|
Author: Skylar (Nichiren2am@hotmail.com)
Disclaimer: Joss and company own everything- except for Starbucks (but then
you never know- as we're all well aware, Joss and company are capable of
anything- no matter how harsh it may be- grrr...)
Note1: First in my Reasoning series. A follow-up to the Sweet Euphoria
series.
Summary: While Buffy and Angel enjoy their much-deserved honeymoon, things
are anything but fine for Ashlan at home.
Spoilers: Everything before the musical on BtVS, and Darla was never brought
back on A:ts
Rating: Somewhere between PG-13 and R. Nothing too harsh, though.
Note2: "Unforgiven" and "Sister" belong to Creed, "That I Never Had" belongs
to Ozzy Osbourne, "Land of the Living" belongs to Bush, "Echo" belongs to
Incubus. Words in between < > are a person's thoughts, words between ~~
are memories/flashbacks.
Distribution: Want it- take it. Let me know where it's going.
Dedication: To Jen and Jenn who gave me such great feedback for my first
series. You two rock!!
Feedback: As always, appreciated. It gets addictive after awhile.
Part 1
All these tears I cry
Don't you wonder why
Is it all a dream
Never what it seems
Every word I say
Every time I pray
Look into my eyes
Distant voices cry
Is there light in me
Tell me what you see
Always somthing bad
Can't get something that I never had
~~~"That's such a beautiful inscription. This must be a present for someone
special- for Valentine's Day no doubt." The saleswoman, as annoying as she
was, did help Ashlan find the perfect gift for her brother to give Buffy.
"Yes it is. I'm doing a little shopping for my brother- for his fiancee."
"And he wanted your expert opinion," the woman smiled at her.
"Something like that." <If he wanted an expert's opinion, he should've
gotten Cordy to pick something out.> Though Ash really didn't mind.
Cordy's latest vision had sent Fred, Wes, and Gunn in search of the Homais
demon after receiving her call from Sunnydale. Getting to spend a little
bit of quiet time by herself was a welcome change of pace for the hybrid.
Making the adjustments to her new life were taking a toll on her, and
she looked forward to the moments when she could just pretend to be leading
a normal life- as if the time in between her death and resurrection was just
a dream. For the longest while, she was envious of how well Buffy was now
dealing with her similar situation. <But then she was only dead for a few
months- try being underwater for a hundred plus years. Plus she has Angel-
she has *him* to help her, to give *her* life meaning.>
Will I see the day
Will I have to pay
What's inside of me
You will never see
Won't they let me be
Won't they let me see
Do they think I'm mad
Cause I want something that I never had
Give me something that I never had
"Here you go- you're all set. I'm sure your brother's fiancee will love
it."
"Thank you." Ash was already peering into the small bag, turning to leave
the jewelers in the mall when she suddenly collided with another head.
Instictively, she began apologizing to whoever she had run into. "Oh, I'm
sorry. That was my fault there."
"No- I really should start watching where I'm going. You're the third
person I've literally run into today.you're also the prettiest," the young
man warmly smiled at her. "You're sure you're okay?"
"Yeah- yeah I'm good," she quickly answered, still a little taken aback by
his preceding comment.
"Well, since I goofed why don't you let me by you a cup of coffee to make up
for it?" the tall, well-built stranger asked, a silent prayer of hope in his
voice. Ashlan couldn't help but notice his slight resemblance to her
brother- sure his golden blonde hair which stopped just above his shoulders
held a certain quality that Angel's didn't <at least his hair moves> she
smiled in spite of herself, and the faint goatee he had was a clear contrast
to Angel's clean-shaven boyish face, but his eyes held the same warmth and
compassion. "Sure. I'd like that."
"Great. I'm David," he extended a hand to her.
"Ashlan," she offered, taking his hand as he lead her over to the nearby
Starbucks. David pushed in her chair, and moved quickly around to his side
of their small table. As they sat drinking their mochas, the conversation
took many different directions throughout the course of their time together.
After an hour had passed, Ashlan had realized that the others were
expecting her back.
"Are you sure you have to go?" David asked disappointingly.
"As much as I hate to say it- I really should be getting back to work," she
smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Can I walk you to your car?" he eagerly offered.
"Sounds great," she flashed him back a smile as they walked towards the
parking lot. Finally reaching the outside of the mall, Ash realized just
how late it was when she took notice of the darkened sky. <Wesley's going
to have a fit.it'll be worth it though> she smiled as she looked up,
expecting to see David beside her, but instead, found the vampire who had
approached from behind the two. Retracting the young man back from her, he
pulled aside the collar of his shirt to expose the much sought after neck.
But before he could lean in to drink, his face met Ashlan's swift kick,
sending him, and unfortunately David, to the ground.
Not giving the vamp any time, Ash dove for him as he pulled himself up
off the ground. David, still dazed and confused by what had happened, could
only look on as Ash and the vamp had it out. Somewhere in the middle of the
scuffle, Ash had slipped into her game face, her frustrations and anger
finally coming to a head. At last, Ash managed to retrieve a stake from her
leather jacket, plunging it through the vamp's chest.
"Whoa." was the only sound David's lips could form as he stood up.
"Okay.what was that all-" he began as he neared her from behind. ".Oh god-"
David's face grew pale once again as Ash turned to face him- still in her
game face. Not wanting to stick around a second longer, David made a mad
dash through the length of the lot.
"I wonder if he still thinks I'm the prettiest person he's run into today,"
Ash sneered, watching as David left her far from sight, and mind.~~~
Ash awoke with a start in her room. The memory from her ill-fated
shopping trip had been framing her thoughts for the past few weeks. Sitting
up in her bed, she placed her head in her hands, letting out a deep sigh.
<Oh god.what am I doing? To think.this is.all I have to learn from. No
past- no childhood.no mother.no father. Angel.Angel and Spike- and neither
one of them knows this. This feeling.this emptiness. Angel's human.Spike's
a full demon- neither one of them can ever know. To be normal, but not. To
be alive, but dead. To live, but not have lived.> She pulled herself to
her feet, walking out of her room and through the halls of the massive
Hyperion.
"What are you doing up, love?" Spike was sitting on the stainless steel
counter in the kitchen when Ashlan walked in. Taking a sip from his fresh
mug of blood, Spike gave her a questioning stare. "Everything alright?"
"Fine." Ash walked by him, running a hand through her hair as she let out
another sigh. "What are you doing up anyway?"
"Just a lil' snack," he lifted his mug, offering her some. She waved a hand
at it, instead favoring a glass of water. "You know, I haven't seen you
feed for at least two weeks, Ash. You sure everything's alright?"
"I don't have to constantly feed, Spike- or have we forgotten?" she snapped
back at him. "Sorry.I'm sorry- I just haven't been sleeping well."
"So I've noticed. Well, that's another thing you've got in common with
Peaches."
"What do you mean?" she asked, hopping up to sit next to him.
"Oh please- you think either one of them are going to be getting any sleep
while they're having their own lil' private luau?" he chuckled.
"They really love each other." Ash's remark came out as more of a question
hanging in the air.
"And just when did we come to this well thought out, astute observation?" he
smiled at her. "You really have been sleep deprived haven't you?"
******
"Buffy...hey, sweetie...wake up. We're almost there." Angel softly kisses
her forehead as she begins to wake up. She lifts her head from his shoulder
where she had laid it down to rest a few hours earlier.
"Morning..." she mumbles as she sinks back down, stretching her head across
his lap.
"Try more like afternoon, love. It's almost four."
"You've got to be kidding."
"Uh-uh. But don't feel bad, you haven't missed much of the ride, just a
bunch of palm trees and coconuts," he says with a laugh. "Besides, you
didn't sleep much on the plane."
"That's because I was preoccupied with other things, as I'm sure you're well
aware of," she says, turning herself on his lap to look up into his eyes
with a grin.
"As if you needed to remind me," he says, leaning over to gently kiss her.
Buffy places one hand on his cheek, pulling him down to deepen the kiss.
"I hate to interrupt you two lovebirds, but we're here," the limo driver
says as he opens their door. "This is a pretty nice house you two reserved.
Right on the beach, a pool, jacuzzi, you name it. How'd you manage to
get
this?"
"Let's just say we've got friends and family in high places," says Angel as
he takes their luggage from the trunk. As the driver pulls away, Buffy and
Angel walk onto the huge plant surrounded patio of the beach house. Buffy
puts her bag down in the living room by the pool table, and leads Angel over
to the couch. Angel captures her lips in a sweet kiss, then pulls her into
his arms for a strong hug. Buffy rests her head on his shoulder and takes
notice of their gorgeous view of the ocean from the glass window leading out
to their
jacuzzi. "Angel, look at that gorgeous view." She leads him by the hand
over to the window, resting herself against his body as they look out
together across the horizon.
"It's beautiful," says Angel as he wraps his arms around her.
"I know. I've always loved watching the ocean."
"I wasn't talking about the ocean," Angel says as he plants a kiss on her
forehead. Buffy softly sighs as she leans further into him.
"It's been so long since I could enjoy this," Angel breathes out. "And to
have you here with me.as my wife," he emphasized, wrapping his arms around
her tighter, "it's amazing. So, what do you want to do first?" he finally
asks her.
"Well, it's a little late to do any sightseeing today, so how about we head
down to the beach for a quick swim before we go out for dinner. We are on a
do or die mission to get you a decent tan, so we'd better get started" she
laughs.
"Well, since we've got a packed fridge right here, I'll make us dinner
tonight when we get back from the beach."
"Why don't I cook dinner for us tonight," asks Buffy, immediately noticing
Angel's slight apprehension.
"Uh...hmm...?"
"And don't even give me that look."
"What look?"
"That look that says 'Oh God, Buffy's cooking and I have to eat it.'"
"I wasn't thinking that, and you know it. Just look at how well you did
with dinner the other night. Xander really seemed to love it."
"Xander would love ketchup on a piece of cardboard if you told him it was
pizza- hell, even if you didn't tell him it was pizza he'd probably still
scarfit down. And besides, look who I had helping me cook," she smiles up
at him.
"Buffy, come on. I'm sure it'll be great," he says planting a soft kiss on
her lips.
"Well...I think I'll let you cook tonight. I think I may need some more
help with my cooking, ya know," she
says pulling him towards her.
"Of course," he says as his hands behind to roam her back.
"And if we're headed to the beach, I'm definitely gonna need some help with
putting sunscreen on all those hard to reach spots," she says with a smile.
"Well, I'll just see what I can do about that."
Within fifteen minutes, the two make their way down onto beautiful
Waikiki beach, Buffy in her blue bikini and Angel in the black Nike shorts
Buffy had bought him in eager anticipation of seeing them wet and clinging
to his well sculptured form. As Buffy finishes unfolding their towel, Angel
sits down behind her and reaches into her bag, pulling out a tube of
sunscreen. "Now let's see what we can do about making sure all of your
beautiful skin is well-protected." Angel slowly began to work his magic on
Buffy's shoulders and back. She eased into his arms, leaning back against
his bare chest. "Actually, I think this will go faster if you lay down on
the towel."
"What's the rush," she softly moans.
"Didn't you want to go swimming fo a little while?"
"Mmmm...wha" she loses her focus and attention as Angel finally reaches her
soft spot at the nape of her neck, "...swimming? Who needs a swim when
you've got me here in your arms?" As Angel finishes his massage, he lays
back down on the towel and is quickly joined by Buffy who rolls over into
his waiting arms.
Part 2
"...now, it should work- *should* being the operative word here. If we can
just determine which horn we need to...Ash? Are you listening?" Wesley
stopped his rant about the energy-draining demon they were to hunt that
night to turn his attentions to the young girl. "Ashlan...you know that
with Angel and Buffy gone for the next week we've all really got to focus
our attentions as a unit. Ash? Ashlan are you paying any attention to
me??" Wes' voice held more than a bit of annoyance.
Sitting in her chair, her feet ontop of the desk, Ashlan was busy
dangling her silver chain in front of her, spinning around the small ankh
that hung from it. "Sever a horn...take it's powers...that pretty much
cover it?"
******
"Well, I guess you didn't really need that sunscreen afterall," Angel says,
placing the cut up chicken into the frying pan.
"Actually, I did. I mean, we were out in the sun for two hours. We didn't
get much swimming done, but we've got a whole week ahead of us," says Buffy
as she reaches for the phone off of the counter.
"Who are you calling?"
"Cordelia. She made me promise to call her to tell her how gorgeous it all
is, and I want to thank her again for the wonderful beach house. Hey
Angel...watch the potatoes for me while I call?"
"Sure...but...I'd rather watch you."
"Well...I'll tell you what." Buffy gently kisses him as he begins to
encircle her in his arms. "If you behave I promise...I'll make it worth your
while. Deal?"
"Deal. I'll be quiet as a mouse. You take all the time you want." Angel
quickly makes his way back over to the stove.
"Good. At least now I know your weakness."
"Yeah...you," he calls back. Angel finishes cooking their dinner as Buffy
calls LA, hoping she would catch Cordelia. That morning, after Angel and
Buffy had left for Hawaii, Cordy decided to spend the week back in LA.
Unbeknownst to anyone else, her intentions were more focused than to just
catch up with the LA gang- she was hoping to find out what had been
troubling Ashlan.
"Hey Cordy!" Buffy's cheerful voice came flowing over the phone.
"Buffy- hi! How's Hawaii?"
"Oh, it's so beautiful. We just spent two hours on the beach, and we're
going to start our sightseeing tomorrow. I just thought that I would give
you a call before we eat dinner. Plus, I wanted to thank you again for the
wonderful house you reserved for us on the beach. It's gorgeous." Angel set
the table and put their dinner on the table as he listened to Buffy
describing their residence for the next week.
"You two had better make the most of this trip cause by the time you get
back I'm the one who's going to need a vacation," Cordy whined.
"Why? What's going on at home? Nothing's wrong is it?" Buffy became
worried. "Dawn? Is she-"
"Annoying as ever- especially without you to pick on. But she's Willow and
Tara's problem for the week, not mine," she smiled to herself.
"What about everyone else? Ash?"
"Ash is...well..." she paused for a second. "She's good. Fighting with
Spike as usual." <No way am I going to disrupt their honeymoon with Ash's
bad mood- especially since I planned it for them!> "We're all keeping
pretty busy in LA though. Everyone's downstairs trying to figure out how to
kill a Pachak demon."
"A Pachak demon?" Buffy thought back through Giles' boring research stories,
trying to recall any mention of the creature.
"Cut off it's right horn," Angel's voice could be heard in the background.
"Well the guys will be glad to hear that," Cordy replies from her end.
"What would we all do without him around?" she sarcastically ponders.
"Hey!" Buffy replies.
"Oh, and you of course," Cordy quickly adds. "This place would be insanely
dull if you two didn't come back to take the attention away from Spike and
Ash," she laughs. "You two...you two are coming back...right?" she
nervously asks.
"No Cordelia...we were planning on joining the Big Kahuna tribe. Angel's
gonna give up fighting evil to be a surfer and I'm taking up hula lessons.
Come on- do you really think we'd abandon you all like that?"
"You don't really want me to answer that, do you?"
******
"Oh I'm sorry...are we boring you, Ashlan? Do you have more pressing
matters to attend to- is that it?" Wes was somewhat offended by her
lackadasical attitude. He'd noticed her depression developing over the past
few weeks but didn't deem it necessary to confront her. At the moment, he
was wishing that he had.
<I wish I *did* have more pressing matters to attend to.> "Look- I'm fine.
Just have a lot on my mind is all."
"Like this silly thing?" Spike laughs, snatching the chain and it's charm
away from her. "What's the matter? Normal crosses don't do it for you so
you've got to play with- uumph!" Spike's head was thrust down onto the
table as Ash grabbed him from behind. Holding him down to the surface with
one hand, she pulled back the arm that was still holding her mother's ankh
with her other. "You are a lucky man, *William*- lucky that I spotted you
that night before Angel could, and begged him to make you one of us instead
of draining you!" Spike immediately released the chain and began struggling
against her. She finally let him go to retrieve it, and Spike fell to the
floor.
"Hey everyone- Buffy just called, and...what the hell is going on?" Cordy
asked as she came down the stairs. "It's getting so a person can't get any-
aagggh!!" As the vision seered it's way into her mind, Cordelia came
tumbling down the last five stairs. The others raced over to her, including
Ash, trying to help her through the excrutiating pain.
"Cordy- Cordy, stay with us here- stay focused," Wes tried to calm her.
"What do you see?" The brunette's eyes tightened shut as she gripped his
hand, trying to bring the images into focus. After a few more moments, the
vision ended, leaving Cordy in an attempt to catch her breath and the others
still in question as to just what her vision was.
"Are you alright girl?" Gunn asked, helping to pull her up to her feet.
"That must have been some message from the Powers," Fred assumed. "What did
you see?" Cordelia steadied herself for a moment before peering past her
circle of friends over to.
"You. The voices...there were voices this time...talking to me...telling
me..." Cordy paused as the others stood back, surprised by what Cordy had
just revealed. "This wasn't a vision...it was a...demand."
"A demand? From who?" Spike asked.
"The Oracles...they were right there in front of me. They said 'Bring her
to us. Bring us our Warrior's sibling...' ".
******
Angel smiles warmly, his beautiful chocolate orbs burning into hers as
he looks up at her clicking the phone off and setting it onto the
counter--chuckling to himself as he puts the finishing touches on their
plates. Buffy grins, reaching to snatch a piece of chicken off her plate as
Angel laughs and playfully slaps her hand away.
"Keep your hands to yourself...", he grins and kisses her softly, "-at least
for now...", he chuckles as she smiles and dances around him a bit, her
newly cut hair gently bouncing as she jumps up to kiss his neck as he
continues to set-up their dinner.
"What exactly are you doing, sweetie?" he laughs and raises an eyebrow.
Buffy giggles and hops onto his back, wrapping her arms and legs around his
body as she continues to peck at his neck. "Mmm...wanting you." she grins
and continues to plant butterfly kisses onto the back of his neck, making
him giggle at the ticklish feeling.
Angel blushes and closes his eyes with a laugh, slowly peeling her off
of him to give her a soft kiss, deepening it as he wraps his arms around her
body, their passion clearly evident as she giggles
and kisses him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Angel smiles in
between kisses, laughing with her as they both walk back towards the
enormous staircase leading upstairs, his arms still wrapped around her as he
lifts her up by the waist, stepping through the open doors of their room.
Buffy gasps as she notices the wonderful array he has set-up, a large
blanket with big throw pillows, a delicious platter of tropical fruit, tiny
candles lit and resting on the railing of their balcony.
"Mmm...It smells sooo wonderful in here...I love it!" she smiles, stroking
his chin softly before kissing him once more, closing her eyes and taking in
the delightful sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks. She smiles
and gives him a hug and a soft kiss. "Oh- I forgot we have to eat..." she
grins as he nods with a grin, quickly dashing off for the main course as he
returns quickly, setting the plates down before he grabs her and sets her
down on the pillow across from him.
She giggles and runs a hand through her hair, surprised as he suddenly
kisses her with a mango in his mouth. She takes the slice of fruit into her
mouth, pressing her lips against his as she sucks away at the ripe fruit,
passionately kissing until they both eat the entire piece. He chuckles as a
bit of juice runs down his chin, Buffy's lips reaching up to kiss it away as
he holds her hand--their eyes lighting up as they eat their meal together.
Buffy smiles, "Angel...I think it's time to head inside now. It's
getting kinda chilly...", she shivers lightly, setting her glass down as
Angel takes her into his arms, softly kissing her forehead.
"I was thinking that we could spend a night out under the stars...", he says
to her. "I promise my methods will keep you more than warm...", he smiles
as she grins with a nod, resting her head against his chest as they cuddle
for a few more minutes, staring up at the setting sky.
They gather up their things and walk hand-in-hand back into their room,
as the sun finally disappears into the ocean. Soon, the house is filled
with the aroma of lilac from the many candles Angel has lit and the bed
covered with an assortment of flower petals. Dressed in black silk boxers,
he walks over to the bathroom door. "Buffy...I'm sure you look beautiful.
Believe me, I already know you're the most amazing woman in the world." On
the other side of the door, Buffy smiles feeling that familiar tingly
feeling in her stomach-
the feeling she would always get whenever Angel looked at her, or spoke to
her- that completely powerful overwhelming feeling of love. "Don't try to
sweet talk me now...you'll just have to wait a few minutes longer."
"Ahh..," Angel flops on the bed playfully. "Ok, but if you're not done in a
few mintues-"
"What??" he's cut off by Buffy. "You'll leave?! I bet you will," she says
as she begins to chuckle. A few more minutes pass before Buffy is finally
ready to emerge. "Alright, close your eyes," Buffy says, wincing a bit when
she finally realizes the weight of the three words she had just murmured.
<Time to replace those bad memories with happier ones> she smiles to
herself, determined to fully enjoy every second of their much-deserved time
together.
"Alright," he says as he puts his hands over his eyes, I can't see anything
now. Are you gonna come out??" He didn't notice that she had already come
into the room. She kneels on the bed overtop of him, Angel feeling the
change in weight, beginning to smile. She runs her hands over his bare
chest, stopping at his shoulders as she begins to massage them. "Can I look
now?" Angel politely asks. "Hmm...not yet," Buffy smiles with a small
laugh.
He feels her soft lips graze the side of his neck, making him jump a
little. She moves her lips across his neck, up to his waiting lips, gently
sliding her tongue into his mouth, as they share an intimate kiss. She
pulls away, sitting up. "Alright, you can look now." Angel pulls his hands
down, slowly opening his eyes to the most precious thing in his world. His
jaw drops slightly at the sight of Buffy in the most sexual, yet sensitive
garment he has ever seen. He sits up, tenderly taking her into his embrace,
running his thumb
along her jaw. "Buffy...you're a vision. How I ever found you..." he
shakes his head, his emotions starting to
well up. "Shhh." she runs her thumb over his lips, gently kissing him. "I
know.I feel the same way," she says as she places her head on his chest,
hearing his beautiful heart beat for her and only her.
He places his hands on her hips, sharing another kiss. He leans over
and picks her up, making sure not to break their kiss, gently laying her on
the bed. Lightly, he places kisses down her neck, lowering to her navel,
then working his way back up. Buffy places her arms around his neck,
pulling him closer as she whispers in his ear, "I love you...".
The lovers continue to tease each others body's with kisses and tender
touches. As Angel slowly works on her neck after removing her beautiful
silk garment, Buffy slides his boxers off of his well-sculptured body. He
rests his head along the side of her's as he slowly and gently enters her.
She runs her hands along his smooth back, feeling her arousal grow as he
deeply kisses her. Angel runs his hand alongside of her body, as Buffy lets
out a sigh, her pleasure strongly increasing even more.
He shifts a bit, his face showing his pleasure as he pulls Buffy's body
even closer to his own, both softly sighing as their pleasure starts to take
a hold on them. Feeling that neither one of them can withhold their release
much longer, he moves his hands even further down to her hips, guiding her
as he feels her strong release and he follows, the eternal lovers sharing
the most powerful, intimate thing any two people can ever have together.
Their bodies tangle together, as they finish out their blissful high.
Buffy sighs as she feels Angel come to rest ontop of her, "I love
you...so much," she says, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him down
closer to her, meeting his lips for a deep kiss and a smile, as the couple
lovingly continue the first night of their well-deserved honeymoon falling
asleep in each others arms towards the early hours of the next morning.
Part 3
"We...what just...we have to call Angel and Buffy," Fred finally managed to
get out.
"I agree," Wes speaks up.
"No. We're not calling them." The room began to protest at Cordelia's
remark until she managed to explain. "We don't even know what just
happened-"
"Well allow me to bring you up to speed, pet," Spike says as he approaches
her. "You just got smashed with a vision telling us to haul Ashlan's ass in
to see those bloody Oracles and now she's just been beamed up like in one of
those god awful flying saucer movies. Is any of this unclear?" The image
of the white light appearing from out of nowhere, engulfing Ash in it's
brightness until both it and her disappeared was still fresh in all their
minds.
"We're not calling them over something this small," Cordelia asserted again.
"I don't know about you, but to me- this might be considered a few steps up
from 'small'," Gunn says.
"We don't even know what happened to her," Cordy responds. "Where she is?
*Why* any of this is happening."
"Perhaps..." Wesley begins playing out the series of events in his mind,
"...perhaps this is what Whistler was talking about when he made mention of
her redemption?"
"Oh please," Spike mutters. "It took Peaches a whole century to earn his
and she's gonna earn her's in a few months?? Bloody unlikely. But...I
don't think we should call him or blondie anytime soon over this."
"Have you all lost your minds?!" Wesley shouts.
"From what I've been told, these Oracles don't sound like they'd do anything
to her, so why are we even fightin' about this?" Spike answers him. "Most
likely they'll give her a progress report, maybe a gold star, and send her
home. It's not like she's disappeared off the face of the planet..."
******
I kept up with the prophecy you spoke
I kept up with the message inside
Lost sight of the irony of twisted fate
Lost sight of my soul and its void
Think I'm
Think I'm unforgiven to this world
Think I'm
Think I'm unforgiven to this world
"Welcome Ashlan," the female Oracle spoke from beside her brother.
"What have you brought us?" her brother sharply added.
"Brother-" the female turned slightly, passing him a glare. "We have
summoned the young fighter- she need not to have brought us anything."
Turning once again to face Ash, she walked towards her.
"Why was I brought here? What do you want with me?"
"We have brought you here because of your own request-"
"-You have brought yourself here," the male picked up from his sister. "We
have been observing your deeds as of late."
"Well if I knew I was being watched I would've made more of a showing," Ash
scoffs.
"Do not ridicule us lower being-" the brother responds to her jeer. "Need I
remind you that your fate has yet to be determined."
"Really? Well you could've fooled me."
"You are our Warrior's sibling," the female says. "In you lies great power.
With this great power, comes much responsibility. We need to be certain
that you are prepared for such an undertaking-"
"Yeah, I know I've got powers. I know I'm strong- I'm stronger than Angel
and Buffy combined," she weakly boasted.
"Never-" the male opposed her belief. "True, you are more powerful than the
two slayers...but you will never be stronger than them. Their strength
comes from within one another...this is something you have yet to acquire-"
"It doesn't matter! I never asked to be given any of this!" Ash shouts.
"This life- whatever it is...I..." Ash averted her eyes to the ground, the
memories replaying in her mind. "Why was I brought back? The Powers That
Be.they're supposed to control fate..." she sneered. "Why did they allow
Edge and Christian to resurrect me?"
"They did not," the sister replied. "The spell that was used to resurrect
you...the Ritual of Gangrel...it transcends the powers of fate."
"So all this time..." Ash was almost at her breaking point as she admitted
what she had felt to be true all along, "...I was never supposed to be
brought back."
Took a chance at deceiving myself
To share in the consequence of lies
Childish with my reasoning and pride
Godless to the extent that I died
Think I'm
Think I'm unforgiven to ths world
Think I'm
Think I'm unforgiven to this world
"Because of the circumstances surrounding both your mortal death and
immortal murder...it was decided by the Powers to allow your soul to rest-
to find peace," the brother added. "However, the ritual has restored you to
this world, and the Powers have chosen you to assist in our Warriors'
mission." Ash stood before them, dazed and unwilling to believe what she
had just been told. <Warriors...Angel and Buffy...helping them instead of
finding peace...> "Why?"
"You have powers," the female answered her, "that will be of profound-"
"But why??" Ash interrupted her. "Why any of this?? Why can't the Powers
just allow me to return now instead of staying here? Whistler said that
when they made their decision, they would allow me to return if I chose to."
"Is that what you truly desire?" the brother asked.
"No...all I desire is to finally have some sort of normal life. Since I'll
never have that as long as I'm connected to Angel and Buffy, the better
alternative is to return.to know peace again. But then, I can't even do
that, right?" Ashlan was now pacing before them, angered by the sudden
realization of what sort of life she would have remaining among the actual
living. "I can't *die*, so there's no help there. This is living hell- I
can't live, not fully- not even the way a full vampire can live. My
existance, because that's really all it is, is the eternal agony- the
eternal torment. To have everything I never had- never even had the chance
to have- right on front of me, but I can never possess it."
"So you perceive your life here to be...contradictory?" the female asks her.
"No...*tragic*," she stresses. "To have everything taken from me before I
even had it. No parents, no childhood- your precious *Warrior* Angel may
have been a vampire for more than 240 years, but he had a human life before
and now, he lives one again. But me...for 104 years- I finally knew peace.
*104 years!* And to be ripped away from that, only to endure all this
again, knowing what I know, just for this *connection* I have with him and
Buffy..."
"Perhaps you need to be shown just how important and powerful your
connection with Angel truly is-" the brother warned.
"After all," his sister spoke up, "that is the reason the Powers would
allow you to remain here in hopes of earning your full humanity. If
humanity and happiness is all that you desire out of your existance, it
shall be granted-"
"-but how much will you value it once you learn the means by which it will
come to pass...?" Before Ashlan could respond, she was engulfed once again
by the blinding light, a sudden heat radiating throughout her as all that
she had ever wanted came to be hers...at the cost of another's...
Part 4
Tours, France: 1893
~~~"Demons! Did you honestly think that we would never capture you?! Bring
them both over here!" Two men followed the mayor's orders, dragging the
tied-up Angelus and Ashlan over to him.
"You never were one to listen, were you?" Angelus looked over at his sister.
"What are the two things I have always told you- never leave any
witnesses, and never drink from the dead...never!" The other four members
of the mayor's council watched as the two vampires who had been decreasing
the town's population rapidly were set to receive their swift executions by
beheadment.
"You..." the mayor reached out to grab Ashlan by the throat. "You killed my
wife...my Emma..."
"Well if it is of any consolation to you, Monsieur Levesque...she did
provide quite nicely for us," Ashlan smiled between gritted teeth as the
town leader's grip around her throat tightened immensely. "You two.will be
dead by morning, if not sooner. That blood should be working it's will
through the both of you. The two of you are the devil's work-"
"And if I may say so," Angelus said, switching into game face before the men
as he pushed off of the weakling who held him captive to kick the old man
away from his sister, "he did his best work in us." He freed himself from
the ropes and began tossing the rest of the council out of his way as they
made their pathetic attempts to restrain him once more. Finally throwing
aside the last one, he yelled out to a still tied Ashlan. "Come on!" Ash,
still able to run as she tried freeing herself, was suddenly struck on the
back of her head with the blunt end of the mayor's baton. Angleus turned as
he heard the thud of her falling to the ground unconscious. "Ashlan!" he
cried out to her as he raced back into the town hall. Seeing the mayor
still hovering over her, he snatched him around the neck, swiftly breaking
it with one sharp twist.
From down the corridor, he heard the voices and footsteps of the rest
of the guards. He quickly picked up Ashlan, slinging her over his shoulder
as he speeded off below to the nearby crypt where the two of them, as well
as Spike, had been stationed since arriving in France. Seeing that Spike
was still out on the hunt, he layed Ashlan down on the cold cement and
untied her still sleeping form. "Ashlan...? Ashlan...?"~~~
"Ash...? Ashlan...?" Still in a state of shock at the young girl's return
the next morning, Gunn and Spike carried her over into the lounge of the
Hyperion, stretching her out across one of the longer couches. "She's still
out," Spike informed the group.
"The important thing is that she's back.and she appears to be well- uh," he
traced a finger along his chin as he pondered aloud, "is it- is it me or is
she less pale than usual?" The friends gathered around her, observing her
sleeping form. Upon closer inspection, they too noticed that her
complexion's usual hint of paleness had vanished and been replaced with a
brighter, warmer shade. It was Cordelia who noticed the single greatest
change in her form...
"Guys...? Look at her chest-"
"And you all say that I'm the one 'round here with the dirty mind?" Spike
says.
"Not like that, you bleach-blonde, bubble-headed..." Cordy paused as she
searched for another fitting insult that began with a 'b'.
"Baboon?" Gunn offered her.
"...baboon!" Cordelia shouted the finishing word at the vampire, as the rest
of them looked in Gunn's direction with a questioning look on their faces.
"What? She needed a 'b'..." Gunn defends his choice.
"Enough of this," Cordy kneels down, placing a hand over Ash's chest. The
others watched in amazement as Cordy's hand began to raise with each breath
that Ash was now able to breathe in.
"She's..." Wesley was, for the first time in a long while, at a loss for
words.
"Oh Christ! Do not tell me the twerp here is alive?!" Spike shouts,
pointing an arm at her prone form.
"The Oracles. They must've done it," Fred began explaining. "I mean,
wh...what else could they have wanted her for? They- they must've made her
human."
"But it doesn't make any sense," Wes contradicted her theory. "Angel waited
for hundreds of years before he was granted his own humanity...why would
they give this to her so soon? She's only been back for...not even three
months. No...no, something else is going on here."
"I just wish we knew what," Cordelia sighed.
******
Buffy awakes to a light breeze hitting the back of her neck. She turns
over to see where Angel is, but doesn't see him. Curious as to just where
he would've run off to at eight in the morning, she looks out over the
balcony outside of their bedroom where the gentle breeze had been comming
from. She sees Angel in the ocean swimming. She throws on her robe and
decides to go greet her new husband.
She makes her way out the door and Angel immediently notices her.
"You're out for an early morning swim, its only eight..." Buffy yells as she
walks down along the strip of beach. Angel begins to run up to her as he
emerges from out of the water. "I tried not to wake you," he calls out to
her. "I just figured I would..." Angel stops in his swift pace, falling
short of reaching her as he takes a sharp, painful intake of breath. The
pain in his chest began radiating throughout the rest of his body, and Buffy
watched in horror as he fell to his knees, still clutching his chest.
"Oh my god!!! Angel!!" Buffy clings to his still body when she finally
reaches him. She can't believe her eyes as she starts to cry, gently
stroking his hair. "Get up!! Get up!! Angel- get up!", she breaks down and
keeps calling him to get up, praying that he was okay. She quickly found
that lifting him was a greater task than even her slayer strength would
allow, but her initial fears were put to rest as she noticed his eyes begin
to flutter open lazily. "Angel?? Are you alright? Can you hear me,
sweetie??"
"Buffy?" her name escaped his lips as he struggled to sit up in her arms.
"Angel, what happened?"
"I...I don't know." With her help, Angel finally managed to pull himself o
his shaky feet, leaning slightly on her shoulder to support his weight as
they slowly walked back up to the house. "One minute I'm running up to see
you, happy as could be, and then I just got this pain- this huge pain in my
chest, and everything went black." They reached the house and Buffy,
despite his protesting, helped him lie down on the couch.
"Buffy I'm fine now- really. I probably just overdid it. I mean between
running and swimming this morning, not to mention all the exercise we got
from last night," he smiled up at her, tracing his fingers across her cheek,
"my body is probably just exhausted."
"I was so scared," she grips his hand tighter as a tear flows from her eye,
"I just kept thinking...if I lost you-" she confesses as he softly strokes
the back of her hand.
"I'm right here," he gently leans his forehead against hers. "Everything's
okay. I'm fine..."
Part 5
"Guys...she's waking up," Fred called out to the rest of the gang. "Hey
Ash? You okay? Can you hear me?"
"Yeah.yeah- I'm...good." Ash slowly got up from the couch, making her way
past the others.
"Ashlan, are you sure you're alright?" Wes asked her.
"You were out for a while there, girl," Gunn added. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm great," she replied, surprised at just how well she actually was
feeling. All the sorrow, all the pain, all the feelings of loss were gone-
replaced by a warmth she could never have imagined. <They really did it for
me. I'm human.> "Never felt better in my life," she smiled.
"Gee- maybe it's because you're the latest to join the land of the living,"
Spike grumbled, pulling out his lighter as he took a seat. <First Peaches,
now his lil' sis. Every other vamp can have a 'get out of death free card'
but not ol' Spike. Hmph- wouldn't want it anyway- to be one of them.a
human. Nothing but a bunch of whining, stupid, sniveling...> he continued
trying to convince himself, but deep down, having to watch as his fellow
demons got a chance at life was enough to drive him mad.
"Ash...you're human," Cordy said in disbelief.
"I know. Isn't it great!" She strolled past the brunette, headed for the
nearby mirror in Wesley's office.
"Uh...ye- yeah. Yeah it's great, Ash- but...how-" Cordy paused as she
noticed Ash's reaction at seeing herself for the first time ever in a
mirror. Her head tilted from side to side, trying to examine every detail
of her features. Tracing the outline of her face, Ashlan couldn't help but
smile at her appearance. <Xander wasn't kidding...I really do look like
Angel.Angel! I can't wait until he finds out.>
******
Still a little shaky from the morning's events, Angel and Buffy walked
down along the beach, enjoying each other's company and anticipating their
plans for the day.
"Want me to carry that?"
"No, I'm fine. I think I can handle a picnic basket." She playfully nudges
him with her hip.
"I know you can, Buffy. It's just...."
"I appreciate that, Angel. Really, I do. But after this morning, I really
don't want you overexerting yourself any more than you already have. We're
supposed to be relaxing...remember? Besides..." she nudges him again,
leaning further into him with her hip, "...I still have plans for you
later."
"And I'm guessing these plans would wear me out much worse than just
carrying a simple picnic basket, so why don't you let me." he reaches over,
trying to snatch it away from her, but to no avail. "Angel, behave," she
giggles up at him. "You know, you're starting to remind me of a certain,
sometimes reall annoying person whose initials are Xander Harris," she
quipped, knowing he would jokingly take quick offense.
"That did it. That was final insult," he stops, folding his arms across his
chest. "But I have ways of getting even."
"Like what?"
"Like this." Before she could even gasp, Angel picked her up, picnic basket
and all. He began walking again, laughing all the way towards the water.
"What are you doing?"
"Something I've wanted to do ever since I saw you put your swimsuit on."
"Don't you dare....." With that, Angel placed the picnic basket on the
beach and walked right into the beautiful ocean.
"Angel!" she shrieked as the coolness of the water hit her legs. As Angel
laughed hysterically, she shifted slightly, causing him to lose his balance.
He tried to compensate, but she continued squirming in his arms.
"Buffy! Stop squirming!"
"No!" She continued to squirm and laugh, attempting to tickle him.
"Buffy!" With that last cry, Angel finally gave up the fight and they both
fell into the ocean, below the surface. They both came up, laughing and
splashing water at each other.
He leaned in and kissed her. She returned the kiss, marveling at her
good fortune in finding the one true love of her life. Angel sighed into
the kiss as it continued, the love and everyday moments of random happiness
he could now share with Buffy radiating throughout him.
The kiss broke off suddenly, as Buffy felt Angel jerk away, a muffled
cry of pain escaping from his throat. "Angel?! What's wrong?!" He pushed
her away as he struggled back onto the coastline, the water streaking down
his face as he keeled over onto the sand, his painful moans getting louder
and more excruciating as he struggled for air. "Angel?! What's
happening?!"
Part 5
"I have no idea as to what's happened to her," Wes spoke from behind his desk, "but something is not right here."
"I think we all pretty much agree on that much," Gunn says. "I just wish she would've stuck around long enough for us to talk to her some more." After spending the past two hours going around in circles asking exactly what happened during her encounter with the Oracles, the LA gang was surprised to watch her take off from the Hyperion, saying she wanted to be somewhere "less interrogating."
"Fred," Cordy lifted her head up from the book she was flipping through, "Have you found anything yet?"
"I'm afraid not. Not a lot of our books here make mention of the Oracles or the Powers That Be...at least not any of their specific powers or rituals."
"Ummm...excuse me here," Spike hopped down from Wesley's desk, "but why all the fuss? The girl's human...not exactly the nastiest of the big nasties."
"That's not the point, man," Gunn replied. "The point is that...uh- the point is...wait-" he turned to Cordy and Wes, "guys- what exactly is the point?" Cordy sighed as she approached them with a few other books.
"The point is that this happened, but we have no idea why, or how, or what consequences are going to come from it, because in case you haven't noticed, no matter what happens, no matter how good- all of us always wind up paying for it."
"What about Angel being turned human?" Fred asked.
"I for one would consider having to watch him and goldilocks make with the googly eyes all day a severe form of paying for it," Spike answered in typical fashion before lighting up another smoke. <Those two don't know how lucky they are to be out of this place for the week.>
******
"We should've stayed home. Taken a trip later...after everything had calmed down, and you'd had enough time to adjust to being human, and you wouldn't have gotten sick, and-"
"Buffy..." Angel sighed, rolling onto his side in bed to face her as she sat next to him. After helping him back into the house, she put him in bed and was busy playing nurse maid to her ailing husband. "I'm not sick..."
"What do you call this?" She wrang out the washrag, gently folding it and draping it over his sweaty forhead. "Angel...you're in pain. We've got to get you to a doctor, or the hospital. You can't stay like this," she whispers, her eyes taking in his condition.
While he ran a fever, his body was wracked with the chills. His skin, just beginning to develop a noticeable tan, was growing paler. His eyes were glassy and lazily barely opened to look up at her. If it hadn't been for her slayer strength, she was sure that she wouldn't have been able to help his frail form back to the house. He was terribly weakened, and the whole ordeal was just bringing up more unpleasant memories stemming from her highschool graduation.
As painful as it was to see Angel suffer from the mayor's poisoning, it couldn't compare to this- at least then they knew what they were dealing with and what needed to be done to save him. There was another factor that came into play that fateful day- Angel was still a vampire. Now in his fully attained human condition, they had no idea what was happening.
"What- ugggh..." Angel moaned in pain as he shifted up to lay back against the pillows, "what are you doing?" he asked her as he watched her lift the cordless phone from it's base.
"Calling Giles," she answered as she began dialing the familiar number. "He should be at the house with the others- Dawn should be getting home from school right about now. We're going home and I want to let him know what's going on so he'll have a heads up when we get back...Damn it- it's busy...Dawn's definitely home- probably talking to that kid Jeff-"
"We're not going home, Buffy," Angel sighed.
"You've got to be kidding me?! Angel- if necessary I will drag you clear across the Atlantic ocean-"
"I think you mean the Pacific ocean-"
"Oh whatever- either way, we are getting you home now, if not sooner," she resolutely stated as she began dialing once more.
Part 6
"Hello?"
"Willow-"
"Buffy! Hey guys, it's Buffy," she announced to the rest of them sitting in
the dining room. "So how's Hawaii? You two must be having such an awesome
time."
"Well we were, but-"
"What do you mean?" Willow waved Tara over to her, preparing herself for
the latest bit of bad news. "What's wrong? What's happened?"
"Will, Angel's sick. I mean, he was fine when we first got here, but he's
collapsed two times and he doesn't look good. He's running a high fever,
he's having chest pains, and.he's so weak, Will. Something's wrong."
"Well what can we do to help? I mean, anything- name it."
"I don't know what you guys *can* do. I mean, it may not be anything magic
related. We're leaving tomorrow morning- I want to get him home. I just
wanted to let you guys know ahead of time- maybe start on some research."
"Buffy-" Giles' voice broke into their conversation as he picked up the
receiver in the living room, "if Angel is terribly sick, perhaps moving him
isn't the most wise decision. Now that he's human...I'm sure there are
doctors on the island who could-"
"Giles-" Buffy, firm in her reasoning to bring her husband home, had never
been more sure of anything. "I'm bringing Angel home."
"Yes...yes, of course. We'll uh- get started on some research from the
symptoms you gave Willow. And we'll call back the others in LA," Giles told
her as he hung up, headed home to retrieve some of his books.
"Call back?" Buffy asked Willow, who was still on the line. "Is that who
you were just on the phone with a few minutes ago? I tried calling and it
was busy."
"Oh- Cordelia called. Umm, actually- something's happened in LA too- though it's a little happier news than yours. Ashlan is now a full fledged human."
"What?! When did that happen? I mean- how?"
"That's what Cordy and the others are trying to figure out. All she told me
was that Ashlan had been really depressed over the past week or two, always
asking her about the Powers and stuff. She said something about the Oracles
calling for Ash. They took her, and when she was back- she was human." At
the wiccan's mention of the Oracles, something clicked in Buffy's mind.
Part 7
"When did this happen?"
"Just yesterday morning- that's when the Oracles returned her. Wait...you don't think...this has anything to do with-"
"Just call Cordy back. Tell her and the others to haul ass to Sunnydale. We'll be back by tomorrow night."
"Wait- what about Ashlan?"
"What about her?"
"She's gone. Cordy said she got upset when they kept asking her what went on with the Oracles, and she left. She just took off."
"I don't know, Will. Right now, I'm just..."
"Hey, it'll be fine. Angel is going to be fine. We'll start on research, call LA- tell them to search for Ash before heading here, and we'll see you guys tomorrow night, okay? I'm sure he's okay," she adds, already imagining her best friend's worried look. "Just watch him close tonight to keep an eye on him. He's a pretty fast healer- maybe his system will start to fight off whatever's going on."
"Yeah...I'll keep a close eye on him tonight-"
"As if anyone would have to tell you to..." Willow chuckles, trying to lighten the mood as they hang up. She looks to Tara, already with her nose in a book, before picking up the phone again to call Cordelia. Dawn approaches her from behind before she gets the chance to dial.
"What's going on? What's wrong with Angel?"
"We don't know, Dawnie. He's sick. Buffy and him are coming home tomorrow morning to sort things out."
"This is so weird. I mean, Ash is turned human while...Angel...gets...sick," the correlation of the two events finally registers in her mind with each word. "Wait- you mean..."
"That's what we're going to try and figure out. I'm calling Cordy. We'll get the rest of the gang here- try and see if they can find Ash before they come."
"I'll go get Xander and Anya- let them know what's happening," Dawn says, grabbing her jacket from the counter as she heads out the door.
Part 8
There's something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight
There's something about the way you move
I see your mouth in slow motion when we love
More subtle than something someone contrives
Your movements echo...the love of my life
"Here ya go, Angel." Xander returned upstairs from the mansion's kitchen, a
book in one hand, a glass in the other.
"Orange juice? You brought him orange juice, sweetie??" Anya was admitedly not the most saavy when it came to "human ways", but she was fairly positive that orange juice was not going to help in Angel's current condition.
"Hey- it always helped me when I was sick. Oooo.that and these little
taffys that tasted like cherries. My mom used to give me those all the
time-"
"Wonderful..." Angel grumbled from under the covers. "At least...when I die
I can- I can say my last...meal was fruit...and sugar..."
"You're not going to die, Angel," Dawn reassured him from her seat on the
bed. "Everybody's busy figuring this out and you're going to be fine.
Besides...I don't think you've yelled at me more than two times and you want
to catch up to Buffy's record, right?" she tried joking with him, trying to
bring back some semblance of the healthy big brother who just over a week
ago was dancing with her at his wedding. While his condition hadn't
worsened any since his and Buffy's return from Hawaii, it hadn't gotten any
better. Now lying in bed, his only comfort came from the knowledge that
Buffy was beside him, and everyone was busy trying to sort things out-
almost everyone...
"Fred..." he looked over to the young girl as she adjusted her glasses,
intently reading through some papers, "have...Gunn and Wes found...have they
found Ash yet?"
"No...but even if they haven't, they promised to be here later tonight."
She stood up from her seat, clutching her papers and folder to her chest as
she neared him- her boss, her savior. "Get some sleep, Angel," she gently
placed a kiss on his forehead as she and Dawn followed Xander and Anya out of the bedroom, leaving the couple to try and relax. Watching their door
slowly shut, Buffy lifted her head from Angel's chest long enough to see him
wince in pain once more, his sharp intake of breath making her wince as
well. "I should let you sleep..." Buffy had barely begun to softly slip out
of his arms when his weak grasp took hold around her waist.
"No...just...just stay...here," his eyes pleaded with her with a fear she
had never seen in him before. "Please..."
"You're in pain," her voice nearly broke as she whispered to him. "You need
to rest..."
"I need you..." Angel meekly opened his arms for her, urging her to stay
with him. Tenderly, Buffy laid back down beside him, gently running her
fingers through his mussed hair trying to soothe him back to sleep as the
others continuously worked downstairs, eagerly awaiting news from Wes and
Gunn.
Part 9
Caught up in the middle
Had no choice, had no choice
Birthright forgotten, so silent
No voice
I see you
You know who
Little girl, little girl
It wasn't The Bronze's busiest night, but the young girl still found the hot spot to be more enjoyable and pleasant than her current home in LA. <I'm thinking I should pick up a change of address form on the way back to get my things- there's no way in hell I'm going to reside anywhere within ten feet of this sideshow now...no reason for me to stay- thank god!
Now realize little girl
Overlooked little girl
Bottled up and empty holding back
At loss you're forgotten
Getting back, get back
<None of them care about me anyway. Wesley's overbearing, Gunn thinks he's some sort of war general- they're both probably still out on the streets looking for me. Fred's too prim and proper, and Spike...I'll never understand why Angel never staked him. As for Angel...>
Expectations of another
Love given to the younger
Broken family, broken brother
Emptiness feeds the hunger
Now realize little sister
Overlooked little girl
Change, change, change
"Damn right," Ash voiced her agreement to the band's words as they finished up on stage. Downing the rest of her drink in a single gulp, she stood, headed out the club's side door. <As for Angel...the hell with him- and Buffy.> Her wonderful mood and ever-increasing happiness still intact, she never noticed the two shadows emerging from behind her as she walked the quiet streets of Sunnydale.
"Well if it isn't the slayer's sister," the taller of the two vamps spoke first.
"Out for a night on the town by yourself?" the second added with a wicked smile. Stopping in her tracks, not even bothering to turn around, Ash couldn't help but laugh to herself.
"Look you two- it's late, I'm tired, and I'm hungry-"
"So are we," the vamps inched closer towards her turned back.
"Well there you go- I'll be heading down to Fontana's for a sandwich and you two can go beg for blood from the butcher. Problem...solved." Ash's face began to show signs of worry as they grabbed her from behind. She quickly became aware of one of the downsides to now being human- try as she might, her normal strength was not enough to break free of their hold. As one yanked her head to the side, preparing to drink, Ash's eyes tightened in fear...
"You two don't want that one-" the taller vamp's head met the wall with a sudden loud smash as Spike pryed him off of Ashlan, "-you don't know where she's been."
Part 10
Buffy glares over to the clock on their nightstand- only 9pm. Finally
hearing Angel's breathing become steadier and more peaceful, she's hesitant
to leave his side, but decides to get up anyway. Trying not to wake him,
Buffy slowly lifts her head from his chest and tries to disentangle herself
from his arms, when she feels him stir underneath her.
"Buffy?" he whispers.
"Shhh...it's okay. I'm right here," she lovingly traces the back of her
hand across his cheek. "I tried not to wake you."
"You didn't...wake me." His eyes focus on his wife, soothingly caressing
the side of his feverish face. "Please forgive me," he whispers.
"Forgive you?"
"For putting you through this. This...is really rough.on you- I see it.
You shou- you shouldn't have to..."
"Angel-" she stops him in midthought, her welled up tears nearly springing
forth at his never ending selflessness.
"Buffy...you...you sacrifice so much-"
"I'd sacrifice everything for you," a single tear flows down her cheek.
"You're going to be fine. You will..." she softly eases herself back into
his arms. "I love you," she whispers, turning slightly to give him a gentle
kiss. Though extremely weakened and tired, Angel draws strength from the
kiss, deepening it ever so slowly- the love in his beloved's touch giving
him the first small bit of happiness since becoming so dreadfully sick. But
Buffy quickly jerks away as she feels him wince back sharply, holding a hand
to his chest as his pain drastically escalated. "Aaagghh..." Angel himself
is almost on the brink of tears from the radiating pain surging through his
body.
"Angel?! Oh god- Guys! Guys!!" She continues calling out for her friends
as she tries to calm her stricken husband. After a few moments, the pain
begins to subside and Buffy notices the tears streaming down Angel's face.
"Are you alright? Angel? Oh Angel- please," she sobs as she helps him
settle back down.
"I'm fine. I'm fine now. It just...it- it hurts," his voice breaks with
the pain he just endured as Buffy sinks down, gathering him into her arms as
they tearfully drift off to sleep together.
"Buffy...? Buffy...?" Tara gently shook her sleeping friend's shoulder as
the slayer peacefully slept alongside her husband. Slowly, she began to
rouse at the sudden shaking from the wiccan.
"Tara? What's going on?"
"It's okay. I came up about an hour ago when we heard you shouting, but you two were already asleep- I didn't want to wake you. Buffy.Wes and Gunn are here- they couldn't find Ash. We've found something though- downstairs. We think we know what's happened." Nodding her head, Buffy softly pulled from
Angel's side, trying her best not to wake his finally sleeping, peaceful
form. Placing a soft kiss on his forehead, the slayer turned to follow Tara
downstairs to the mansion's library, where both gangs were waiting with
their discovery.
Part 11
"We've finally found something-" Wes spoke for the group. "It's not much to
go on, but it is a start at explaining things." He sat up from his chair,
carrying the book he had finally found their much needed information in. He
opened to the page as he placed it ontop of the larger of the three tables
for Buffy to see.
"There's really not much information in regards to any of the specific
spells and magics of the Oracles, or for that matter, the Powers either,
but- there is mention of the bonds that are established by the Powers which
they deem fitting for certain individuals. You and Angel for example seem
to.you two *have*-" Wes corrected himself, knowing full well the very
special connection the two shared without question, "what's called a Semper
bond- an eternal bond of the souls."
Buffy smiled unconsciously at the truth of Wesley's discovery. <Like
he really needed to look that up in one of his books...>
"From what I can gather," Wes continued, adjusting his glasses a bit,
"Ashlan and Angel are connected by a Salvatel bond, a..." Wes let his hand
linger in the air for a moment, trying to explain the relationship between
the brother and sister. "...a sort of salvation bond.a source of
redemption. From what Whistler told us when Angel was granted his humanity,
Angel found his own redemption through you first, then Ashlan."
"And now Ashlan has been granted her own humanity..." Dawn surmised.
"Yes- but not naturally. Angel helped earn his through his work for the
Powers, but Ash..."
"She's only been back for a few months," Cordy picked up on where her
friend's observations where leading.
"And from what you guys said," Buffy began pacing along the table, "she
hasn't exactly been in the most cheery and helpful mood." Stopping in front
of Cordy, she turned to her friend with pleading eyes. "Do you know what
had her so upset? Why she was acting the way she was?"
"It bothered me too, Buffy." All the friends had quickly taken notice of
the seeming "relationship" that Cordy was slowly building with Ash. With
help from mostly her, Ashlan quickly caught up to speed with the ways of her
new existance...but the more she learned...the more she began to reject it-
without ever letting on to the Scoobies that she no longer wanted to do it-
to go on with life anymore if she had to exist like she was- snatched back
and stuck.
"All she would talk to me about," Cordy sighed, rubbing her forehead, "was
how to contact the Oracles. Then one night, right after I got off the phone
with you, I got a vision and then...then she was gone. The next morning she
was returned, but she was human."
"And the morning after I talk to you was when Angel started getting sick.
That's when he collapsed the first time."
"So the Oracles must've granted her humanity..." Tara formulated her own
theory, surprised by what she was just about to say, "...at the cost of
Angel's. They're slowly taking his life away to completely give Ashlan
hers."
"It seems to be happening sporadically," Giles adds. "Something must
trigger it when Angel is being...drained. If we could only figure out what
does it before it's too late."
"We also need to find a way of reaching the Oracles. They had the power to
do this- they have the power to change it back," Buffy bluntly decides.
"Wes? Giles?" she turns to them, searching their faces for any means of
contacting the Powers to fix things.
"We're already searching," Giles answers. "We'll find something, Buffy. I
swear to you- we will."
******
"Let me go- what the hell are you doing here, Spike?"
"Now that's funny, love- I was going to ask you the exact same thing."
Finally unclenching his hands from her shoulders, Spike took a step back,
allowing Ashlan to turn around and face him. "Where have you been?
Everyone's been lookin' around for you- Wesley and Gunn are probably still
running rampant through LA just trying to find you."
"What does it matter to you?"
"Because I'm really finding it hard to believe that you just went out for a
stroll and ended up here. What gives?"
"I wanted to get out- get away for the night..."
"I see..." he nodded with a disbelieving smile across his lips. "A sort
of...celebration...is that it?"
"Well I'm glad you can see the great significance in me wanting to get as
far away from all of you for once. So...as you can see, I'm fine. Thanks
for the- ugggh...help," she clutched her side in pain as more blood gushed
over her hands.
"The celebration may be ending soon, girlie," Spike told her, slinging an
arm around her back to help support her.
"Oh this-" she motions to her bleeding side, "this is *good*. This is
proof. It's proof that I'm really human now. Never seen anything more
reassuring in my-"
"I'm not talking about your lil' scrape-up. I'm talking about Angel." He
helped her balance herself as they headed down the street.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about your lil' magic act. Whatever those bloody Oracles did
to you...we think it did something to Angel. While they were making with
all their mushy crap in Hawaii, Angel got sick. Passed out a few times-"
"So? Maybe he ate some bad fish or something."
"Well it seems he started getting sick the morning the Oracles returned you.
That's just too convenient, wouldn't you agree?"
"Mmm.she half-agreed. "And, uh- the point of this is what exactly?" Spike
stopped in his tracks, pulling her to a halt as well as they were just a
block away from the mansion.
"How bout a lil' less with the attitude, luv? Buffy decided to bring Angel
home. Once you get all patched up, the lot of us are going to try and
straighten this out. Figure out just what those gloworms did to the two of
you and see if we can't switch things back to normal-"
"And just how do you plan on doing that?"
"You managed to get yourself recruited by your golden buddies...you can do
it again- and take Angel with you to change things back to the way they
were." As they neared the mansion, the deafening silence that fell over
them was soon broken.
"And what if I don't want things to go back to the way they were?"
"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice here, Ash. This is serious.
Angel is *sick*. Your brother is..." he hesitated with his choice of words,
not wanting to speak the thoughts that were running rampant through all
their minds. "...we think he's dying."
"Brother..." she whispered with a small laugh. "What brother?"
"What the hell are you sniveling about now?" Spike's frustrations with her
were nearing the breaking point.
"Angel...all of you...are of no concern to me. I'm human- *normal* and
finally able to be rid of all of you. Have a life of my own- life I was
never given the chance to have. Something real."
"Listen and listen good you whining lil' bitch- you wouldn't even be
standing here right now if it wasn't for him, so-"
"That's right, *William*...I wouldn't! If it wasn't for Angel draining our
mother- feeding from her like the monster he is- I would have never gotten
the chance to endure all of this pain and torture! I would've never been
killed- finally knowing peace for 104 years, and then yanked back like
nothing had happened! So you know what? I'm so glad you brought me here to
see him before he dies, because I really must thank him for all he's done
for me!"
"It.it wasn't Angel who did any of it...it was Angelus. Nothing was Angel's
fault and you know that for a fact. He never asked to be made a vampire any
more than you did."
"We are who we are- people don't change. All of you idiots think that just
because he's human now, that means he's lost all his evil?"
"Angel was never evil," Spike bluntly defended his sire before picking
Ashlan up, slinging her wounded frame over his shoulder as he walked towards
the mansion's front door.
"What the hell are you doing?! Put me down- now!!"
"I've heard all I'm going to hear from you. I'll let the others have a
crack at you first before I beat you any more senseless than you already
are!"
Part 12
Opening the front door, Spike is surprised to find no one to greet him.
"Where is everyone?" With Ashlan still hoisted on his shoulder, Spike
begins walking through the hall, still searching for the others.
"Spike-" Cordelia is the first to spot him as she walks out of the library.
"Ash!! You found her- thank god! Where have you been?! Do you have any
idea what's going on?! What you've done?! I could-"
"Before you go getting all homicidal, princess" Spike finally released the
struggling Ash, simply dropping her wounded body to the cold floor, "she's
been hurt."
"What happened?" Cordy sighed before heading to one of the hall closets to
retrieve the first aid kit.
"Funboy here deciding that kidnapping is no longer a criminal offense," Ash
muttered as she pulled herself to her feet.
"And what's the worst punishment I would be sentenced to in court- death?
Lil' late for that one. So forgive me- the next time I see you getting
pummeled by a bunch of vampires, I'll just stand by and sell tickets to
everyone who's going to want to see you dead after what you-"
"Stop- the both of you!" Cordy walked over to Ashlan, wrapping a piece of
gauze over her cleansed wound. "Buffy and the others are right in there,"
she craned her head back towards the library. "We've figured out what
happened."
"How wonderful for all of you," Ashlan smirks.
"Ohhh...you are so lucky I do not want to get any blood on this skirt
because that's the only thing that's keeping me from slamming your
now-vulnerable body through that wall," Cordy places the final piece of tape
over the bandage, securing it in place. "How could you have done this,
Ash?"
"Hey- how the hell was I supposed to know what would happen?! But now that
it has..." Ash folds her shirt back down into place and slips on her leather
duster, "...it's a real eye opener isn't it? Poor Angel...just turned
human...and married too. I'm guessing kids are gonna be out of the pictu-"
*whack*!! Cordy's fist makes direct contact with her left eye, knocking
Ashlan off of her feet, staggering backwards over the couch.
"Ooops- I'm guessing that hurts now that you've gotten your precious
humanity, huh?? Welcome to the land of the living!"
"Nice right cross, love" Spike congratulates her. "But next time, reach a
lil' farther back- you'll increase the swelling size by a whole lot." Spike
leaves them, chuckling to himself as he enters the library. "I found her."
Without a word, the friends follow him out to the hall where Ash was holding
her soon-to-be swelled and bruised eye.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do," Fred is the first to speak.
"You're right...I do," Ash begins her pace towards the group. "For
starters, I might try explaining to myself just why I would bother with any
of you freaks!"
"You really want me to hit you again, don't you?" Cordy is held back by
Spike before she can inflict any more damage to the young girl.
"How is he Buffy?" Ash smiles as she moves face to face with the slayer.
"Sorry to ruin your vacation plans. You know, you should've just kept him
in Hawaii..." inching closer to whisper in her ear, a small, wicked laugh
escapes her lips. "...when he dies, you would've been able to just toss him
in one of those volcanos- I believe the expression is 'No fuss, no muss?' "
Staring her coldly in the eyes, unwilling to let her see her emotions,
Buffy responds. "I want you to see something." Willow, Tara, Cordy, Wes,
and Giles lead the way up the stairs as Buffy grabs hold of Ashlan's wrist,
tempted to break it in two, but instead pulls her up the huge staircase to
the master bedroom.
"Hold her here," Buffy releases Ash into Wesley and Giles hands before she
and the other girls enter the bedroom. "Angel...Angel," Buffy gently runs
her hand through his hair as he finally awakens. "It's okay- we've got
Ash-"
"Ash? You...you found Ash?" Angel attempts to sit up in bed, the happiness
of hearing that his sister was alright giving him a slight burst of
strength. But it's shortly lived as another shot of pain ran through his
body. Buffy and Cordelia clung to his frame as he clutched his chest once
again, Angel's sudden attack more excruciating than the last. Dragging Ash
in with them, Wes and Giles finally enter once Angel's pain begins to
subside.
"Angel, are you alright? What happened?" Giles asks.
"I don't...I don't know," he whimpers, still breathing heavy as Buffy wraps
herself around him as best she could without inflicting any more pain.
"When I saw that- that you had Ash...I was...just happy- she was.okay,
and..." as Angel trails off, pulling his wife closer, Giles' mind begins
replaying every detail Buffy had given to him when explaining when Angel's
sudden pains began flaring up. Suddenly, everything fell into place and his
keen mind discovered the connection they had all overseen. "Happiness..."
he whispers.
"Excuse me?" Cordy asks.
"That's what's causing these sudden attacks- happiness. Buffy- when Angel
first collapsed on the beach, when you asked him what happened-"
"He said he was happy to see me and then, wham," Buffy finishes for him,
finally picking up on his trail of thought. "And when we were swimming the
next day, and then just a little while ago, we kissed and it happened
again."
"So with every random moment of happiness," Wes speaks up, "Angel's life is
being drained more and more. Almost like the clause in his curse- instead
of paying for it with his soul-"
"He's paying for it with his life," says Willow. "The everyday happiness
that Angel has from finally being human and with Buffy is being taken, along
with his humanity, and given to Ashlan." The room turned, all eyes on the
still held Ashlan who was smirking as her gaze fell upon her sick brother.
"I guess if you all want him alive so bad, it's back to brooding and misery
for poor Angel, isn't it?"
Part 13
"How can you be like this?" Tara pleaded with her. "What's happened to you? You were given a second chance...you had so many powers...all wasted. You had everything"
"I had everything *taken* from me," Ash defended.
"Still...wasted. Now all you want to do is destroy...something...anything."
"Oh no...no, you've got it all wrong. All I want to do..." her eyes turned
once again to focus on her brother, "is watch him die...slowly...and
painfully. I'm sick of all this! All the fighting...all the pain and
struggles. I've finally cut myself loose...from Angel, from Buffy, from all
of this-"
"Because you're human?" Buffy sarcastically asked, unable to supress the
laugh that followed. "You'll never be human. Being human isn't about not
having to fight or being able to die. It's not about being able to shed
blood. It's about being able to bleed on the inside- to have a soul.
That's something you'll never have." Sitting up from the bed, she
approached her, the slayer's eyes wary, almost confused by what she now knew Ashlan was truly about and capable of. "It's hard to believe that you're
even related to Angel..." the slayer says, an almost apologetic tone
overcasting her words.
"You think I really care?? My advice to you- to all of you," she yelled as
she finally pulled away from the two stunned watchers, "is to enjoy the time
you have with him, because he looks like death warmed over..." she laughs,
attempting to make an exit through the door but finds Cordelia blocking her
path.
"And my advice to you is to start talking pretty damn fast," the brunette
warns her, the slight ache in her fist going unnoticed as she envisioned
having to hit the young girl again. "What exactly did the Oracles tell you
and how do we fix it?"
"You're the one they use as a messenger girl. Why don't you tell me?"
"Okay- that's it!" Buffy's arms made a motion in the air, the blonde fed up
of Ashlan's games. "Either you help us or I'll personally see to it that
you spend the rest of your existance at the bottom of that bay again!"
"Oooo...is that a threat?"
"No...a promise, you little-" Buffy reaches back, balling up her fist, but
is suddenly blinded by the energy-surged white light that began to surround
Cordelia. "Cordy!" the slayer shouts, squinting her eyes, barely able to
make out her friend's silhouette before the light is gone, along with
Cordelia.
Part 14
"It is her, brother."
"What have you brought us?"
"Brought you? First you decide to use me as your own personal intercom to deliver your mission assignments to Angel, then you just beam me here without any warning, and you want to know what I've brought you?" Cordelia, still dazed by what had just happened, stood with her hands on her hips, sternly eyeing the golden brother and sister before her.
"You must forgive my brother," the female Oracle spoke. "He often fails to remember that mortals need only bring us offerings when they seek us out. You needn't have brought anything since we have summoned you."
"Just like you summoned Ashlan?" Cordy asked, a certain harshness in her voice at what the Oracles had really done in granting Ash her undeserved humanity. "What did you do to her?"
"The young fighter requested to be granted humanity," the brother answered. "We merely provided her with her wish."
"At the cost of Angel's life?! Angel is the Powers chosen warrior- why
would you do such a thing to him?"
"To show Ashlan the value of a life. She is still not yet worthy of being granted redemption-" the female began.
"Oh.big surprise there!" Cordy made no attempt to hide her displeasure at the Oracles methods. "Angel is dying. How long do you two plan on continuing this 'lesson'?"
"The girl needed to be shown just what bond exists between her and her brother," the brother spoke, ignoring her question. "Before she can fully work towards redeeming herself, she needs to understand just how important and powerful her connection with Angel truly is. He is the source upon which she will finally gain redemption."
"How do you expect her to do this if Angel is dying and she could care
less?! Have you two even been paying attention?!"
"Do not raise your voice at us," the brother warns.
"Brother, please..." the female sighs, turning to face her cynical brother. "She is our chosen messenger. She and our warrior have developed their own bond. She has a right to be upset." She turned back to face Cordelia, approaching her slowly as she takes notice of the brunette's angry glare. "Until Ashlan requests that her own humanity be sacrificed to save her
brother's, the Power's ritual will not be reversed."
"What??!! You're telling me that..." Cordy's mind swirled for a moment as she took in what she had just been told. "No...no, you have the power to fix this. You two...you two are the damn Oracles!" she shouted, no longer able to contain her detestation at their reluctance to interfere.
"It is not our place-"
"The hell it isn't!" she shouted back at the brother. "You two were the ones who did this! You two...you have to.Angel can't die," she almost began sobbing but instead, held back her tears and forced herself to put forth her most determined spirit. "Angel is the best man I know. And he's the Powers chosen warrior," she emphasized. "To sacrifice him, just to teach Ashlan a lesson is ludicrous. She cares nothing for him or the rest of us- she won't request to be changed back. I'm sure of it. Isn't there...any other way?" The sister Oracle, often sentimental to the pleas of mortals, slowly shook her head.
"The powers have set this course forth. Ashlan's soul is what gives her full humanity. As long as Ashlan has her soul, Angel's is at risk of being lost- along with his own humanity."
"But you can't-" Cordy winced back as the sharp light came shooting at her once more and the brother and sister faded into its ominous presence.
Part 15
"Cordy, are you sure? I mean- are you sure that's all they said?" It was approaching morning. Cordy, Buffy, and Dawn had remained sleeping at Angel's bedside while the others were scattered in the mansion's various rooms, trying to get some sleep. In the great hall, Spike was stretched out across the cold floor, leaning back against the wall opposite of the Scoobies latest capture.
All it took was a few quick punches from the slayer- as well as a stinging kick from Cordy for good measure- to knock out Ashlan long enough to be chained up downstairs. As the blonde vamp sat watching her, his eyes pensive with deep thought, Buffy and Cordelia were still trying to sort out the Oracles message.
"That's all they said," Cordy finally breathed out. "There's no way they're going to reverse this...as long as Ashlan has her soul, Angel..." she didn't finish her thought- she couldn't. With the threat of losing Angel turning to a reality before their eyes, they were still nowhere closer to figuring out what could possibly be done to save him.
Buffy leaned her head on one hand, her other softly stroking her sister's hair as Dawn's head lay peacefully across her lap. "Why are they doing this?!" Buffy cried, a single tear trailing down her cheek. "Just for her," she muttered, the mere mention of Ashlan's name sure to send her into a fury. "What is Angel paying for? What does he have to do with this?"
"He's got everything to do with this, dollface " the annoyingly familiar voice came wafting into the room, along with its badly dressed, smart-ass, oddly-grinning owner.
"Whistler," Buffy said in exaggerated disbelief. "What are you doing here? What's going on? And if you give me even the slightest bit of a cryptic riddle..."
"Whoa, whoa- pull back babe." He removed his worn out, tattered fedora, slightly adjusted his leather jacket before approaching them. "Everyone's asleep around here except you two- and Mr. Billy Idol downstairs, but he's got babysitting duty, doesn't he?" Seeing her face turn a resolute serious, he cleared his throat as he eyed Angel's sleeping form. "None of this was ever supposed to happen, you know that don't ya? She was never supposed to be brought back. She was never even supposed to be- we never saw her coming. Edge and Christian...they really pulled out all the stops with that Ritual of Gangrel...we didn't even know it could be done."
"You're really wearing my patience you goon," Cordy speaks up. "We don't care- just tell us how to fix this. How do we save Angel?"
"Is he the only one you want to save?" he asks them in his usual obscure manner.
"Whistler!" Buffy shouts, hearing enough of his games. "How do we save Angel??"
"What are you prepared to give up, slayer? Or should I say, *who* are you prepared to give up- to sacrifice?"
"What are you saying?" Buffy asks, a look of worry and confusion on her face. "Don't give me that line again."
"The two of 'em- him and little sis..they can't exist together. She shouldn't exist, period. But that damn boytoy of yours...he's just so noble...thinking that everyone deserves a second chance...no one's beyond redemption," he smiled in spite of himself. "That's just one of the reasons we took her away a hundred years ago- she can't be allowed to exist as a hybrid." He pulled up a chair alongside them, huddling down to begin explaining things a little clearer.
"We never anticipated having to deal with a hybrid. Too unstable, too...uncontrollable. We didn't see any other way but to- ya know," he made a slicing motion with his finger across his neck as he chuckled to himself. "Then Edge and Christian come along, and everything goes haywire again. This was supposed to be the Powers way of giving her another chance- to see how much she really values the life she says she wants. But since I don't really see her coming 'round anytime soon asking to save her brother's life..." he stands up from his chair, popping his hat back on as he heads for the door.
"Oh no- you are not leaving us like this-" Buffy grabs him by the arm, spinning him around and slamming him against the wall. "How do we fix things?"
"You can't *fix* things, blondie...you can only *take*," he smiled. Slamming his forehead against the wall a second time, Buffy raised her voice. "You've got one more chance-"
"You're gonna have to take one for the other, slayer," he says as Buffy finally releases him. "To give Angel back his soul and humanity...you're gonna have to get rid of hers."
"How do we do that?" Cordy asks from her seat still beside her boss, but Whistler was already gone. Turning to face Cordy, Buffy's eyes finally held the realization of the only way of saving her husband- the only choice to be made. The choice she would have to make for him and only pray for his forgiveness at what she had to do.
"Watch him," Buffy whispers, heading out the bedroom door and downstairs to speak with Giles.
Part 16
I found myself
In another world
I found myself
Alive and well
I am the vapor
I am the gas
You be the angel...
...of everything
"What's the what? What are we doing, kiddies?" Spike strolls into the library, spotting Giles, Wesley, and Buffy sitting around the table with three very dismal faces.
"Where's Ashlan?" Giles asks.
"She's not goin' anywhere. Still chained up, sleeping like the lil' devil she is. What's going on? Everyone else asleep?"
"Whistler was here," Buffy tells him.
"I know- I seen him going upstairs...figured he'd be by. Him and trouble go hand in hand...just like all of us," he laughs, but stops himself when he notices their stares. "Well, what did he have to say?"
"We, uh-" Wes leaned back in his chair, staring aimlessly at the ceiling, "We know how to stop Ashlan."
"And the reason you're all sittin' here instead of fixing things is why, exactly?" Spike stood dumbfounded, searching all of their faces and waiting
for one of them to fill him in.
"Whistler said the only way to give Angel back his life was to take hers...to take her soul," Buffy told him.
"Kill her?" Spike took in what he was just told, finally realizing what would need to be done to save his sire. "But wait...killing her won't take her soul. I mean, I may be out of the loop when it comes to living, but I do know that when a person dies, their soul goes with them."
This is the land of the living
This is the land of reprisal
This is the land of the living...
...the living
"We know," Giles says. "That's not what needs to be done, exactly."
"So then, how...? No...no!" Spike takes a step back in disbelief. "Not again...you have to change her back to...to that?! To a hybrid?! Are you
all out of your bloody minds?! She'd be indestructible again! We'd have to
go through all that again, and-"
"She wouldn't be a hybrid, Spike," Wesley tells him. "It was only as a result of Angelus feeding off of..." he trailed off, not wanting to rehash the entire story of how Ashlan came to be. "She's human now, so if turned, she would just be your run of the mill vampire."
"With a vendetta on all our heads!" he offers, still reluctant to their plan.
"She would never know what hit her," Buffy assures him. "This is the only way we can do this. We have to turn her first, to take her soul before we kill her. As soon as she's turned...she's dust."
"So what do you plan on doing...throw her into a vamp nest as a chew toy and hope they might turn her?"
"No..." Buffy answers him, hoping he would comply with her true intentions.
"Oh no...no, wait a minute love- don't give me that look. I can't do it- you know I can't do it, or have you all forgotten about this stupid chip?!" he yells, accenting his words with a few taps to the side of his head.
"True, your chip will emit a painful shock when you put a human life in danger," Giles explains, "but it doesn't actually prohibit you from going ahead and hurting them. I mean, you've hurt humans with the chip. You punched Tara- you've even punched me a few times."
"Spike," Buffy walks up to him, a resounding plea in her eyes. "I know it will hurt like hell, and I know it's asking a lot, but you *can* change Ashlan, and we *need* you to do this." She looked up into the blue eyes of the man she had more battles with and more contempt for than any other in her life, yet somehow, she knew she had always depended on him. Depended on him to be the smartass bastard that he was, to be a tough fighter, and to be a trusted friend- someone whose hands she was now putting hers and her husband's lives into. "Please..."
I lost myself
To a wider plain
I opened up
I'm not the same
I am electric
Made of wire
I'll be the match...
...you'll be the fire
With a deep sigh, Spike's eyes lowered to the ground. After everything he had faced- the demons, the monsters, the two slayers he single-handidly killed, none could compare to Buffy- or Angel for that matter. Somehow, though he attributed it solely to his implant, Spike had been reunited with his former self's conscience, his soul. "Have you told Angel?"
"No," came her meek response. "He's still sleeping. The last attack really took a drain on him."
"Are you going to?"
"I- I don't know yet...but...I'll be damned if I'm going to lose him."
"Angel's going to be...he may hate you for this..."
"I know..." she whispered, but unwilling to believe it. After all they'd been through, she knew Angel was incapable of ever hating her, of ever having any other feelings towards her except the powerful and overwhelming love the two of them would always share. But still, <No...no, it has to be done. They can't exist together...and I can't exist without him.>
This is the land of the living
This is the land of reprisal
This is the land of the living...
...the living
"Alright..." he whispered, clearing his throat as he returned his gaze back up to the others. "I'll do this..." he slid off his leather duster, tossing out onto the nearby table. "After all- I helped kill her once before...I might as well have the pleasure of doing it myself now that I get the chance."
In myself I try for you
Walk a thousand miles to get us through...
This is the land of the living...
...the land of survival
|
