TITLE: Secrets and... 11/?
AUTHOR: Claudine
EMAIL: claudine423@yahoo.com
PAIRING: W/G
RATING: PG
FEEDBACK: Yes, please...I am a junkie.
NOTES: AU - This story takes place in the future, when the majority of the gang has reached the age of 30. Buffy died at the end of "The Gift" but she was never brought back to life. The explanation of what happened between that year and the time of this fic will unravel in the story. It starts off a little slow, but I promise all the characters will be introduced.
DISCLAIMER: Permission to use these characters relating to BtVS & AtS has not been given. Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy own TM and copyrighted them. This is purely for fun, and no copyright infringement is intended.. Oh how I wish Giles was mine, though. Sigh...
“What is it,” Angel asked.
“Not entirely certain,” Wesley replied, “Where did you find it?”
“Restfield…it was sleeping in one of the crypts, curled up in a coffin beside a rotting corpse,” he said, dryly.
“How did you…” Wesley began.
But Angel cut him off, “I smelled the blood on the air...it led me to him. He must have attacked a human sometime in the past day or two.”
“Well, I’m not sure this fits with Faith’s plan but I’ll see what I can find out,” Wesley said. “A solitary, rogue demon will, more than likely, yield little or no information. I was under the impression we're taking names and sending messages.”
"It's a start," Angel replied.
They were in the basement below the mansion. Angel had started chiseling away at the wall that he had been built years before to hide the dungeon the others never knew about. There was enough room in the existing basement to house the demon they had brought home with them as well as two or three others. Giles and Wesley had talked about tearing down the barrier with Magic. But theirs wasn’t strong enough and they refused to allow Willow to use hers. She needed to stay strong. Little did they know the real reason she was saving her strength.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giles sat cross-legged on the floor of the bedroom he shared with Willow, his hands on his knees in a lotus pose, his back straight and flat against hers as they meditated together. He felt her probing, searching him for heat and strength. Though it weakened him at times, he never complained. After all, it was her magic that kept him looking young and feeling strong to begin with. How could he deny her the right to take back that which she created?
He felt her pull away slowly, first her shoulders, then the length of her spine. But before he knew it her hands were sliding down his arms to meet his own. Her lips touched his softly, tenderly, as she settled comfortably in his lap. "No fair," he mumbled through their kiss, "You've worn down my defenses."
She broke their kiss but did not pull away from him. "And I plan to take advantage of you in your weakened state," she replied coyly and kissed him again.
"Willow," he said softly, breaking their kiss. "We need to talk." The tone in his voice said it all.
"No," she said. "We're not doing this again."
"Again? We haven't discussed it at all. You never let me finish," he said, still holding her tightly.
"Because I don't need you to finish, I know what you're thinking. And I don't want to hear it." She choked back her tears, trying to be brave for him. But she failed.
He reached up and touched the corner of her eye with his thumb and gently wiped away the teardrops that had escaped her hold. "I know you don't, but what about what I want? What I need? Am I not part of this relationship? Aren't my wishes, my needs as important as yours? I can't bear to think of leaving this world without telling you..."
"Stop!" She was crying harder, tears burning a streak down her face. "You're not going anywhere. You're not leaving me," she said.
"My love, I will never leave you. But the fights are growing far too fierce and, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not getting any younger." He looked into her eyes and smiled before he pulled her close, his head nestled between her shoulder and her jaw. It was a conversation he tried having with her repeatedly, but she always refused to listen.
"I can bring you back," she wanted to say, "I *will* bring you back." But she knew he'd never allow it. She knew he'd dispute her. "Not now, Giles. Not tonight, ok?" She relaxed in his embrace. "Please give me tonight." It was a desperate plea, almost as if she knew that having the actual conversation would augur the end of their time together. As long as they never spoke the words it would never happen. At least that's what she kept telling herself.
She felt his moist lips and warm breath on her neck, kissing along the line of her collar bone. "Alright," he whispered in her ear and pulled her closer. How could he deny her anything?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sold! To the raven-tressed beauty in the far right corner," Ethan pounded the gavel and smiled at Faith. "Congratulations, it's one of Grismay's finest." He turned his attention back to the thirty or so guests, humans and non-sapiens alike, seated in the auction hall. "And now ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the sale of tonight's collection. Please join us tomorrow evening, after sundown of course, in deference to our solarly-challenged friends, for the final items for the offering from the sorcerer's estate - his magical supplies including the much coveted journal so often rumored about." He pounded the gavel again, a sense of power running through him as he dismissed the room.
"Ok, first," Dawn said, "Have you forgotten why we're here? Tactical mission ring a bell? Second, why did you buy that necklace? And third, how are you going to pay for it?"
"First," Faith said, "No, I haven't forgotten. But I'm just here for backup. You're the one running this little expedition and so far, I haven't seen hide nor hair of this Spike I keep hearing about. Second, I like the necklace. I've been staring at gray cinderblocks for ten years…a little sparkle might do me some good. And third...as far as payment? Leave the figuring to me." A very naughty smile formed on Faith's lips before she added, "Don't wait up," and headed for Ethan.
"Ewww...ewwww....ewwww......ewwww!" Dawn was talking out loud but nobody was there to hear it. She came to her senses and quickly ran after Faith. "Wait," she grabbed the Slayer's arm. "Faith, you can't. He's....eww....he's old....and British...and...eww....and he's Ethan Rayne. Bad guy, remember?"
"Slayer, remember," Faith said in proportionate response. "I know bad guys and this guy...not one of 'em." She turned to go.
"Beg to differ," Dawn said, “I think you’ve been in jail too long, obviously you’re delusional. Halloween, band candy, turned Giles into a demon...how is that good?"
"Look, little sis, I don't know what was going on back then but I can tell you for sure that if he was really a bad guy before, he's not the same guy. Bad guys give off a vibe, you know, that only a Slayer can feel. If he was bad my spider sense would be all tingly. He's not giving off that vibe, so relax. I am, however, all tingly in a different way from the vibe that he is giving off. So why don't you take a powder, find your little friend and when you do you can send up the bat signal for me and I'll come running." Faith smiled. "A girl's got needs," she offered as her explanation before she turned away from Dawn again and headed toward the podium.
“And again, ewww,” Dawn mumbled to herself. As disgusted as she was it was the perfect distraction, really. It would keep both Faith and Ethan occupied. A myriad of tasks and tactics ran through her mind: how to get the journal, when to look for it, where to look for Spike, what to tell him, what to tell Faith. She was so lost in her thoughts that she never saw the Slayer and Ethan approaching.
“So,” he said, “Faith tells me you’re in town for the night. I insist that you stay with me.”
“I’d rather be six feet under,” Dawn said.
“I can assure you if you leave this place under cover of night without protection you will be,” he said.
“Spider sense, remember,” Faith whispered to Dawn, assuring her it would be safe. “It’s fine.”
“Yes, it's fine," he chimed in, even though he wasn't supposed to have heard Faith's assurance. "It’s been a long time, we’ve so much to catch up on,” Ethan said.
“Why are you pretending we’re friends, Ethan?” Dawn asked.
“Not friends…but old acquaintances. We have a history, n’est ce pas?” He smiled. “The world is different now…it’s changed. I’ve changed. There are few friends, if any, left in this environment, this dimension we occupy. Those of us who remain must work together to create harmony.”
“You’ve changed and let me guess - you can prove it,” Dawn said.
“Don’t need to. Surely Faith, the Slayer, can attest to my reversal of misfortune,” he winked at Faith, hoping she would smile. He lit up when she did.
It dawned on Faith that she had never mentioned she was the Slayer. How did he know?
“How did you…”
But he cut her off. “I know a little bit about a lot of things. You’re a major player in this apocalyptic era. I wasn’t sure it was you at first, but when I felt your power and saw that you were traveling with Dawn I knew.”
“If you’ve honestly changed why are you socializing with these demons and vamps,” Dawn asked.
“First of all, not socializing, but profiting from their business. I’m a good man, now, but not a stupid one. There’s money to be made and how would I fare if I ran my establishment with prejudice, hm?” He turned to Faith to check her out once more. Lord, have mercy, he thought at the prospect of holding her in his arms. “And second. I’ve learned a lot in my forty or so…” he winked at the Slayer, sure she knew his true age, “…years.”
“What’s that,” Dawn asked, snidely.
“Keep your friends close,” he said and paused, feeling in his bones that the Slayer would complete his thought.
“…and your enemies closer,” Faith said with a smile.
“Oh, gross,” Dawn mumbled, stunned at the freak show playing out before her. She couldn’t have guessed that Faith and Ethan were so well suited for each other. But they were.
"I'll just be a minute. As soon as I've seen off the rest of my guests I'll lock up and we can retire to my private chambers," Ethan said, directing most of his attention to Faith.
"Can't wait," she replied as if they were alone.
"Eww, I need a shower....and a drink," Dawn said.