I own nothing. Joss owns everything. All hail Joss. I apologize to anyone and everyone for any infringements on copyrights, feelings, personal space, etc. I didn't mean it, honest!
***
Pike and Buffy got off the bus in Seattle that afternoon. After picking up Pike's bag from the lines of luggage, they headed to his Aunt Thelma's apartment, where Pike assured Buffy she would be welcome to stay. Of course it was raining, and neither of them had the cash for a cab, so they walked. They arrived at Aunt Thelma's looking like a couple of drowned rats. A tall thin woman dressed in a flowing skirt and a think crocheted sweater answered the door.
"Oh, Pike, you made it!" She went to gather her nephew in a hug, but stopped. "You're soaked! You should have called me to come get you." Buffy coughed lightly from behind Pike.
"Aunt Thelma, this is Buffy Summers." Pike introduced them. Buffy shook the woman's offered hand. "She kinda needs a place to stay, I figured she could crash here, if that's ok with you."
"Of course, darling!" She took Buffy's hand and pulled her inside. "I've been dying to meet you Buffy. I've heard so much about you!" Buffy glanced over at Pike, who's face was beet red. She grinned.
"Oh really?" she asked. Pike shook his head.
"I'm going to shower. Try not to embarrass me." He looked sternly at both of them before heading off.
"So what brings you to Seattle, Buffy?" Thelma asked as she sat down on the couch. Buffy sighed, wondering what story she could make up off the top of her head.
"I haven't heard of any demonic activity in these parts. Not much call for a Slayer." Buffy was stunned for a moment.
"He told you I was the Slayer? He swore he wouldn't tell!" Buffy was fuming. Pike KNEW she was supposed to keep her identity a secret.
"Oh, no no! Pike didn't tell me." Thelma gestured to a computer one a desk in the corner. "I'm friends with Jannah. She talks about you constantly, not by name of course. I've heard all about your adventures. Come to think of it, I haven't heard from her in a while." Buffy didn't have the heart to tell the woman Jannah, aka Jenny Calendar, had been dead for weeks. Not right now. Thelma continued. "Anyway, when my sister called me and told me about Pike's latest escapades and that she was sending him here, things started to click. And now that you're here, two and two just finally came together. Don't be angry. He doesn't know I know."
Buffy was looking out the window. Yet another person who knew she was the Slayer. It really wasn't safe, all these people knowing. She choked back tears and smiled.
"Well, then. At least I don't have to make up a run-away story," she joked, trying to lighten the mood. Thelma nodded, understanding.
"Would you like something to drink? You must be exhausted." Buffy nodded and followed her into the kitchen.
"Lemonade?"
"Sure." Buffy saw stacks of books on the table and counters. They were all old and worn, the kind Giles would love. Obviously Thelma had been researching a little demonology herself. As if reading Buffy's mind, she spoke.
"I've been researching Slayers and vampires for a long time, ever since I read about them on the net, and found out that they were indeed real. It's very interesting. I have printouts of everything Jannah sent me as well. You've been through quite a lot lately, Miss Summers." Thelma handed her a cold glass of lemonade. "I'm sorry about that Angel fellow. He sounded like a real sweetie, before, well, I suppose you know." Buffy nodded. God did she know.
She'd been trying not to think about Angel. Her poor demonic boyfriend. Her constant source of guilt and regret. And for awhile there, fear and hatred. But the time for grieving for Angel was past. He was in hell, and he probably hated her for sending him there. She hated herself for it. But she hadn't had a choice. She may have to repress her memories of Angel, but she could never forget him. Never forget the feel of his lips on hers, the musky smell of his skin, his cold hands, the look on his face when she plunged a sword through his stomach....
Shaking herself from her day-mare, Buffy sipped her lemonade. She was saved from explaining her drifting by Pike, who entered the kitchen in a pair of jeans, hair still wet.
"Next," he said, smiling at her. She grinned back. Maybe it would be easier to move on from Angel after all.
* * *
When Spike awoke, the first thing he saw was Drusilla. She was sitting on him, straddling his stomach, playing with his hair and cooing. He jumped, having not expected this from her.
"Good evening, pet," she said. "You slept so long."
"Evenin', ducks." Spike cupped her chin and pulled her down for a kiss. She obliged, then rolled over next to him.
"Miss Edith is looking forward to the reunion. But she said I wouldn't like it. She says I won't have fun."
"What reunion, pet?"
"With an old friend. A nice surprise for you, but not for me." Dru began to whimper. "I don't want to go."
"We don't know anyone in Seattle, pet. There won't be a reunion." Spike stood, and pulled her up. "Don't fret, Dru, I'll make sure you have lots of fun." He pulled her close to him and kissed her while she giggled. Then they got in the car and headed north again.
Looking over at the brunette vampire, Spike smiled smugly.
'Knew she'd forget about Angel soon enough. MY ducks.'
* * *
Oz kissed Willow lightly as she slid out of the van and into his arms. She grinned as he set her down in her wheelchair. Another couple weeks of physical therapy, and Willow would be good as new. Not that she was eager to not have Oz looking after her. He was a good caretaker.
Oz pushed Willow's chair back to the library, having returned from her doctor's appointment.
"Ah, you're back." Giles sounded relieved as he turned away from a stick-wielding Cordelia. Just then she swung her staff and hit Giles in the gut. He doubled over with an "Ooof!"
"Ohmigod! I'm sorry!" Cordelia said, dropping the staff. Xander started laughing and Willow hid a grin. Poor Giles. He slowly stood and eased himself into a chair.
"Very good Cordelia," he gasped, trying to get his breath back. Cordelia smiled proudly. Xander picked up the staff, as Giles gestured for them to switch. Cordelia sat down with a pile of books.
Wheeling over to the table, Willow picked up the crossbow. It was the only practical weapon she could use from her chair. That and her holy water gun. Xander had been trying to get Giles to invest in one of those Super Soakers that look like a backpack. Giles insisted that water guns were not traditional weapons. Willow thought it was a pretty good idea, considering it was Xander's.
Oz was humming as he whittled a stake from a chunk of wood, and watching Xander and Giles resume training out of the corner of his eye. After a few minutes of padded hand-to-hand combat, both were exhausted.
"I don't blame Buffy for splitting," Xander gasped. "Just the Slayer training might kill me, and we haven't gotten to the actual slaying part." Giles nodded solemnly.
"That's why Buffy is the Chosen One. She has a-abilities, and, ah, powers, that the rest of us do not. She, ah, tires less easily, she's stronger. She heals quickly," he finished, glancing at Cordelia, who just looked at him innocently. Giles continued. "The Slayer has to have these capabilities to counter the powers of the undead. Without them, she would be, well, as helpless as us to, ah, to stop them...." he trailed off. Willow sighed and snapped an arrow into the crossbow.
"We don't have to be helpess."
* * *
Spike walked out of the house and back to the car. He opened the passenger door.
"Come on, ducks, we're home." Drusilla rose from her seat. Spike led her up the steps and inside the modest mansion that would be their new home. It was large and elegant, but functional. Spike had had to exert all of his self-control not to eat the obnoxious real estate agent who had insisted he tour the house before he bought it. For the money he had shoved over, he had thought he could get some respect of his wishes. Sometimes he hated the modern world, where he had to do business with people.
"Oh Spike, it's lovely," Dru breathed in his ear as she looked around the house. Spike shrugged. It didn't really matter to him where they stayed. As long as Dru was happy, he was happy. Unless it was Angel making her happy. Shaking off the thoughts of their sire, he turned to Drusilla.
"Are you hungry love?"
"Yeah..." she answered absently.
"Do you want to go out and hunt or stay in and set up your dolls?"
"My tummy is growly," she purred. Spike chuckled and touched her cheek.
"Come on then. Let's go find dinner."
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
