.” He turned away, reaching for the door handle.
“The Slayer and the vampire. It was written in the stars the night I made you William. They whispered to me when I saw you. I wanted to keep you for my very own. But they needed you. The green light from the gold and the blue. You’ll make her happy.”
Once again her words stopped him and he walked back to her, knowing that this chapter of his life was about to end. He kissed her forehead tenderly and then rested his head against hers. “It’s not easy is it?”
“No.”
They shared a sad smile and stepped back. “Goodbye Dru.”
With that he quickly made his way out of the room and down the stairs, into the night.
“That’s
beautiful. Or, taken literally, incredibly gross.”
Buffy
– ‘Helpless’
****
It
was two in the morning when Spike pulled his tired DeSoto into the driveway
of 1630 Revello Drive. He’d been away for Buffy and Dawn for one day, but he
ached to see them again. He sat for a moment staring up at the Summers’ house,
wondering for the thousandth time if he had done the right thing. Rolling down
the car window he lit up a cigarette and leaned his head back against the seat.
He
was just going to check that they were alright, all safely tucked up in bed
like they should be. He forced himself to concentrate on smoking, emptying his
head of all other thoughts for the moment.
“Psst.”
His
head shot up at the hissing noise and he searched the front yard for any sign
of danger.
“Hey.
Spike!” His eyes flew to the doorway as Dawn’s voice drifted over to him.
Flicking
the cigarette out of the window, he quickly got out of the car and made his
way towards the young girl standing in the doorway. Her hair was pulled back
from her face in a long braid and she was wrapped in the comforter from her
bed. “What are you doing up Nibblet? It’s two a.m.”
“Buffy’s
out back.”
“What?”
“Buffy
is sitting on the back porch in her dressing gown with a mug of cocoa waiting
for you to come home,” Dawn explained slowly with a knowing smile. “Go talk
to her.” Spike nodded but didn’t move, his eyes remaining fixed on her. “What?”
“Nothing.
‘S just…” He ducked his head away from her questioning eyes. Why was this so
hard now they were here when it wasn’t before?
“Yeah?”
“You
know I love you don’t you?” He tilted his head up to look at her, wanting to
see her reaction.
Her
face lit up with the most beautiful smile he had seen from her in a long time.
“I love you too.”
“Dawn…”
“Spike,
I know there’s a lot you want to say. There’s a lot I want to say! We don’t
know what this means yet or why it happened? And maybe we never will. But I
didn’t need a ‘through the looking glass’ moment to know that you and Buffy
are my family. And I don’t need you to convince me that you’ll never hurt us.
That’s what trust’s about.”
“Thank
you.”
“You’re
welcome. Now, Buffy’s still waiting out back for you. If you’re going to have
a deep and meaningful you better get started, or the mood’ll be ruined by your
howls of agony as you run for cover from the rising sun.”
The
vampire rolled his eyes and shook his head at the girl. “Go to bed Dawn.”
“Yes
daddy.”
“Nibblet!”
“Read
me a bedtime story?”
“Can
I ground you as well?”
“Night!”
Dawn called as she ran upstairs, hoping to hear some of Buffy and Spike’s conversation
from her bedroom window.
****
Spike
followed Dawn into the house and closed and secured the door behind him. He
waited until he heard the teenager’s bedroom door close behind her before making
his way through the house to the back door. He could see her through the window,
sitting on the porch stairs, staring out into the night. Taking a deep, calming
breath he stepped outside.
“It’s
about time,” she admonished lightly as he made his way towards her. “Your car
pulled up ten minutes ago.” She didn’t turn to face him, her eyes remaining
fixed on the stars. He sat down next to her with a smile. “Yeah, sorry about
that. I just came to check you and Dawn were ok. Didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“I
wanted to be disturbed,” she told him, finally turning to look at him. “I didn’t
want to have to wait any longer to do this.”
The vampire tensed, fearing that she would say something to send him away. Instead she moved closer to him until they were sitting hip to hip, and turned her body to face his. Leaning forward she brushed her lips softly over his. Shuddering with relief he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. His hands were at her waist, holding her against him; one of her hands wound itself through his hair as the other came up to gently stroke his face. She pulled back eventually, when she remembered she needed to breathe, but only enough so that she could lay her head against his chest as they held each other. Neither knew how long they stayed like that, unmoving, simply enjoying being close to one another.
It
was Buffy who finally broke the silence.
“Dawn
told me what happened.”
It
took Spike a moment to realise what she was talking about, but when it finally
hit him he turned her slightly so that he could see her face. “She said ‘we’
were going to do it.”
“She
thought it’d be easier just coming from her.”
Spike
frowned, wishing he’d been there to lend both of his girls support. “Are you
ok?”
“She’s
my daughter,” Buffy said simply, her eyes expressing no surprise or confusion
at the thought.
“You
knew.”
“Well
no one told me or sent me on a voyage of discovery. And the whole you being
the father thing? Big surprise there but… Dawn being mine? I’ve known that for…
You know I’m not sure when I realised. I mean I knew she was part of me. It
just sort of crept up on me that it was something more than sharing the same
blood. They made Dawn out of me… and you. And maybe we’ll never know why but
I think…”
“Yeah?”
“I
think it’s because this is the way it was meant to be.”
They
sat quietly again for a moment as Spike tried to understand what was happening.
Once again Buffy interrupted his thoughts.
“I
love you.”
He
looked down at her and found her staring up at him, the look in her eyes giving
him proof of her words. “Buffy?”
Instead
of repeating what he so desperately wanted to hear the Slayer smiled and snuggled
deeper into his embrace. “You know a couple of days ago I wanted the simple
life. I wanted to be like that damn robot so that I didn’t have to worry about
what anyone thought of me. But you know what I’ve learned since then?”
“What?”
Spike asked confused by the abrupt change in conversation.
“I
have the best friends in the world.”
The
vampire couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m
serious.”
“I
know.”
“They
want me to be happy. And if you make me happy they are happy for me to be with
you. Did you know that?” She looked up at him as she asked, smiling as he shook
his head.
“Not
until just recently.”
“Me
neither.” She relaxed back against him.
“Do I?”
“Hmm?
Do you what?”
“Make
you happy?”
“Very,”
Buffy replied, rubbing her face against his chest.
“I
love you.”
Buffy closed her eyes and for the first time allowed herself the pleasure of hearing those words and feeling the delight they provoked.
“I love you too.”
****
“I told you I’d give in,” she told him later as they lay spooned together in Buffy’s bed. Spike grinned against her hair as he ran one hand down the length of her body, letting it come to rest on her hip.
“I didn’t think you meant this quickly though. I thought I’d have to do a bit of wooing first.”
“Wooing?”
Spike rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, I was born in the nineteenth century. What’s wrong with wooing Miss Summers?”
“Absolutely nothing. If you’d like me to kick you out now so you can do the romantic courting part first that can be arranged.”
“You know, I can do both.”
Buffy smirked. “That’s very versatile of you.”
“Need to keep my lady happy.”
Turning to face him, she kissed the tip of his nose tenderly. “You’re doing a wonderful job so far.”
The End