Chapter 2.03
Tuesday, May 7th, 2002
Tuesday Morning
Cordy could hear the heavy sounds of Angel's
hands impacting with the punching bag before she reached the room.
She spoke as she went in, trying to distract the champion from
his obvious brooding.
"Hey- I guess Fred is working on a way to determine
if anything else came out of the portal."
Angel steadied the bag but still didn't turn
to face the seer.
"That's good." His reply was terse.
"So maybe if we're very, very lucky, later today
we'll be able to kill something. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
"Sure."
Cordy took a few seconds to debate her options
before deciding to continue. "You had a phone call while you were
out last night."
"Yeah." Angel's tone implied that he really didn't
care.
"Buffy."
Angel continued to work on the punch-bag in silence,
so Cordy pressed on.
"She said she wanted to see you." Angel steadied
the punch-bag, looking at Cordy for the first time.
"I did say that now might not be the best time,
that you were busy dealing with some family business."
"She's coming anyway, isn't she?"
Cordy nodded. "Tonight when she finishes work.
She offered to help. Not that it seems like there'll be much for
them to help with."
"Them?" asked Angel.
"Yeah, well, you're not going to like this part.
Spike is her chauffeur for the night."
The punch-bag swung wildly as Angel's fist connected
with enough force to split a knuckle or two.
"Does she know what happened the last time he
was here?"
Cordy shrugged. "I don't know and I think that
even if she does, she's hoping the two of you can put aside your
differences, since she seemed to be volunteering his help as well."
Angel swung several more meaty punches at the
bag so that the chains juddered, but still didn't comment.
"Maybe she's right. It seems from what I've heard
from Willow that he's made a fresh start this last year or so.
He's been helping them out for ages, for nothing, which is more
than can be said for any of us. Seems like he played a big part
in looking after Dawn when Buffy died. Him and the kid apparently
dote on one another. I heard he nearly got himself tortured to
death trying to keep her safe."
"Cordy, whatever front he may put on for public
consumption, I know what Spike is. Spike is a ruthless killer
with no feelings for anyone but himself and Dru and his feelings
for Dru are just because it's in his blood."
"I think you may be wrong. From what I've heard
not all of the Sunnydale crowd like him. Especially not Xander
but then I don't recall Xander liking you either, but I think
they would all say he's been useful.
It might be an idea if you spoke to Giles before
they come. Get an unbiased opinion.
You either use this as an opportunity to reconnect
with him, and give him the same benefit of the doubt that you
want Connor to give you - or you start all "the macho vampire
dominance crap" as Buffy put it and you'll probably never see
him again. He's your family, it's up to you."
"Look, Cordy." Angel tried to spell things out
for his colleague. "Spike is not coming here to win friends and
influence people. He's a ruthless, psychotic killing machine and
I know because I'm the one who moulded him. I beat every last
bit of finer feeling out of him. Even if he can't hurt humans
that still leaves you, Lorne, me and potentially Connor vulnerable
to him. He's planning something. I don't know what, but whatever
it is, it won't be a game of Happy Families."
"Angel. I get the message. You don't trust Spike.
Buffy does though. She wouldn't be bringing him otherwise. I got
the impression that if there's any trouble she thinks you'll be
the one to start it. She trusts him not to start anything. Buffy's
not a schoolgirl any more. She's a grown woman and she's seen
a lot more of him for the last couple of years than you have.
If she trusts him enough to put him in charge of her family's
safety and she trusts him to bring her here without starting trouble
then why shouldn't you."
"You just don't get it, Cordy. Spike and I have
a history, very little of it good. I took pleasure in his pain.
I forced him to submit to my domination. He's never been his own
man. Even when I left, after I got my soul, he was forced to spend
the next century trying to live up to the legacy I left behind.
Then I come back and humiliate him again while he's stuck in a
wheelchair unable to fight back. Spike hates me. I spent years,
decades doing everything I could to make sure that he hated me.
He hates me for how I treated him when we were all together and
he hates me for leaving. He hates me most because he's had to
live in my shadow. He loved Dru for over a century. He was the
one who nursed her, looked after her, but I just had to look her
way once after the best part of a hundred years and she left him
for me.
These aren't things that could be forgiven. Even
if he had a soul it would be nearly impossible. He hasn't, all
he has is a demon thirsting for vengeance.
Tell me now that you think he wouldn't cause
trouble, that once he knows Connor exists and what he means to
me that he will be safe."
Cordy tried again to pacify him. "You said he
hates you for leaving. That tends to imply that he wanted you
to stay."
"You couldn't understand. He's family. There's
all sorts of things in the mix but the bulk of what he feels is
hatred and a need to prove himself."
"Okay, Angel, I say again speak to Giles, but
you just said it yourself, he's family, and all this irredeemable
crap is exactly what Connor says about you. It seems to me that
if you want the benefit of the doubt, you should be prepared to
give it to someone else now and again.
When all's said and done you can always hit him
back, if he hits you first, not to mention the fact that Gunn
and Fred could take him out if they had to and he wouldn't be
able to do a thing about it.
Or of course, if you want Buffy to think you're
a huge loser who doesn't trust her judgement you could attack
him the minute he arrives.
You have till around nine this evening to think
about it.
And about Connor, you're doing the right thing."
The thump, thump, thump of Angel's fists on the
punch-bag ceased leaving only the sound of the bag swinging on
its chains, but Angel refused to look her in the eye. Cordy turned
to go.
"What if he doesn't come back?" Angel's voice
stalled her on her way out and she turned back to him, their eyes
meeting. "He feels further away from me now than when he was first
taken. All that time I don't think I ever really believed that
I'd lost him - not really. Then he shows up again and I knew I
had."
"It's only temporary," the seer assured him.
"Yeah. Everything's temporary. There's just so
much I thought we'd be able to do together before he, you know."
"Grew up?"
"Hated me."
"Angel, he doesn't hate you. He doesn't even
know you. - But he will. He's gonna come back, Angel."
"How do you know?
"Because - he has to. Because he's family."
Buffy had spoken to Lorraine that morning on
the telephone. She'd taken the easy way out and explained that
she was still feeling a bit weak. She was up and about, but didn't
feel she would be able to return to work as she was still shaky,
emotionally and physically after the attack, so much so that she
would prefer to be accompanied when she was out and about. She
had promised to drop off her uniform or get "William" to drop
it off later in the week. Then the pair of them had dropped by
The Magic Box to pick up a set of keys from Anya so that Buffy
could get a first hand look round the flat and take some quick
curtain measurements before they went shopping.
Spike once again thanked the modern propensity
for large malls with few points of egress and a preference for
shelf-space over natural light which made vampire shopping far
simpler than in the past. Once he had made it through to the dingy
multi-storey parking lot attached to the mall he didn't have to
worry about sunlight unless he passed near one of the four main
entrances.
He had decided on the largest possible quilt
size and a deep violet silk quilt cover. He had wanted black sheets
and pillowcases to contrast with the cover. Buffy had wanted lilac.
When Spike refused to buy "poofy" sheets it had emerged that his
previous pink bedding had in fact been left behind by Harmony
when she moved out. Buffy had decided that demon eggs aside, letting
her unknowingly use Harmony's sheets was reason enough for blowing
up his crypt. They finally compromised on a silvery grey.
Spike had insisted they drop off the bulky purchases
and have a coffee before they started looking for curtains.
"Pet, have you thought any about where we're
going to live when we're married?"
"Well, no. I just assumed you'd move into the
house."
"And share your room?"
"Well, yeah- Oh, I see what you mean. It's going
to be a bit small isn't it? But Willow's in mom's room."
"Okay, pet. As far as I can see it there are
three options assuming the wiccas are back as a unit. Option the
first. Red moves out of your place and in with Glinda, which means
the easiest thing is for us to take your mum's room.
Option the second. Pixie moves back in to your
place. This leaves us a bit short on space, but maybe if the stuff
that's in the basement would fit in your room, we could convert
the basement into a bedroom. Maybe get someone to put up some
drywall to section off the laundry area so the rest of them can
use it without disturbing us. We could probably even get them
to fit an extra bathroom, maybe some sound-proofing.
Option the third, we look for another place.
Either for the three of us or the five of us."
"I thought you were supposed to be quitting with
the surprises."
"I did. That's why I didn't mention this yesterday.
It's something you and Dawn need to discuss with the witches.
Whatever way it goes I'll be happy. We'll either have a bit of
extra privacy or we'll have Glinda around which'll make me happier
about leavin' Bit when we patrol."
"We don't need to make a decision right this
minute though, do we?"
"Well, if you think we're likely to end up in
your mum's old room we're going to need a lot more curtains to
match the bedding than otherwise."
Buffy just sighed and decided to concentrate
on her cappuccino.
The rest of the morning and the early afternoon
passed with lots of good-natured bickering and not a few sets
of puppy-dog eyes on either side before they finally admitted
that they weren't going to be able to fit anything else into the
car. Back at the flat Buffy got to unpack all the goodies from
the car, stacking them to one side until Anya removed all her
stuff and Spike could officially move in, hopefully when they
came back from LA.
Spike grabbed a few minutes sleep in the passenger
seat on the shady side of the car. He wasn't going to start complaining,
but sleeping on a stone sarcophagus after a night in Buffy's arms
had resulted in him getting about the same amount of sleep for
far less pleasant reasons. He could have gone up with her, but
unlike earlier he had been unable to park the car in the early
morning shade of the building and reach the entry hall uncovered.
He didn't want the occupants of the other flats to see him running
around under a blanket before he'd even moved in. Let their suspicions
remain unaroused as long as possible. Besides, what's the point
in having a girlfriend with super-strength if you don't let her
use it now and then?
The sound of a car horn awoke Spike as Buffy
cut-up the driver of a large white van, having belatedly realised
that she was in the wrong lane.
"Bloody hell, woman. What on earth are you playing
at?"
"Just trying to get in the right lane."
"No. Why the hell are you driving? I was supposed
to drive. Remember?"
"You looked all cute and sleepy and I didn't
want to disturb you."
"How often do I have to tell you not to use the
"C" word, bint?" Spike was startled to realise they were almost
at their destination. He had obviously been more tired than even
he had realised. It wasn't even worth getting her to pull off
the freeway at this stage so that he could take over, so he confined
himself to giving directions and advising her as to when to change
lane.
They had decided it would be better if they booked
somewhere other than the Hyperion to stay whilst they were in
town since Spike was none too sure of his welcome. Even if his
meeting with Angel didn't result in an all-out bloodbath, it was
hardly likely that his grand-sire would tolerate the noise from
a room they might share. Not to mention the fact that having her
ex with whom she'd spent one relatively innocent night listen
to her and Spike's antics wasn't Buffy's idea of fun either.
Spike directed her toward a motel he had used
before, neither too close nor too far from Angel's hotel. The
room doors faced north and parking for each room was directly
in front. The rooms were large with separate sitting, sleeping
and food prep areas. They were well kept and Spike knew that Buffy
would be pleased to find that patio doors on the south side of
the room block opened onto a pleasant pool area. He'd got Dawn
to fetch a bikini for Buffy when he first came over that morning
and it was now sitting in the bottom of one of his duster pockets.
Passing Buffy a bundle of notes from his now
almost depleted supply, Spike sent her to book the room. He slid
over into the driver's seat. By some miracle they and his car
seemed to have survived the two-hour trip, but that didn't mean
he trusted Buffy's parallel parking.
Without him having said anything Buffy came back
over to the passenger side after her trip to the office.
"Room eight. Check out is ten thirty, assuming
we don't need to stay longer."
"See what you feel like tomorrow, pet. Not like
you have to go to work, and I dare say LA has more choice in the
way of say. expensive white dresses than Sunnydale."
Spike drove over to park in front of the assigned
room and climbed out of the car, grabbing their one case and the
cooler from the trunk and waiting for Buffy to open the room door.
Looking at the small case in his hand, he asked, "did you actually
pack anything for me or is this all yours?"
Buffy scowled in return. "You've got the bag
of toiletries you left at mine the other night, some socks, a
pair of jeans, two spare shirts and a spare T-shirt."
"Bet you didn't pack my trunks."
"You bet right, but since you didn't mention
there was a pool so that I knew to bring mine, you've only got
yourself to blame. And I bet you don't even own a pair of trunks."
"Okay, so maybe they're really an old pair of
jeans that I cut the legs off of when the knees got ripped but
they do the job, and it's hardly fair for you to complain." Spike
pulled four triangles of material with a few ties from his pocket.
"Especially when I got Dawn to find this for you."
Buffy slid her arms around him under the coat,
thanking him without words. Spike leant down and kissed her softly
on the tip of her nose.
"Go on, love. Go enjoy yourself. We've got a
couple of hours yet before sundown. There probably is a nice shady
entrance somewhere to Angel's place, but since we're going in
the front way I reckon he can wait till dusk. Running in and trying
to stamp out the flames from a burning blanket isn't the sort
of entrance I want to make. I'll grab another forty winks, or
I might just lie here and watch to make sure you don't attract
any unwelcome attention. We can order pizza or something when
you're done."
"No, it's okay. I'd feel guilty going swimming
while you were stuck in here."
"Pet, there's only one of us is a vampire. And
if you don't think I'd enjoy watching that gorgeous body of yours
swimming up and down, all wet and nubile in that tiny little bikini
then you don't know me very well. And I can watch fine from here
as long as I stay in the front half of the room." Spike grabbed
a couple of pillows and dropped them at the foot of the bed. Buffy
realised that lying with his head at that end, he would be able
to see the pool, or at least part of it. She remained undecided,
her gaze flicking back and forth between the bikini which now
lay on the bed, the pool and Spike, as he unhurriedly stripped
off his duster, followed by his boots and socks, his shirt and
his T-shirt. Finally he loosened the button on his jeans so that
they rode on his hips and let himself flop onto the bed.
"Is that as much of a show as I get? I thought
the ring would entitle me to the full package."
"You're always entitled to the full package.
The bitty people in the pool there aren't."
Buffy pulled shut the curtains screening off
the patio doors and then for good measure she closed the ones
at the front of the room as well.
"Swimming can wait until later. Till we can go
together, when all the sensible people are in bed asleep. For
just now why don't we both get a couple of hours sleep. Who knows
what we're going to be getting ourselves into later?"
Buffy stripped off layers of clothing until she
was left in a camisole top and a thong. She climbed onto the bed
alongside him, squeezing her shoulder in between his arm and his
body so she could use his chest for a pillow. Her top arm draped
over his waist and her leg hooked over his nearest one, her foot
resting between his shins. His hand came up unable to resist the
urge to stroke the gold streaked hair of the girl beside him and
soon the soothing motion caused her to drift off.
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