The Bride of Dorvar: Part 2
by Amy Donegan
Okay - I'm sticking with the title "Bride of Dorvar" and the story has been complete since October. Sorry it's taken so long to submit it. All characters except Adriana and Dorvar belong to Joss Whedon etc. Please continue to enjoy.



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Part Two

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Adriana had her right elbow resting on the library table what began as a typical resting of her chin against her hand had progressed so that half her face was obscured. Peering out of her left eye, she saw the others were showing equal signs of weariness. Even Giles, whom she suspected was more used to the endless poring over books. She sighed loudly and summoned up enough energy to slam close the book before her. The words had long since blurred into meaningless hieroglyphics.

"We need a break," she proclaimed to the group whose attention had been gotten by the sudden noise, "What do you kids do in your spare time?"

"Spare time?" Buffy asked with irony, "what spare time?"

"Come on," Adriana urged, "it's Friday night - I know you don't want to go home and rush to finish your homework for Monday, and we've already established that Vampire activity is at an all time Hellmouth low. I'm sure we've got at least a day or two head start on Dorvar - where do we go for fun?"

The teens looked at each other, at first wondering why a teacher would want to go out and have fun with them and then silently agreeing that the why was not the issue. They answered simultaneously.

"The Bronze."

"That's that dance club all the kids talk about?" she asked them and they nodded in agreement.

"Even with your assurances about Dorvar, I'm not sure going out after sunset is such a good idea for you," Giles cautioned.

Adriana heaved another sigh, "Giles, loosen your tie a little. In fact, get rid of it all together and join us. Buffy will walk me home, won't you Buffy?"

Buffy agreed quickly, eager to see Giles at the Bronze with Ms. Carson, "Sure, Giles - come with, see how the dwellers of this century live."

Four pairs of eyes looked expectantly at the Watcher. He only saw one pair. Thick lashes batted twice around the hypnotic brown orbs. Her rich lips pursed in amusement, half beckoning him. He found himself completely at sea, void of reason and though his voice sounded reluctant, eagerly agreeing.

"Very well."

"Don't worry so much, Giles," Adriana said taking his arms as they followed the now lively teens out of the library, "it ages you."


* * *
They agreed to meet at the club, all parties feeling a need to "freshen up" and in the interest of Adriana's safety, Giles insisted that she be accompanied by someone at all times after dark.

"Fine," she had agreed willingly winking slyly at Buffy and Willow and handing Giles a card; "you can pick me up for dinner at six thirty."

Giles, who felt the return of reason and hoped to back out of the rendezvous, found himself roped in again. Sitting at the restaurant, he couldn't quite remember how he got there. Across from him sat the Karonovich princess, looking a bit more the part than she had this morning. Her thick hair was released from the sensible braid and tumbled past her shoulders in thick black waves, held back from her face by an intricately carved silver clip. Gone were the sensible wool business skirt and the pristine white shirt, replace by a flowing black skirt with a rose print and red silk blouse. The silver crucifix seemed to be the only constant.

"So," she said, in one of several attempts to initiate a conversation, "I thought I told you to get rid of that tie."

"Umm," he began, looking down nervously at his ever present, never changing attire.

"Never mind," she quickly relieved him, "it suits you. No pun intended."

He relaxed a bit a laughed.

"Amazing," she murmured, "there is a sense of humor lurking there."

"Yes, well, there hasn't been a great deal to laugh about here," he apologized.

"I know, but it will help you and the Slayer to make sure life isn't all work and no play for either of you."

"Actually, I think Buffy is uniquely gifted in that area. She has a rare talent for making light of the most dire situation."

"Yes, but it won't always be that way," Adriana took his hand looking at him seriously, "I know your job is to guide and prepare the Slayer. Now more than ever a good Watcher must realize that means more than just researching prophecy. The Slayer of the late 20th century has more demons to deal with than the ones she can slay physically. You have to open up a little if you are to help and guide her on every level and make sure she's prepared for those really difficult times when her own humor fails her."

The serious insistence in her voice and the earnestness in her eyes caught Giles.

"Do you *see* something?" he asked.

She shook her head leaning back, "not exactly. If I concentrated, I might get a picture of what I sense. It doesn't take a seer to know that the life of a Slayer and her Watcher are full of trials."

"Yes," he agreed.

"All right," she said, "I've had a sufficiency and you've stopped eating. Let's pay up and join the kids at the club..."


* * *
At the Bronze, Xander and Willow watched a restless Buffy shifting in her seat every few moments to check out the entrance. Willow smiled with gentle understanding, but Xander finally lost patience with the whole thing and exclaimed.

"Look, I've got a perfect view from here, do you want to switch so you can at least pretend to be listening to us while you watch?"

"Huh?" Buffy reeled back to face them and shook herself out of a trance, "I'm sorry, I just thought sure I felt..."

" Angel?" Willow prompted.

Xander managed to look disgusted in general and Buffy just nodded somewhat sheepishly.

"Even so, Giles and Ms. Carson should be here by now," Buffy said defensively, "maybe I should..."

"Don't bother," Xander interrupted, "here they are...Wow."

The girls followed Xander's gaze and Buffy smiled approvingly at their new friend's individual yet somehow hip fashion sense. Wow indeed.

"I think Xander is getting over his fear of beautiful substitutes," commented Buffy.

For further proof, Xander scrambled out of his seat when the adults arrived at their table, offering it to Ms. Carson, who smiled in thanks and sat down with a sweeping cross of her legs worthy of any Rockette.

"Okay, we're here - now what do we do for fun?"

"Some people dance," Willow explained earnestly, "but we mostly just make fun of the people who won't talk to us."

Adriana nodded with equal seriousness, "Sounds like I got here just in time. You kids don't dance?"

"Oh no," Willow shook her head vehemently, "that would involve people watching me...er, us."

Adriana smiled, "Willow, honey, sometimes that's the best part."

"Yes, well, the music does leave something to be desired from a dancing perspective," Giles chimed in.

"I suppose you are well versed in classic forms of dance?" Adriana prompted winking at the teens before casting wide eyes on the unsuspecting librarian.

Giles cleared his throat nervously before confirming, "Yes of course."

"Like the waltz, the foxtrot...?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Tango?" Adriana smiled winningly.

"T-t-tango?" Giles repeated stammeringly.

"As classic as dancing gets," Adriana pressed, "If I could get the DJ to play one, could you assist me in demonstrating?"

"I...."

It was obvious to Buffy that Giles was about to refuse and she would have none of it.

"You're wasting your time, Ms. Carson," she interrupted, "Giles isn't the Tango type - although he's probably read a lot about it."

Giles opened his mouth to protest, but under Buffy's encouraging glances the others were already chiming in.

"I'm sure he could give us a thorough account of the history and origins," Xander supported.

"And the exact rhythm and cadence..."

Willow got no further.

"I assure you I am completely capable of actually dancing the tango," Giles asserted pridefully.

"Great," Adriana exclaimed joyfully, "I'll be right back. Buffy, uh...do something with him if you please."

Realizing he had been cornered, Giles watched helplessly has Adriana swept away and realized Buffy was examining him critically.

"Take off your jacket," she insisted.

"My jacket?" he asked, "surely a brief demonstration of the tango won't require..."

"Giles," Buffy said firmly, "Jacket. Off."

Giles complied reluctantly and Buffy reached to his neck, untying his bow tie and unbuttoning his top shirt button. Then she dipped her hand into her club soda and reached up to tousle his hair a bit. She looked at Willow questioningly.

"What do you think?"

Willow nodded approvingly, "Absolutely Tango-worthy."

The music was already beginning when Adriana returned and smiled her own approval. Confused adolescents were casting annoyed looks toward the music stage, but the oblivious DJ just smiled and waved at Adriana who waved back. As grumbling teens left the dance floor, she turned to Giles.

"You DO know what you are doing, don't you?" she asked.

"It's been a while," he admitted.

She smiled beautifully, "don't worry - once you get out there and you take me in your arms, it will all come back to you."

She held out her hand which he took and the walked out to the center of the rapidly clearing floor. Buffy, Willow and Xander shifted their chairs around for optimum viewing pleasure as the unlikely couple began their Tango.

To their surprise, it was not nearly as amusing as they expected. On the floor, the couple seemed transported to a world that was just them, dance floor and music. They moved as once, completely absorbed in each other and hypnotic to watch. Giles nerves seemed to wash away and Buffy, who had spent many hours out maneuvering him in training sessions, was amazed at each graceful turn and spin he executed. Ms. Carson's ability, less surprising, was equally mesmerizing. By the end of the dance, the whole crowd in the Bronze was watching and when Giles dropped Adriana in a dip at the last strains of music there was a combination of catcalls and applause.

Giles blinked as if coming out of a trance and looked down at Adriana in some surprise. She smiled and reached up to caress his face.

"Let me up before you drop me," She whispered sultrily.

Realizing their position, Giles immediately complied and followed his partner back to the table.

"That was incredible," Willow gushed enthusiastically.

"Well, Slayer," Ms. Carson asked, "I'll bet you never knew your Watcher had it in him, did you?"

"No, actually," Buffy agreed looking at the man as if in a new light.

Giles already had his jacket back on, his shirt buttoned and was trying to re-tie his tie. He protested modestly, "All a part of the schooling of every young man in my generation."

Adriana batted his hands away and proceeded to tie his tie for him.

"Yes, but hardly every young man executes the dance so skillfully. I can't remember the last time I felt so simpatico with my partner. I must thank you for the opportunity, Giles. There..." she adjusted the newly tied bow tie, "you're just as you were."

He took her hand and looked meaningfully at her, "Not quite," he murmured.

She sobered for a moment, then withdrew her hand and turned to Willow.

"So you see, my dear, part of the fun of dancing is the attention you get while doing it."

"Sure, but you're really good," Willow protested.

Adriana looked at Willow for a moment before proclaiming, "All right, time for a ladies room break."

"A...a...Ladies room break?" Giles asked.

"Yes, Giles, the time honored tradition of pretending to powder our noses while talking about the men we're with. Excuse us... Ladies," her tone brooked no argument and Giles and Xander soon found themselves alone at the table.

In the ladies room Adriana was rummaging through her purse.

"I don't think you have anything in that little black bag for me," Willow said nervously.

Adriana looked at her witheringly, "Cute 'Wizard of Oz' reference, but you're only partially right. Our coloring is far too different for anything in here to look anything but harsh on you - still, there are other things."

She held up an eyebrow brush. Buffy and Willow looked at it and shrugged.

With a sigh, Adriana exclaimed, "and here I thought teens today knew everything about beauty."

She proceeded to explain as she brushed Willows brows out, "Never pluck these babies, they've got an ideal arch. Brushing them out every day will help you look more awake and alive."

"An ancient Gypsy beauty tip?" Buffy asked, curious.

"No, I read it in Cosmo," Adriana admitted, then continued to Willow, "you have too great a complexion to use too much make-up anyway. Always moisturize and uses minimum SPF-15 in daylight...now, take off that sweater."

"What?" Willow asked, shocked.

"Come on, honey, I can see the collar of the shirt underneath, and it's far too hot in that club for a big bulky sweater like that - off with it, please."

With Willow's sweater off, the plain white shirt seemed just as hopeless to Buffy, but Ms. Carson was unbuttoning the top few buttons and turning the collar. Finally, she unbuttoned the bottom few buttons and tied the shirt up to bare Willow's midriff. Combined with the hipster jeans the girl was wearing the result, while not the peak of fashion, was not unpleasing.

"Willow, you have a stunning little figure, why do you hide it?" Adriana asked.

Willow looked blankly at her.

"A self confident woman is irresistible to a man," Adriana asserted, "You have to know you are beautiful and worthy. Now pinch your cheeks and bite your lips - it adds color, my Grandmother told me so."

Their return to the table was not the shocking entrance of Cinderella at the ball and Buffy wondered if most of the young men weren't looking at the History sub who had so recently danced with exotic abandon in their very own Bronze. Still, Xander's reaction was suitable enough.

"Willow, where are your clothes?" He asked.

"I'm still wearing them," She protested self-consciously.

Xander looked a little wild eyed, "Didn't you have a few more?"

"I got hot," Willow explained and looked to Buffy and Ms. Carson for support. Ms. Carson gave her the cut signal and Willow obligingly refused to answer any more garbled protests from her friend.

"Well," sighed Adriana, "I think my fun meter's tapped out here. I guess I'll be leaving you all."

"Of course," Giles stood, "I'll see you home."

"Oh, I don't want to spoil anyone else's fun," she protested, "I can get myself safely home. I told you we have a couple of days."

"There's still a chance that some renegade will ignore your status with Dorvar and attack. I really think I should go with you."

Buffy wasn't sure why all of a sudden Ms. Carson didn't want to be alone with Giles but she was getting a definite vibe in that direction.

"I'll go with her," She asserted, "That was the plan anyway and if there's really trouble I should be the one to handle it. Besides, tonight's kind of a wash here anyway."

Xander to a break from his apoplexy over Willow's bare middle to protest, "Thanks a lot!"

"There, perfect solution," Adriana was saying, "I'll see you at school, Giles."

The two women strode out leaving a somewhat dumbfounded trio behind them.


* * *
"So, do you want to tell me what that was all about?" Buffy asked as they walked along the streets.

"Sometimes, my inexperience with my whole Romany side leads to things getting out of hand," Ms. Connors said more into the night than anything else.

"Meaning..." Buffy prompted.

"Meaning your Watcher's extreme concern for my well being may be an effect of over exposure to my Roma Charisma."

"Like, he has a crush on you?" Buffy asked putting things into terms she could understand.

"Something like that," Adriana agreed.

"But you sort-of dig him too, don't you?"

Adriana smiled ruefully, "yes, I 'dig him.'" She admitted, "he's brilliant and handsome, in a shy and nervous sort of way, and he really is an incredible dancer."

"So what's the big deal?" Buffy asked.

"The big deal is I have this really jealous fiancé who has been known to demolish his rivals by tearing their flesh off while they're still alive."

"Ugh," Buffy grimaced.

"That about sums it up. Personal attachments generally end in pain for the Karonovich princess. One of my aunts did manage to escape her fate, though..."

"How'd she do it?" Buffy was ready for any kind of solution and wondered why it hadn't been mentioned before.

"She became a nun. She spend her whole life on holy ground, every word she spoke was in prayer. This is her crucifix," Adriana touched the silver jewelry at her neck.

"So why didn't all the women in your family just join the convent if that worked?" Buffy asked.

Adriana looked at the girl amused, "you aren't Catholic, are you?"

"Uh... no," Buffy admitted.

"Have you seen The Sound of Music at least?" Adriana asked.

"Yeah, like it's on TV every Spring."

"The calling to a vocation is a serious business. It's not something you do to escape your troubles in the outside world. My great-aunt was truly blessed. I'm afraid that I'm a bit too passionate for that kind of life."

"Right," Buffy thought she had grasped it, "Hey that was really nice what you did for Willow."

Ms. Carson beamed, "Willow just needs someone to tell her she's beautiful enough so that she believes it. She's one of the pure hearts of the world, I hope she finds happiness."

"Yeah," Buffy agreed, "me too."

"Well, here we are," Ms. Carson stopped in front of a house, "this is where I'm staying. See, no Vampires or other evil encounters as far as the eye can see."

"I'll just wait here until you get inside," Buffy said, planting her feet firmly.

"Buffy, there's no need to worry," Ms. Carson insisted.

"I like to worry, it's one of my favorite hobbies."

"All right then, since we're being pessimistic I have one more thing to ask you."

"Sure, you want me to hang out all night or something?"

"No, tonight you can go home when I get inside," Adriana said, "but there's something you can promise me."

"What is it?" Buffy felt her neck hairs prickle.

"If Dorvar succeeds and I become his Vampire bride..."

"It won't come to that," Buffy tried to interrupt.

Adriana held up her hand, "If it does, promise me that you'll slay me."

"What?"

"Traditionally, a family member does it, but I have no brother or father to ask, and I know you have the strength to do it. Promise me."

"I won't let it happen," Buffy felt a little panicky at the thought. She had never had to slay someone she felt really close to before.

"You may not have a choice, PROMISE me," the urgency in Adriana's voice was frightening; but Buffy found herself nodding mutely.

"Good, now get along home - there's nothing out there for you to hunt tonight."

Adriana slipped into the house and watched from the window as Buffy disappeared into the darkness. Then, something made her open the door and walk back out onto the porch. There on the sidewalk stood a figure she hadn't seen from inside. It was a young man, handsome in a combination James Dean/Lord Byron sort of way. He seemed to want to approach but hovered just outside the lamplight uncertain of his reception.

"Angelus, I presume?" she asked into the night.

He stepped forward so that she could see him better. He was really gorgeous she observed somewhat clinically. He waited at the bottom of the porch steps.

"The call me Angel here," he said in answer to her question.

"Angel, then," she nodded, "how are you cousin?"

His eyebrows raised questioningly, "Cousin?"

"In the cosmic sense, Angel," she explained, "You're a Vampire cursed by Gypsies and I'm a Gypsy cursed by a Vampire. It gives us a special sort of bond, don't you think?"

"I suppose it does," he seemed somewhat pleased with the connection, though it was difficult to tell behind his brooding face.

"Do you want to come in?" She asked suddenly.

He was surprised again, "You're inviting me?"

"It's not really my house, I'm just sitting for a friend while I'm here," she explained.

He considered it for a moment, "I don't think that matters."

She shrugged, "Come in anyway, if you lose control and kill me, Dorvar will kill you and then both our problems will be solved. Besides, I like to live life on the edge, it gives it value."

Angel followed her obediently into the home and was greeted by a growling Dalmatian.

"Uh, I don't think he got the word that I was coming," he gestured at the spotted animal.

"Oh yeah, he's very protective under ordinary circumstances - you should have seen him try to get at Giles earlier. You've got him all haywire - just a minute. Watson, heel."

The dog looked at her doubtfully but left Angel at the door to stand by her side.

"Good boy, now go to bed," she ordered. The dog whined in answer, but a firm, "Watson," from his mistress had him skulking up the stairs in the foyer.

"There, now have a seat," she gestured to a nearby sofa.

Angel complied looking after the dog, "Watson?" he asked.

"I name all my dogs after famous literary sidekicks. Tonto, Robin, Watson..."

"Are they always Dalmatians?"

"Oh yes - the traditional dog of the gypsies. I try to preserve at least some of my heritage in this heretic age. Can I offer you something to drink?"

Angel looked at her disbelievingly.

"I'm type A positive, but if that's not your cup of tea, maybe a cup of tea?" she shrugged and smiled with no reaction from her audience, "tough crowd," she sighed.

She sat in the chair facing his and cocked her head to look at him in the lamplight.

"So, why this unusual visit, coz?' she asked.

"I want to offer you a deal," he said with foreboding.

"Okay, my interest is peaked. What kind of deal?"

"I'm offering to help you defeat Dorvar."

"The Slayer's going to help me defeat Dorvar," Adriana informed him noticing his eyes flash with the most life they had shown all night at her reference to Buffy.

"She's not strong enough for him," he stated firmly, "I can help."

"Oh really? She prevented the Harvest - I'd say that takes a lot of strength."

"The Master never escaped, she's not ready to face a Vampire as strong as Dorvar alone yet," he insisted.

"So you help me and we defeat Dorvar," Adriana conceded, "I'm free of my curse - what do I owe you?"

"Free me from mine," he said.

"What?" she asked, "I can't do that, I don't know how and even if I did, I couldn't possibly, I don't posses that kind of power..."

"You're joking right?" he asked, honestly expecting her to laugh as she had with her earlier attempts at humor, "You're so strong, I sensed it when you got into town. It's overwhelmingly clear right now. You have more strength than any other clan royal I've ever encountered."

"That's just Dorvar's curse warning you off," Adriana insisted, "my own gifts are limited."

"I think you underestimate yourself," Angel disagreed.

"Even if that's true, I still lack knowledge and training. I don't understand anyway - why would you want to give up your soul if it affected you as it seems to have?"

"I don't want to lose my soul again," he contradicted.

"But to reverse the curse would mean to take back your soul... Oh my God!" watching his face, Adriana realized what he was asking.

"Can it be done?" he asked.

"This goes way beyond what I know of Romany magic," she shook her head, overwhelmed with the idea, "If there ever was a way to reverse Vampirism, why haven't we re-humanized all of them?"

"Not all of them used to be human," Angel reminded her, "if such a thing exists I'm sure it takes a great deal of magic and time - It was probably easier to just slay us..."

"IF such a thing ever existed the knowledge of it may be completely lost. It may turn you into the dust that your 200 plus years warrants - I don't understand why you are asking this now. You've had your soul for nearly a century and you've made good use of it and adapted to your life so well...oh."

Angel turned away from her probing gaze.

"The Slayer?" she prompted.

"I just wanted to help her at first. I wanted them all to be slain, I thought that would be the ultimate repentance for my sins..."

"And you fell in love with her...does she know?"

"That I'm a Vampire? Yes. That I love her - she knows I care about her, but..." he ended by shaking his head.

"And she...'Cares?' too?" Adriana prompted.

"I think so."

Adriana sunk back into her plush chair, "Holy cow."

She looked over at Angel who was watching her with surprisingly innocent hopeful eyes.

"I would have to go to the heart of Rom," she commented.

"Probably. Will you?" he asked.

"What if I do and there's nothing. You'll have helped me already..."

"I'll help you anyway," he admitted, "I'm not entirely optimistic about this you know, but I know that if it can be done, you're the one who'll find the answer."

"If you say so - Once Dorvar is off my back, I'll search the ends of the earth to find an answer for you."

Angel was relieved but puzzled, "Why?"

Adriana smiled, "Because, Angelus, I'm alone in the world and you're my cosmic cousin; and because when all this is over, I'll owe you both my life."

She held out her hand to him and he took it to seal their pact.


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