the Altar

Parts 18-22

 

SERIES : the Trilogy

PAIRING : Buffy/Angel, Spike/Dru [ALSO minor pairings: Spike/Faith, Raith/Riley, Willow/Oz]

RATING: Althought a few parts are R or PG14, the majority of this fic are NC17.

SPOILERS : I Will Remember You & my fic the Challenge, & the Aftermath

DISCLAIMER : I do not own these characters.

 

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PART 18 (PG - Fear)

 

            She was going to leave again, and this time she probably wouldn’t be back. He grabbed his pants and put them on and she watched him. His goddess, his princess of darkness, he thought he was looking at her for the last time. Her eyes never lied to him, she was hurt, angry, even more so than before. He had betrayed her even more than before, he had been unfaithful. It didn’t matter if she had been before too, she couldn’t think past herself, but he could and he stood in front of her. He had to be the strong one and resist temptations, but he hadn’t, and now he would pay.

            He fell to his knees and rested his head near the little heat she possessed. Her hands held his head, he wasn’t expecting that. He looked up and she leaned down and kissed him lightly, and pulled him up on his feet.

            “Let’s go downstairs, I have a present waiting downstairs, but they won’t wait long.” He was curious, so he put his shirt on and followed her downstairs. The scene they found was quite different from what he was expecting. Faith was tied up to the chair and Angel and the Slayer were standing there.

 

            Buffy looked up and saw Drusilla walking down with Spike. “Well it’s about time... I was getting bored and anxious. You wanna do the honors?” She handed the stake to Drusilla and Dru walked over to Faith.

            “You’ve been a naughty little girl, you killed your sister, Miss Edith is very mad about that. You will die tonight, mummy is very mad at you.”

            “Oh, please you psycho, he doesn’t like you, he just keeps you around because he can laugh at you, you’re funny... talking to dolls, walking around like a normal person, he never really liked you, you don’t give him what he wants, what he needs. He was begging for more, he’s attention starved, you don’t half the strength to make him happy. He screamed so much today, I can tell he hasn’t in a while.”

            “You know Faith, I’ve been on the end of Drusilla’s wrath and anger, and I wouldn’t push her.” Spike said as he stood next to Buffy and turned to talk to her. “Dru come to you for help with Faith?”

            “Yep, ironic, huh?”

            “What does she have to do?”

            “You two ship out tomorrow evening, you leave for at least a year, I don’t want you around to screw with my baby or my wedding. For some reason she still wants you, you deserve each other.”

            “How is the baby?”

            “You care?”

            “Well, you are my ex-fiancée.”

            “Don’t remind me... the baby is fine... what the hell are we doing? I hate you. You hate me, mortal enemies... remember? What kind of a sick twisted relationship is this? Friendship? I think not.”

            “I don’t know Buffy... it’s weird for sure but it’s so nice being violent again. I feel like a new man. I guess Angel does too, huh? She wasn’t going to do it before, she told me.”

            “I know she told us too.” Drusilla walked over to them and handed the stake to Spike. He took it.

            “Spike?”

            “Yes love?”

            “Do it and we’ll leave together, we’ll be happy, we’ll go to Paris or somewhere pretty.”

 

            Buffy watched the fear in Faith’s eyes as Spike approached her. She started groveling, it was pathetic. “Spike? You were begging for more, tell her about it... you couldn’t get enough, we lived out all your fantasies, things you can’t tell her, nasty little secrets... how can you even think about it?”

            “Because I love my goddess of darkness, and you can’t even compare.” He took the stake and pushed it hard into her heart and smiled as she crumbled to dust.

            “Oh Spike... you do love me!” She ran to him and grabbed him and kissed him.

 

            “Well, if I wasn’t so repulsed, I might actually be touched. Okay, you two... tomorrow you leave, or else I’ll hunt you down and my friend Willow here will practice throwing stakes at you with her new magic. Understood?”

            “Yes.” Drusilla said as she walked to Buffy and put her hand on Buffy’s stomach. “Tell the baby she’s lucky.”

            “How do you know it’s a she?”

            “I saw the baby, a baby girl... I want her, but I’ll be back. We made a deal... and thank you Buffy.”

            “This is way too weird for me. You really want to thank me stay away forever, stay away from Angel and my baby.”

            “I can’t do that.” She turned to Spike and led him back up the stairs.

            “I knew you wouldn’t.”

            “Buffy, we’re going to get going home, okay? I’ll call you tomorrow?” Willow said.

            “Yeah, have a good night.” Oz and Willow left.

            Angel walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She smiled. “Interesting night. You did say you wanted a vampire right there.”

            “Yeah, not that one. Willow’s right.” She said.

            “What?”

            “I actually like her, in a twisted kinda way, she’s kind of innocent, like a little kid.”

            “She grows on you.”

            “I guess, wonder what she was like before, bet she was classy.”

“Let’s not talk about it.”

“Oh, right.” They stood there, looking around. Silence.

“Angel?”

            “Yeah?”

            “You’re gonna kill me for saying this.”

            “What?”

            “I wanna move back here.” He looked down at her.

            “Buffy, I feel exactly the same way. It’s home.” They walked back to the apartment holding hands. She knew she would have to go back and make sure Spike and Drusilla were gone tomorrow, but they enjoyed each other that night.

 

PART 19 (PG - the Passing I)

 

            The next night Spike and Drusilla took the car and left, headed for parts unknown. Buffy received a generous amount of money from her parents to start off with and they put it to use on fixing up the mansion. The curtains were removed and the light streamed in through the large windows. Everywhere got painted and cleaned and they bought furniture and prepared the baby’s room as well. The whole project took three months and they moved in. Willow and Oz headed to the house warming party and she fell to the ground.

            “Oz...  there’s black, black... all around.”

            “Will, it’s night time.”

            “No, death, death comes.” She listened to the stars once more... it didn’t hurt as much, she was getting used to hearing them. ‘The baby will die... the baby will die...’

            “What do they say Willow?”

            “The baby will die.” They both looked at each other and knew they would not say anything to the expectant parents, they shouldn’t know about such things on this happy night.

 

            Willow, Oz, Anya, Xander, Cordelia and Doyle were all there. Anya was showing, she was five months pregnant and had never been so moody. Wesley, Giles and Joyce showed up shortly after Willow and her lover. Buffy looked so good, healthy and strong and Angel had not left her side. He had not disappointed me, he wouldn’t, they both understood what had to happen did, and what was meant to happen, would. I felt bad for what I had to do, but it had to be done, it wasn’t the child’s time yet.

 

            “OH!” She fell to the ground. All her friends rushed over to her. She was clutching her stomach, it hurt so much. “Ow! It hurts! It’s the baby!”

 

PART 20 (PG - the Passing II)

 

            They rushed to the hospital, she was clutching her stomach and her lover’s eyes were blanketed in fear. He couldn’t lose them, he wouldn’t. He held her, holding her stomach, begging, praying. The doctors took her to do tests and the Scooby gang hung their heads in tears once more. Willow kept quiet; she couldn’t tell them she had known about it, Cordelia remembered the vision, the blond man with the blue baby. She cried, and Doyle held her. She glanced over at Angel, he was stoic, quiet, brooding, all he could be in the situation. Xander was crying, angry, pacing, it was a sad day indeed.

            The doctor walked out. “I’m sorry, the baby died, we, we tried to save her, but we couldn’t. We often ask the families if they want to hold the child first, before we send her down to the morgue. The mother said you might want to see that baby.”

            “How is she?” He asked.

            “Physically, fine, but she is sad, she needs your support.”

            Willow walked to him, and put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, do you want to be alone?”

            “No, we all need to tell my daughter how much we love her. She should see how much love we have for her.” He opened the door and walked to his lover. She was crying, holding her child. She looked up at him and handed him their daughter.

            “I thought we should give her a name.”

            “Yes, I think that’s fitting. What did you have in mind?”

            “How about Serenity? Serenity Harris.”

            Xander held his daughter and Buffy walked over to him, pregnant with her own child, she felt guilty. “May I?” He handed her the child, and Cordelia saw the scene she had seen in her vision.

            “Well, Serenity, you will be missed... a lot... we love you.” Buffy placed a kiss on her cool forehead and passed her to Willow. Everyone kissed the child and the doctor carried her away, and the room was silent.

 

            That was almost a year ago. Serenity was laid to rest two days later and Xander and Anya decided to take that cross-country trip together. Despite the pain, time went on, and Buffy grew larger.

 

PART 21 (PG - Arrivals)

 

            “Willow?”

            “Yes Oz?” He took out the small box from his tux. She was so beautiful. He was the luckiest man.

            “Willow, all my life, I’ve never loved anything but you. Will you marry me?”

            “Oh OZ! Yes, yes, yes!”

 

            “Buffy?”

            “Yes?”

            “Even six months pregnant, you’re an excellent lover.” He rested his hand on her belly, his head on her breast. “Did you hear that baby? Your mom is great!”

            “Angel... you shouldn’t be telling her those things.”

            “Like she wasn’t there, like she didn’t hear you screaming.”

            “I guess I was pretty loud. Okay... Angel, I’m so happy. This is perfect.”

            “Well, baby dear, your mommy and I are really excited about your arrival. And once you come, we’ll be able to get married.”

            “Yeah, I can’t wait until I can fit in my dress.” He looked up at her and kissed her gently. “I’m glad we moved back here. The place looks way better in the sunlight, less... less dark.”

            “Yes it does. And the baby’s room is finish, all we need is the baby.”

            “Well, we have a few months for that daddy. In the meantime, why don’t you go get the ice cream, I’m hungry.”

            “You got it.” He jumped up and ran to the fridge. He brought back the ice cream and Buffy sat up and dug in. He was content to have his head in her lap, close to his baby. He continued to talk to her, telling stories of his childhood to her stomach, caressing it and kissing it. She smiled, she could see how much love he had for his baby, their baby.

 

            “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss you bride.” He lifted her veil and her blue eyes sparkled. He kissed her passionately and the couple walked down the aisle together. Angel took Buffy’s arm and led his now nine month pregnant fiancée down the aisle, following the bride and groom.

            “A toast! To my best friend! Willow, I’m so happy for you, you deserve all the happiness Angel and I have, congrats!” She drank her apple juice and jumped up at the chance to catch the bouquet. She did.

Willow and Oz then danced slowly. Angel held his hand to her, and they took to the dance floor too. Her stomach was so big, he stood behind her and wrapped his hands around her belly and her back leaned against him and they swayed to the music. He rubbed her stomach, where their baby continued to grow and take life from her.

“Oh...”

“Buffy!”

“Angel, it’s time... the baby, it’s time...”

 

They rushed to the hospital in their gowns and he stood by holding her hand all through the birth. When he saw the doctor place the child in her arms, he began crying. He kissed her head, and she kissed him. He sat on the bed and just admired his family.

“Do you want to hold your daughter?”

“Can I?” She was so tiny, so perfect, beautiful brown eyes and such a soft head. She was a gift,a miracle sent from Tara.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Buffy asked, watching him with his child.

“You are.”

“What’ll we call her?”

“I was thinking maybe Tara?”

“Perfect. Isn’t it being a little disrespectful though?”

“How about we call her Anne?”

“Tara Anne, our daughter, I like it.”

“Me too.”

 

Two days later, a package arrived to the hospital. Angel sat next to Buffy, who was breast-feeding their child. “What’s that?”

“I don’t know a messenger dropped it off at the receptionist desk. I’ll open it.” He looked at the card and froze.

“What?”

He read the card, “We’re still watching, Spike and Dru.”

“They sent us a card?”

“Yes, the address on the box is from Paris.”

“What’s inside? I’m afraid to ask.” He opened it up and smiled. “What?” He held up the porcelain doll, she had long blond hair and wore a beautiful green dress. “Every now and then, people surprise you, huh?”

“Every now and then.” He said.

 

PART 22 (PG - It’s Been Forever)

 

            She was pacing back and forth; she was waiting for the carriage to come. Willow was holding Annie. “Buffy, it’ll be here, don’t worry.” There was knock on the door and Willow opened it.

            “Hiya party animals!”

            “XANDER! It’s been so long!”

            “I know, we wanted to come back sooner, but we needed some time.”

            “We understand.”

            “Is this?”

            “Xander, this is Tara Anne, we call her Annie.” Buffy grabbed her old friend and hugged him, and then Anya.

            “She’s beautiful Buffy, and I can see we’re just in time for the festivities.”

            “Yes, you’re both invited.”

            “Good.”

            “Buffy, the carriage is here! We’ll see you there!” Buffy took her daughter and Angel stepped out of the carriage. She looked at him and he took her breath away. The sunlight hit his beautiful face. They walked toward each other smiling.

            “Ready?”

            “Always.” He helped her up and the horses pulled them to the park. The sun shone down on them and there was a light breeze that carried the scent of the flowers.

 

            Joyce took her granddaughter from them as Giles walked Buffy down the aisle.

            “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today, to join these two in holy matrimony. I have been told by Buffy and Angel that they have their own vows. You may say them now.”

            He took her hands in his. “I love you Buffy Summers. I’ve never loved anyone else. I love the way your hair feels in my hands, and how your taste lingers in my mouth long after we’ve kissed. I love the way you say the word ‘thing’ and I love how you can tell what I’m thinking before I think it. I love the way you feel around me, and how no matter how close we are, it’s never quite close enough. I love the promises we make, and the love we make, and I love how everything that is me, is everything that is you. You complete me, make me a whole person and I love how you never give up telling me that I’m one. But most of all, I love you for being you, and for being so in love with me.”

            She looked deeply in her lover’s eyes and smiled, a tear falling down her cheek. “Angel, from the moment I first saw you in the ally, I’ve never wanted anything else but this. All the good and bad brought us here and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. You’ve given me a child and endless love and support. You put me up on a pedestal and worship me as your goddess, as an angel, but it is you who is mine. You make forget all the horrible stuff, you make the sadness melt away. When the world is caving in on me, you make it whole, you complete me. We are a part of each other, from now until forever. I won’t say until death do us part, because that won’t happen. I will love for every second of every minute of every day for the rest of time. Without you, the brightest of sunny days would be dark, without you, I don’t know which way is up. Without you my Angel, I would not know me, because everything I am, is everything that is you. I love you and will always be your girl.”

            He turned to Doyle and took the ring. He took the Claddaugh ring from her finger and slipped the new one on. “Buffy, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my undying devotion, loyalty and friendship, as a symbol of our love and the power our love creates. You are my lover, and my friend, you are the part of me that gives me strength, you are my everything.”

            She took the ring from Willow and put it on his finger. “Angel, I give you this ring, as a symbol of my undying devotion, loyalty and friendship, as a symbol of our love and the power our love creates. You are my lover, and my best friend. You are the part of me that gives me strength and that makes me whole. You are my everything, you are my air.”

            “What the Powers that Be hath joined let no man or demon put asunder. I now pronounce you wife and husband, you may kiss your bride.”

 

            “Angel, they say, since I’m the best man, I should toast to you, so here’s to you, I know you and Buffy will be happy forever. On a more personal note, thank you for showing me that I have more strength than I thought, and you know you do too. To Buffy and Angel!”

            “TO BUFFY AND ANGEL!” The two drank their wine and went to the center of the room where the maidens gathered. She threw the bouquet over her head and turned as Cordelia caught it. He removed her garter and Doyle dove for it. Doyle turned to Cordy and smiled.

            Later, with their daughter between them, they danced.

 

//I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life//

 

 

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