Disclaimer: I own absolutely no part of the characters from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer or Angel (I wish I did but…)
Feedback: IF I DINT WANT FEEDBACK I WUNT POST THE STORY! (But if you carnt take the hint n r still saying dus she want feedback it wud be a HELL YES!!!!!)
Summary: Buffy must go back in time to retrieve a crystal that will prevent another apocalypse and close the hellmouth, but when she goes back she inadvertently stops the vampire Angelus from ever being made. Can she return to a world without Angel?
A/N: yes I Know Angel lives in LA now and that they don’t really see each other but well it doesn’t stop the feelings now does it? I am not sure if I got all the details of Angel’s human days right but well it’s the best I can do.
*************************************
“No way!”
“Aw come on Buff!”
“Xander do you need reminding of what happened last time?”
“Yeah but that was different. We’ve all been missing how things were so…”
“Fine.” Buffy couldn’t believe that word had escaped her lips. True Buffy had felt distanced from her friends recently but was it really enough to do this. Xander had decided to take it upon himself to return the original Scooby Gang to their former glory. Halloween was coming up and so he thought it would be fun if they dressed how they had 3 years ago. Xander had been a commando, Willow a ghost and she’d been a noblewoman. But Ethan Rayne had messed them up, big time.
**************************************
2 weeks later and Halloween was upon them. The 3 of them had planned to go the Bronze for the party they held every year but Giles had called them all and told them to go to his place because of a matter of urgency.
It’s not gonna happen!” Buffy hoped, no prayed, this was some sort of Halloween joke.
“Buffy I’m sorry.” Giles had majorly rained on Buffy’s parade by telling her that she must travel through time to 18th century Ireland. There was a crystal that had been destroyed and was now needed. She must travel through time to retrieve it before it was destroyed and bring it back. Buffy knew she had no choice and relented to it. Just before Giles said the spell Willow handed her a piece of paper.
“When you have the crystal say the spell and you’ll come home.” Buffy hugged her best friend and smiled at her other best and her watcher. Giles said the spell and Buffy was staring hard at her friends and then they vanished. Buffy mentally thanked Xander for making her dress like this for Halloween, as she didn’t look that out of place. She scanned her surroundings, unaware 2 sets of eyes were following her.
***************************************
Liam’s eyes darted from one beautiful blond to the other. One was beckoning him and the other was unaware of his presence. Although he was very drunk and wanted a good roll about his attention was held more often and for longer by the later of the two.
*
Buffy felt a presence behind her and spun into the ‘game-face’ of a vampire. She slammed her fist into it’s face and it didn’t flinch. But her hand was throbbing. She realised she had none of her Slayer strength before she even had time to wonder about this the vampire had her pined to the wall and about to bite.
*
Liam had begun towards the blond temptress when a scream made him turn. The other blond was pined to a wall by a vampire. Liam’s fear for the beautiful girl sobered him up as he ran towards her grabbing a piece of wood on his way.
*
Buffy had closed her eyes unable to look at the creature. The bite never came but a scream did. She opened her eyes and looked into the face of her saviour.
“Angel!” then everything went black.
*******************************
He caught her before she hit the floor. Liam cradled her in his arms and held her tight to his chest. When he returned home he struggled with the door until he finally got it open and went in. He went to his room and placed the unconscious girl on his bed. He went to his parents’ room and knocked before entering.
“It isn’t enough for you to drink til all hours and ruin this family’s good name but you must come and wake us.” Liam’s father was always disappointed in him for who he was and although it hurt him he would never reveal it to his father.
“Mother a girl was attacked by a vampire in an alley near the tavern. I saved her and brought her here can you check if she’s okay?” Liam looked only at his mother while he spoke.
“You dare bring a no good tavern woman to our home!” Lima again ignored his father and sent a pleading look his mother’s way.
“Mother?” his mother glanced at her husband.
“She’s not a tavern woman. She looks of a very high standing.” His father said nothing as he rose, Liam’s mother followed him. When his mother saw the woman she gasped but said nothing as she checked the unconscious girl. She pulled her husband from the room and gave her son a look. Liam approached the bed.
“Angel.” He smiled at the girl whose first waking words were the words she had uttered before passing out.
“No lass I be no angel. Just a man, my name’s Liam.”
*
“My dear what troubles you?”
“That girl in our son’s room is none other than Lord and Lady Penneth’s daughter Lady Anne!”
“I shall go immediately to the Penneth’s and inform them.”
*
“Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re welcome m’lady.”
“M’lady?”
”Well you are.”
“What’s my name.” Buffy was slowly realising that this man’s mother had recognised her. Liam looked shocked at her question.
“Lady Anne Penneth.”
“Where am I?”
“I know it’s humble compared to your home but…”
”No. Where?”
”Ireland, Galway.”
“What’s the date?”
“It be 1753. 17th day of the 7th month.”
“But…you should be…”
***********************************
Liam stumbled from the tavern at midnight. It had been a week since he had saved Lady Anne and even though he knew it was impossible for him to even consider a relationship with her he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He’d been seeing her everywhere. He turned to the alley where she’d been attacked. He saw her but somehow knew it was really her. He stumbled over to her.
“So I’d ask myself what a lady of your station would be doing here at night, especially when only last week she were attacked here.” The girl spun to face him.
“You’re drunk.” It wasn’t a question it was a statement that had been spat out in disgust. The girl continued what she was doing and Liam finding nothing to say left.
************************************
Buffy had been sneaking out for 3 nights now. Her ‘father’ had forbidden her to leave the house. Buffy liked none of her newly acquired family. Her mother never spoke unless her husband asked her a question. Buffy found her meek and pathetic. Her father was loud and oppressive. She didn’t like him. The servants were all deathly afraid of him. Buffy knew she should be looking for the crystal but she had discovered the paper was missing. She figured she must have dropped it in the alley. So here she was searching again.
“Whatever you’re looking for it must be important.” Liam
stood behind her clearly drunk.
“Drunk again.”
“Do you have any idea the amount of people that have called me drunk before and none of them have mattered.”
“You better add me to that list then.”
“Fine.” It hurt. Buffy knew that Liam could say things like that and it didn’t matter. Buffy knew this wasn’t Angel but still some part of him must be there.
*
But the problem was she did matter. It annoyed him that she was so displeased with him.
“Anyway I’m not drunk.”
“Maybe not but you are A DRUNK.”
“I am not!”
“Then why is it that all the times I’ve met you you’ve been completely inebriated.”
***********************************
“Liam what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” As soon as he said it he wished he hadn’t used the tone he had. Kathleen wouldn’t leave him be though.
“There is. It be 9oclock and you’re home, not out drinking.”
“So.” Liam stood and left. She was right, after the previous night’s talk with Lady Anne he had decided to stay in tonight. But he went to the tavern unable to stay away any longer. Inside he berated himself for not having the self-control to stay away for one night. He reasoned with himself that he would simply see his friends and not drink but the moment he stepped foot inside knew that would be impossible.
“Liam you’re later than usual.”
“I’m here so it don’t matter.” Liam nursed a pint for a long time. In fact in that space of time he usually would have downed 10 pints. He finished this one and was supplied another before the empty glass hit the bar. After his 3rd he saw it was midnight and left hoping to see her. She was as he hoped in that alley.
“Need a hand?” Anne turned.
“You’re not drunk!” Liam noticed the surprise in her voice.
“No I’m not.”
“Then yes.” She turned back to her search.
“Do you mind telling me what I’m trying to find?” she looked at him and smiled. He tried to banish thoughts from his mind he knew shouldn’t be there. It’s not just because her class was higher than his but because of what he was. He was a no good drunk and wouldn’t change. She didn’t like it when he was drunk that was obvious to anyone. But she did have a beautiful smile. To match her beautiful face and her beautiful hair and her beautiful eyes and her beautiful body. It suddenly occurred to Liam that the last thing on that list was usually the first thing he noticed about any woman.
“A piece of paper, it will have a lot of writing on it but at the top will say from the pen of Willow.”
“Must be important…what’s written on it.”
“Very, in fact you have no idea.” They searched in a comfortable silence. Liam had never imagined there could be such a thing as a comfortable silence.
“Why don’t you search in the day, it will be easier…and
safer?”
”Maybe but they won’t let me out. I’m a prisoner in my home. I’m only here now
because I can sneak out when everyone has gone to bed.” Liam spotted something
and grabbed it.
“I found it.” Anne looked up at him and then flung her arms round him and kissed him on his cheek. The very touch of her had sent shivers down his spine but the feel of her soft lips against his skin was ecstasy and hell all rolled into one. Knowing he could never be with her was hell but having her kiss on him, her scent lingering was ecstasy. She was nothing like a woman of her standing should be and it excited him. She left his embrace and turned to go.
“Goodbye Liam.” That goodbye sounded so final. He couldn’t let her leave. She had walked into his life and without even realising it he had fallen head over heels in love with her.
“Anne! Anne! ANNE! ANNE!” Liam couldn’t understand why she would not answer him. He ran after her ad placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I shouted you Anne but you didn’t answer.”
“Sorry. Liam do me a favour, call me Buffy.”
“Buffy?”
“It’s my name.” She smiled at him and walked away. Although he wanted to go after her he was too stunned to move and when he finally shook himself from his daze she was gone.
**********************************
As Buffy uttered the words to take her back home she thought of Liam. Maybe she’d misjudged him. Maybe there was a little of Angel in him.
“I’m back!” Giles, Willow and Xander looked at her Buffy was about to speak when Jenny came through from the kitchen.
“Giles what’s going on, Jenny died 3 years ago. Angel killed her.”
“Buffy is this another part of your amnesia?”
“What! Calling me an amnesiac 2 minutes after I come home isn’t nice.”
“Home?”
“You sent me through time for the crystal.”
“I know but you never went.”
“Never went! I’ve been away for over a week. Giles when I got there I was attacked by a vamp who I couldn’t fight. I was saved by Angel’s human self Liam. Everyone recognised me as Lady Anne Penneth so I was taken to the Penneth home. Anyway when I was attacked I dropped the spell. I’ve been searching every night and then tonight I found it.”
“I see, it makes sense now. You never left except you were different. Your soul obviously lived in another form back them and by you going back there it had to come here.”
“Yeah but I still looked like me.”
“Buffy your soul may pick out bodies that look the same.”
“Buffy who’s Angel?”
“Angel, Angelus, The Scourge of Europe.” Blank faces greeted her. “OH GOD!”
“Buffy?” Willow’s concern for her best friend was etched on her face.
“Before I went there was a vampire with a soul called Angel. His human name was Liam. I went to Ireland the day he was turned into a vampire. The night he was supposed to be changed into a vampire he wasn’t cos he was saving me. Giles I rewrote history! Angel’s not here.” Tears slid down Buffy’s face as she realised as far away as Angel had been she couldn’t live her life knowing that in this world he didn’t exist.
**********************************
Buffy had been bugging her for days and Willow had finally relented to letting Anne Penneth use her body.
“Hi Anne, I’m sort of a future you, Buffy Summers. We swapped places for a while.”
“I know. I liked your world. Women are independent. You ended up back home. I’d been on the run for 2 months. I don’t want to marry who they want me to marry. Especially after being in your world and falling in love.”
“Who with?” Willow/Anne blushed.
“Your boyfriend.”
“Really!”
“Yeah he is really nice and funny and good looking.”
“Yeah I guess he is.”
“You don’t sound like you like him.”
“He’s okay. I mean I have nothing against Andy it’s just that my heart was taken a long time before I met him. But because of something I did when I was in your world he doesn’t exist in mine anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” Buffy smiled.
“I called you here because I have to go back to your world. With or without your approval but I would like it.”
“Really! I’d love it. In your world I’m free. And the clothes at first I was shocked they are so revealing. But I must admit they are a lot easier to move in.” Buffy laughed.
************************
Buffy was being taken into the town by her father’s carriage with her lady servant and her mother. They were going to a dressmaker’s. To have her wedding dress made. She wholeheartedly agreed with Anne about the man her parents wanted her to marry. He was a total jerk. Buffy hated it here, things were so strange. She desperately wanted to go home but she had to find the crystal first. Of course it was so hard to get out and actually look for it. Her mother was helped from the carriage and then her lady servant who turned to assist Buffy. Buffy bolted from the other side of the carriage. She picked her skirts up and ran. Voices called her name from behind her but she ignored them. She could hear the feet of the horseman behind her and ran faster. She realised that she didn’t really know where to go. She’d only ever been to the tavern, so that’s where she went. When she walked in everyone turned to stare at her. She sat down in front of the bar and surveyed the room. It was mostly drunken old men with the serving women in their laps. She might not have paid attention in history but she knew enough to know this wasn’t exactly a place someone of her standing should be.
“Buffy?” She spun round at the use of her name. She’d been trying to convince her parents and the servants to call her that since she’d got back since calling her Anne confused her.
“Liam.”
“What are you doing here?” Buffy looked down.
“It was the only place I could think of to go. We were going to the dressmaker’s I ran away.”
“But still a better place could have been found.”
“Maybe I didn’t want a better place. You sound like my father.” Buffy scowled and Liam tried to hide his grin.
“Well I’m sorry.”
“Good. You’re not like most of the men here.”
“Good. Why not?”
“Because they are gentlemen and would always ask to buy a lady a drink if they were having a conversation with her.” Buffy grinned. Liam laughed.
“Really well it’s good job I’m not a gentlemen and you’re not a lady then isn’t it.”
“And why am I not a lady?”
“Being called it and being one are two very different things.”
“Well I gotta say I like being called one rather than being one, in fact I’d fucking hate to be one. All that fancy crap annoys the hell out of me.” Liam’s face was a mask of pure shock at Buffy’s words. True he’d been around tavern women a lot of the time but even they didn’t speak with such abandon as Buffy did.
“Anne?” Buffy twisted on the stool to look at the man that had called her name and prayed it wasn’t someone who worked for her father. It wasn’t. It was Xander.
“Xander! Oh my god.” The man looked confused and she quickly realised that this was Xander in a previous life and was probably not called Xander.
“So Anne what would my dearest uncle say if he knew you were in a place like this.”
“Oh dear cousin probably the same thing he’d say if he found out that I thought he was an asshole and was talking to this man here and trying to convince him to buy me a drink.” The man smiled. He sat down next to Buffy and looked at Liam.
“So Liam my cousin been annoying you. She’s too forward.”
“How could anyone so beautiful be annoying?” Liam realised his slip too late as Buffy looked down to hide her beet red cheeks. “Danny haven’t seen you in a while, how’s Latisha?”
“She’s okay. Complained as usual. She complains we don’t have enough money and then when I go away on business to make more money she complains that I’m not there.” Right so Buffy had a cousin called Daniel, she thought that Danny was short for that anyway, who had a wife called Latisha. He also happened to be friends with Liam. Buffy relaxed a little in their easy company and found herself laughing and joking with them. She was drinking the same as them and felt a little tipsy, she’d had beer before but it wasn’t as strong as this. She found herself swaying when she laughed and when they stood to leave she slumped forward. Liam caught her and Daniel couldn’t stop laughing.
“Well we can’t really take you home to face your dad in this state, you’ll have to come back to mine dearest cousin.” Buffy smiled drunkenly. Liam and Danny helped her walk to Daniel’s. Daniel opened the door while Liam held Buffy up. Daniel was about to help her inside when she suddenly stood on her own and flung her arms round Liam’s neck. She kissed him passionately on the lips and then stumbled inside leaving him dazed. He finally looked at Daniel who just shrugged.
*
Walking home Liam was dazed and his lips were still tingling from her kiss. Of course he tried to tell himself that she would regret it in the morning, that is if she even remembered it. She was in fact extremely drunk and it was a result of that. But however much he tried to convince himself of that his heart fluttered and his hand continually reached up to touch his lips.
****************
Liam knocked on the door to Daniel’s home and the butler opened it.
“Could I see Mr Merris?” The butler widened the opening and allowed Liam through. He walked to the drawing room and left Liam there. A minute later Daniel appeared.
“Liam you’re up and about early considering the events of last night.”
“Yes Daniel I obviously didn’t drink enough as I wasn’t able to sleep.”
“And that has nothing to do with my beautiful blond cousin upstairs that kissed you of course.” Daniel was unable to hide the amusement in his voice. Liam was unable to meet his gaze. It was then Buffy came in. She looked nervously at Liam and then directed her attention towards Daniel.
“Latisha wants you, she thinks it’s time.” Daniel bolted out of the room and up the stairs to his wife.
“Thank you for helping Daniel bring me here last night. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have drunk so much. I’m really sorry that I kissed you.” Liam was unable to hide the disappointment on his face. “I mean it’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I shouldn’t have done it. I’m meant to be getting married. Which I don’t really want to do. Maybe that’s why I ran away yesterday. It’s bad and I still shouldn’t have done it I acted totally wrong and…”Buffy was silenced by Liam’s lips pressing against hers. Her arms snaked their way round his neck and his round her waist. Their tongues battled together.
“Anne!” They broke apart to find her father staring at them.
“What are you doing here?”
“Trying to find you. What do you think you’re doing? You’re getting married next month!”
“Only because you’re forcing me. But not anymore. Kick me out if you want but you can’t make me marry him. I won’t do it.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I don’t love him, I can hardly even tolerate him. And he is so boring!”
“Anne Penneth don’t you ever say anything about your future husband like that again.”
“I’m not marrying him. I’d rather die first.”
“I could arrange that. You will marry him everything is organised and paid for.”
“Well I’m glad to see that your bloody money is more important to you than my happiness.” Her father’s hand hit her square across the face and she was flung to the floor. Liam stepped between them. “Move.”
“No sir I won’t let you hit her again. It’s wrong and it’s not fair. Just because she knows what she wants.”
“I said move.”
“No.” Buffy stared up at Liam. She found her feet and stood unsteadily beside Liam.
“If you’re so worried about the fact it’s all paid for I have a solution. We can use it still so no money is wasted if I marry Liam.” He turned to stare at her. When he’d first met her he’d thought of nothing but being with her but had never thought the feeling would be returned. The fact she liked him was enough of a shock but he’d never really thought of himself as the marrying kind. But he did love her. But did he love her enough? He didn’t even have to wait a second to answer that. Of course he did. He entwined his fingers with hers and she gripped his hand tightly. Her father stared for a second and then stormed out. Buffy collapsed onto the sofa and didn’t let go of his hand dragging him down with her. He was knelt before her and looked into her eyes. All he saw was love. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that. I mean god we only just met and…”
“Marry me.” Buffy looked up into his chocolate eyes and her mind slid back to Angel. When she’d first met Liam she’d been so surprised at the difference. But she began to see glimpses of her Angel. She never really saw many glimpses but now looking into his eyes she saw Angel. Her angel. She remembered when they’d talked about marriage and he had said that he’d wanted it. Wanted to make her happy. Then when he left and broke her heart. Told her he couldn’t stay because he wasn’t right for her. He couldn’t give her the things she deserved like marriage and children and sunlight yet here he was before her now offering her all those things, for one thing in return. Her to give up her life in the future and stay here with him. Of course he didn’t know about any of that. And she certainly wasn’t going to tell him. Tears slid down her face and she buried her face in his chest as she’d done so many times before. His arms wrapped round her and he held her while she cried. She knew he probably couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on but still.
“I love you. I never stopped. I always loved you. I never cared about any of those things. It didn’t matter to me. You wanted a perfect future for me and I could never have a perfect future without you.” Liam didn’t really understand what the hell she was talking about and why she was crying but he sensed this was something she needed to do. “But now I’m here and I’m so far away from home and we can have all those things you wanted and we can be happy. I love you so much. Yes I’ll marry you. As if you needed to ask.” Liam held her as she cried and his own tears of happiness joined her. He’d never cried before, it was weak and he didn’t understand why he was doing it now.
**************************
Here Liam stood now at the alter on his wedding day. When he’d told his parents he was getting married he’d thought his mother would die of shock. But when he’d introduced them to the woman he was going to marry he was sure she would. Later on while his mother was talking to Buffy his father took him aside and said he’d finally done something to make him proud and he better carry on doing it. Liam assured him he would since it would be for her. Ever since he met her he realised he’d been changing in little ways. He drunk still sure but not as often and not as much. Buffy’s parents were strongly opposed to the idea and had refused to come and so Daniel was giving her away. However it was clearly stated in Buffy’s grandfather’s will that she was to have his house and his servants when she got married. Buffy had spent a lot of time in that house when she was little and loved it and so that’s why he gave it to her. They’d been round the house several times and the staff all shared happy memories of her. They had been surprised by her wish to be called Buffy but they called her it all the same. He’d been very surprised himself when Buffy had insisted on sharing their bedroom instead of the usual separate rooms. That’s part of what he loved about her though. She wasn’t like all the other women she was unique. She did what she wanted not what was expected. His father was sat behind him with his mother. Kathleen was a bridesmaid as was Latisha. Liam’s best man was Stuart his cousin. He was staring at the entrance to the church waiting for her to come. He was so scared that she’d changed her mind and that she would much rather keep her family and marry the man her father wanted her to. But then she appeared like a vision of perfection walking towards him. She flashed her a smile and he couldn’t help but think he was the luckiest man in the world. In the second he discerned her in that alley, he fell in love with her. He saw her, and he knew he'd give his life for that girl. He'd give his life to protect her from any harm she may face, to keep her safe and happy. Only for her, he had changed since the very second he laid eyes on her and was glad about it, it changed his irresponsible, pointless, and miserable existence, and gave it a purpose; to live for her, with her. He had promised this to himself back then, and now, the only one he loved stood in front of him, and he could finally flawlessly keep his promise. To build their lives as he had always wanted to. A small eternity of love.
"Are we all ready?" the priest asked the guests. Their silence answered him. "Then let us begin. Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do," Daniel said.
"We're all gathered here today, in this holy place, under the eyes of God, to celebrate one of life's most beautiful and unforgettable events, the union of this young couple in the holy matrimony. Whatever was made by God, can no man revoke, therefore whoever has any reason to oppose this union, may he speak now, or forever hold his peace." Liam half expected Buffy’s father to burst in and tell her she couldn’t marry him. But when the priest received no answer he continued. "Good. Let us proceed, then. I was told that Buffy had something she wished to say, so before I go on, please," he took a step backward and gestured towards Buffy. Buffy bit her lip, trying not to cry as the memories of her angel washed over her, but was already too late for that. She locked eyes with Liam, and beamed her most beautiful smile. She wondered whether she should continue with her speech since she was really making it for Angel not Liam but she had to do it even if no one understood. After a deep breath, she began.
"My angel," she pronounced softly, "years ago, I was fortunate to come across a very annoying cryptic guy in a dark alley. I was only sixteen then, and the emotions that were born within me the moment I looked into the softness of your eyes were the most wonderful thing I was ever to experience. Something that I didn't understand then, turned out as my love for you later. There is no way to describe my love for you, but there is every way to describe your love for me. I feel Heaven on earth when you hold me in your arms, and the thought I'm standing in front of you now, committing myself into those arms forever, is the most wonderful conception. My heart was always yours, my love. In the hardest times we had, I was confident in your love, and I trusted you to remain by my side forever, no matter what. I can never thank you enough for you. I can never thank you enough for any of those amazing things you have given me and done for me, and especially, I can never thank you enough for loving me, for being my lifeline, my hopes and my dreams, in those precise times I needed you the most. Whatever we’ve said or done in the past that has hurt us and each other has been forgotten since now we are standing ready to be joined together forever. But even if we weren’t here right now ready to do that I know that we’d always be joined because we’ve been joined ever since we met. Our love binds us together in a way like no other bond could. And you won’t have to spend every day of your life making me see everything you do since you’ve met me because I already do. You gave me back my life and gave me something other than my destiny you gave me the love I need to survive the years to come and the years gone by to make my destiny better to make my life better. You have given me everything I ever dreamed of and more because even in my wildest dreams I could never have hoped for a love like ours. All there is left to say now is that I will love you forever.” There was almost no one in the entire church whose eyes managed to remain dry after that. Buffy looked into Liam’s eyes which were glistening with tears and instead of the confusion she had expected she saw understand. Maybe the Powers That Be had let her Angel hear her words. And given Liam the understanding of what she said. The priest approached the two, and spoke again, continuing with the ceremony.
"Do you Liam Finnley, take Buffy Anne Elizabeth Penneth, to be your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in richness and in poor, for better and for worse, from this day forth, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Liam couldn't stop looking at Buffy, and how beautiful she was. Her speech was strange and parts of it he didn’t understand but it didn’t matter. He could see the love that was there. It was obvious. Next, the priest faced Buffy.
"Do you Buffy Anne Elizabeth Penneth, take Liam Finnley, to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, in richness and in poor, for better and for worse, from this day forth, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," she beamed at Liam.
"The rings, please." Stuart handed Liam the two golden Claddagh rings, set on a small red satin cushion, grinning happily at his cousin. The priest turned to Liam.
"Repeat after me: With this ring I thee wed." Liam slid the ring on Buffy's finger. "With this ring I thee wed." The priest turned to Buffy who repeated the words as she slid the ring on Liam’s finger.
"Then by the sanctity of your exchanged rings, the power of love and your vows, and by the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you; husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Liam turned to Buffy and for a moment just beheld the woman he loved.
*****************************
Buffy looked out of the window. It was October and they’d been married for 8 months now. She tightened the thin bed sheet round her body as she felt the cold. They’d taken a honeymoon in London, which of course reminded Buffy of Giles. It wasn’t that she didn’t think about her friends and family it was just that she was happy here with Liam. Two warm hands started to massage her back and she leaned against her wonderful husband.
“What are you thinking?”
“How much I love you and how wonderful you are.” Liam started to kiss her throat and whispered to her.
“Right answer.” Buffy’s arms snaked their way round his neck and her fingers tangled his hair. She turned round and he carried her to their bed to begin yet another round of their continually steamy sex life. They didn’t get up until at least midday on most days. Their nights and mornings were spent making love in the most inventive ways.
*
Buffy awoke to the sound of the door closing. Her eyes fluttered open to see her half naked husband making his way to their bed with a tray in his hands. Said tray was littered with fantastic foods. He sprawled next to her and fed her strawberries. Once the food was gone she started to rub herself against her husband. He rolled over so his back was too her. Oh so he wanted to play this game then. She let her hands wander down his body and she began to work her way down his back. Once she reached the top of his trousers she kissed round his middle to his front. Her hands removed his trousers so he was lying naked on their bed. She continued kissing down him. He was erect by the time she reached his genitals. She rubbed her hands along his shaft and he shuddered. She kissed her way to the tip and then teased it with her tongue. He moaned softly and she grinned. She continued flicking the tip with her tongue and he groaned. She took the whole thing into his mouth. Liam gripped the sheets as he started to climax. But just before he reached it she removed her mouth and crawled onto the other side of their bed with her back to him. He groaned loudly.
“Buffy.” She giggled and turned over. She climbed on him and straddled his hips. She smiled down on him, he suddenly flipped her over so she was the one on her back. He rammed into her mercilessly causing her to scream with pleasure. They climaxed together. She lay panting on the bed while he licked his way down her body taking time to tease each of her nipples with his tongue. He worked his way downwards. He teased her clit with his tongue as she had so mercilessly done to him only minutes before. He buried his face in her hot wet juices and her hands tangled in his hair and pushed him further into her. She screamed as she orgasmed. He licked his way back up her and kissed her. Her arms flew round his neck and he buried himself in her warmth. She orgasmed and he spilled his seed into her. They collapsed spent after yet another morning of sex.
*
Liam was sat in the library reading when Buffy came in she curled herself up next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. They sat like that often in total silence. It wasn’t unusual for Buffy to come in unexpectedly and sit with him like that and then just as unexpectedly.
“I love you Liam.” That was very unexpected. They were continually telling each other of their love, especially during their frenzied lovemaking but never had they said it before now. When they sat like this it was silent always. He kissed her forehead and wrapped an arm round her shoulders.
“I love you too.”
“Enough?”
“Enough for what?”
“We never talked about what we wanted.”
“What do you mean what we wanted?”
“Oh you know like business and friends and parties you know stuff like that and kids.” Liam looked down at her.
“Well which one do you wanna talk about now?”
“I don’t know…kids.”
“What about them?”
“Do you want them?” he regarded her seriously.
“Only if…” He paused and Buffy got impatient.
“Only if what?” he grinned down at her.
“Only if you’re their mother.” Buffy sighed and leaned closer to him.
“Good. Cos I’m pregnant.” Buffy got up to leave the room and Liam leapt up and went after her. He grabbed her arm and spun her round.
“What?”
“I’m pregnant.” Liam wrapped his arms round her and spun her in the air. Buffy screamed at the unexpected attack. Jones came rushing into the room.
“Oh so sorry m’am but I heard…” Buffy laughed as Liam set her back on the ground.
“We’re having a baby. Me and my beautiful fabulous gorgeous wife are having a baby!”
“Oh congratulations sir, m’am.” Jones left. Liam hugged Buffy tight.
“I love you.”
“Good. Come on I had them get the carriage ready we’re going out.”
“Where?”
“To tell Daniel and Latisha.”
*
Waiting in the study for Daniel and Latisha, Liam rested one arm round his wife’s shoulder and the other on her stomach. He was grinning like an idiot.
“So why the unexpected visit couldn’t it wait until tomorrow.”
“No dear cousin it couldn’t. I think my husband can hardly contain his excitement as it is.” Buffy smiled up at her husband.
“Buffy’s pregnant.”
“Congratulations.” Daniel shook Liam’s hand and kissed Buffy’s cheek. Latisha and Buffy hugged.
“Tell me it isn’t as painful as everyone makes out.” Latisha laughed.
“No it’s not as bad as everyone makes out, it’s worse. But at the end when they put that little child in your arms, it’s worth it.”
*
Buffy was stood staring at over the lake her hand absently rubbing her stomach. She sighed contently and then felt a force behind her, which propelled her into the lake. She screamed as her flesh met the icy cool water. She spun round to find her husband laughing his head off. She used her hands to shove water in his face. He returned the favour and they were soon playing in the water like children. She placed her hands on his head and ducked him. He easily got back up and did the same to her. She struggled for a while and then stopped. Liam panicked that he’d held her in too long and moved his hands. She came back up and sprayed water in his face. She was laughing uncontrollable at the shocked look on his face. He caught her in his arms and looked in her eyes.
“I love you. Always.” Buffy stopped laughing and became as serious as he was.
“I know and you know I love you, always.”
“I’m scared for you.” Buffy looked puzzled then.
“Why?”
“Women can die in child birth I couldn’t lose you.” Buffy laughed.
“Hey you signed up for the long haul mister there’s no way you can get rid of me that soon.”
“Buffy be serious.”
“Liam it took me a long time to find you, I’m not saying goodbye so soon. I promise. We’ll be together until we both die in bed old and wrinkly.” She kissed him. “Okay?”
“Yeah. I do really love you.”
“I know you do. I really, really love you, my angel.”
“Why do you call me that?”
“Because that’s what you are to me. You’re an angel, and you’re mine.” Liam kissed her.
************************************
Buffy had been acting strange for weeks now. Even the servants had commented to him. Liam had been so concerned he had visited the doctor to see if anything was wrong. The doctor had examined Buffy under false pretences but said nothing was physically wrong. Liam was concerned even more now. She was pushing him away and he began to wonder if her parents’ disapproval was getting her down. When they had married they had both known that her parents weren’t happy but dismissed it and married anyway. Liam thought Buffy must be unhappy with their marriage. As much as he loved her he couldn’t bare to see her like this. He knew that he must find out if his fears were just and if they were he would find a way out of this. But then he thought could he really find a way out of this. She was 5 months pregnant he could not desert her. Whenever he approached her she just dismissed it with a simple hand movement. He had even directly asked her if she loved him. She had told him not to be so stupid and if she hadn’t loved him she wouldn’t have married him. He finally got the nerve to go into her room. This was another thing that made him worry, although it was quite normal for husband and wives to have separate rooms she had insisted on sharing a room and he had never refused her anything, but then again it was no hardship for him. Buffy had returned to her childhood room 3 weeks ago and avoided Liam as much as possible. She was laid on her bed staring at the ceiling. After she had glanced to see who had entered she turned over so her back was to him. Liam sat on the end of her bed. She still refused to look at him.
“I'm missing you
Girl even though you're right here by my side
Cos lately it seems
The distance between us is growing too wide
I'm so afraid that you're saying it's over
That’s the last thing that I wanna hear
But if your heart's not in it for real
Please don't try to fake what you don't feel
If love's already gone
It's not fair to lead me on
Cos I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I'd do
But I won't ask you to stay
I'd rather walk away
If your heart's not in it” Buffy had known she’d been treating her husband
unfairly but what could she tell him. The words he was saying were penetrating.
He was afraid he was losing her but how could he ever understand he never
would. He couldn’t. But right now her mind and thoughts were somewhere else.
Another time and place.
“You say that you love me
But baby sometimes
You're just saying the words
If you've got something to tell me
Don't keep it inside
Let it be heard
I'm so afraid that you're saying it's over
Girl I'll make it easy for you
If your heart's not in it for real
Please don't try to fake what you don't feel
If love's already gone
It's not fair to lead me on
Cos I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I'd do
But I won't ask you to stay
I'd rather walk away
If your heart's not in it
How I wish I could take us back in time
But it's gone too far now we can't rewind
There’s nothing I can do, to stop me losing you
I can't make you change your mind
But if your heart's not in it for real
Please don't try to fake what you don't feel
If love's already gone
It's not fair to lead me on
Cos I would give the whole world for you
Anything you ask of me I'd do. Buffy if you want to go, I won’t stop you. I
love you more than anything and it’s killing me to see you so unhappy.” Buffy turned to face her husband. Her face
covered in tears. Liam moved his hand to brush them away but she stopped him
with her hand.
“You’ll hate me.”
“Buffy I love you I would never hate you for anything. Could
never hate you for anything. But if you need to go…”
“No! Liam I’m not who everyone thinks I am. I’m not Anne Penneth. The reason I
have told everyone to call me Buffy is because that’s my name. I was born in
Los Angeles, in America. In the 20th Century. I…my name is Buffy
Anne Summers. I’m a vampire slayer. I travelled through time to here to
retrieve a very important crystal. But my soul existed here, in another body.
That looks like mine and acts like mine and talks like mine. And so when I came
here it was pushed out and I took over it’s body. And it went forward and got
my body. The first night you met me, you saved my life. It was strange, at
first I was looking around at my new surroundings then a vampire attacked and I
tried to fight but couldn’t, because she wasn’t a slayer. The piece of paper I
was looking for had the spell to take me home. For those few weeks I was away
and you didn’t see me. I was home and she was here. She liked my world. In my
world before I came there was a vampire who was very special. He was a vampire
with a soul. He helped people, saved lives. Fought by my side. You were that
vampire. But when I got back he didn’t exist because the night you saved me you
didn’t go down that alley where she was waiting. Your sire was called Darla.
She was blond and very pretty.” A look of recognition crossed Liam’s face as he
realised who she was talking about. The blond temptress. “I loved him, his name
was changed when he became a vampire. He was called Angelus. It means the one
with the angelic face. When he got his soul back he changed it to just Angel.
When we met we fell in love. But he…we couldn’t be together so he left my town
and went some other place. But when I found out he didn’t exist anymore I knew
I couldn’t live in a world where he wasn’t there. Even after he moved away we
still saw each other and spoke and it was just good to know he was there if I
needed him. I came back here. I hadn’t got the crystal anyway so I came back
for it. But I never had any intention of going home. I never see my father, my
mother is dead. There’s my little sister, Dawn. My best friend Willow and her
boyfriend Oz. My other best friend Xander and his wife Anya. There’s my
Watcher, he’s more of a father to me than my own, Giles. His girlfriend Jenny.
I had a boyfriend Andy. I didn’t love him. I tried to but he couldn’t replace
Angel. When I first met you, I couldn’t believe that you and Angel were the
same person. But now I can. Liam I love you but I miss my family and my
friends.” Buffy’s tears came fast now and sobs were escaping her throat cutting
off her speech. Liam looked at his wife completely stunned. She loved him but
missed her friends. It made sense really. She had given up so much for him. He
instinctively knew why she’d never told him this before. She hadn’t wanted him
to worry about taking her away from her world. Liam wrapped his arms around her
and had never felt so helpless.
“I never meant to hurt you.” Buffy’s words were spoken so softly Liam strained to hear them. How could he make it better for her and would it mean sacrificing their love to send her back?
***********************************
Buffy had told Liam the truth two days ago. He had tried everything to cheer her up but he couldn’t. He told her that she could say the spell and go home if she wanted, but the trouble was she was too torn to do anything that big right now. Plus her conscience kept asking her if it was fair to suddenly go back and let Anne have this life she’d made. Anne and Liam had never met, was it really fair to make her live this life. Buffy wondered how they would react when she got home. I mean she’d have to find the crystal of course and say the reason it took her so long was that it was hard to find but would they be attached to Anne now. Would they prefer her now? For the first time it was a real possibility that she could go home. She grabbed her jacket and left. It was May and quite warm, she figured the servants would be glad to see her out but would run to tell Liam anyway. She prayed he didn’t come after her, she couldn’t face him when she was going out on a mission that would lead to her going home. She knew she had to go home, really go home since they did need the crystal, she had known that all along but had been blinded to it by Liam and how much she loved him.
************************************
Buffy had found the crystal almost four months ago and hadn’t gone back yet. She just couldn’t bring herself to tell him she was going. She had started to but hadn’t been able to go through with it. “Buffy?” Buffy opened her eyes at the voice of a stranger. Somewhere in the back of her mind she’d heard the voice before but she couldn’t place it. She looked around her and realised she wasn’t at home anymore. She looked around and knew she was in Sunnydale. She looked at the person who’d called her name. Andy. She looked down and found herself protruding from her short white top. She screamed.
“Giles I have to get to Giles.” Buffy threw on some clothes ignoring the man who was staring at her. Buffy stormed into Giles’ apartment and slammed the door behind her.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?” The gang looked at her.
“Buffy, real Buffy?”
“Yes it’s me! Did you not think to stop her! Look why did you let her do this?” She held out her hand, which held the wedding ring. “And this!” She pointed to her large stomach.
“Buffy please calm down.”
“Calm down, there I am laid back in my bed all comfy and then you bring me here and I find I’m married to a man I don’t even know and I’m pregnant! Why the hell should I calm down?”
“But you’re home now and you’ve got the crystal so you can stay right cos I missed you?” Buffy spun round to face her sister.
“Dawn I missed you too but things are strange. I’ve got the crystal so I don’t need to go back but I can’t go to this guy’s house, I don’t even now him.”
“Well come stay at home.”
“Okay Dawn you got yourself a deal.”
*************************************
Buffy had been back for a few weeks and they’d all noticed a slight difference in her. Especially Jenny, she felt Buffy was acting strange around her.
“Buffy we should talk we all feel that you’ve not been yourself.”
“I need to tell you something you know when you brought me before but I didn’t have the crystal and I told you about Angel or Liam, it’s the same person so it doesn’t matter. Well I married him and I’m about 8 months pregnant. I missed home so much, I’ve been acting weird around him. But now I’m here I miss him. I don’t know where I belong anymore.”
“Well it seems you’ve both done things with each others lives that you really shouldn’t have.”
“Giles I don’t think I belong there because I’m 8 months pregnant and I don’t feel anything for the child inside me.”
“But do you feel something for your husband?”
“God yes. I love him more than my life and I would do anything to make him happy.”
“Then you know your place.”
“But when I was there I missed you all.”
“Yes and we missed you but as it is you belong there now, no matter how much you miss us and besides remember the spell and you can come and visit and we can come and visit.”
“I love you all so much I’m sorry Dawnie.”
************************************
Liam was at the tavern, he might not be a drunk anymore but he still went there. Twice a week without fail, he’d been drinking more and going more often though since she’d been acting strange. When she told him why he’d gone even more. He was unsure how to be now, she’d returned to her home. She was gone and he was married to a woman he didn’t know. Neither were happy, this woman apparently had someone she loved back there. Buffy, his Buffy obviously felt no such pull to him. He was here while his ‘wife’ was at home. He didn’t know that his ‘wife’ really was home. Buffy waddled from the house to the tavern and went inside. The men all turned to stare at her. In Sunnydale or LA she could have walked in a bar but here it was wrong for a woman of her standing to be here, especially since she was pregnant. She saw her husband whose attention was on the drink in front of him and not at her like everyone else’s was. She placed a hand lightly on his shoulder and he turned his head slightly to see who it was. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw her.
“What are you doing here? Are you stupid or something? Never come here, you’re not her now you’re you. You can’t protect yourself, it’s dangerous and being so heavily pregnant it’s worse what’s wrong with you!” Everyone in the tavern was staring. She glared at him before spinning round and walked towards the door. She opened it and before going out she threw some words over her shoulder.
“Sorry for disturbing you, I just figured you’d want to know that your first born child had decided to be born, but I was obviously wrong.” She went out and slammed the door behind her. She tried to stalk away in anger but her pregnant stomach wouldn’t let her and she could only waddle. The first time he’d seen her in about a month and that was how he treat her well!
*
When he’d seen her standing behind him he’d been furious. She might have spent a lot of time in the 20th Century where this sort of thing was alright but she was here now and it wasn’t alright here and it certainly wasn’t like she hadn’t grown up here knowing that. Maybe he’d been hard on her but what did she expect, she was pregnant and an easy target. He couldn’t bare the thought of losing her, even if she wasn’t her. But the anger in her eyes what she’d said it was so like his Buffy. She’d left with anger in her eyes. He’d already been regretting what he’d said but it was done now and he wouldn’t run after her since she was the stupid one. Then she’d shouted back at him. He grabbed his jacket and ran after her. He caught up to her easily.
“Go away, I’m having a baby, I don’t need your help. This is a woman thing something you won’t understand.”
“Buffy?”
“Yes it’s me you bloody stupid bastard who did you think it was?”
“Anne considering she’s been here the last month. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so harsh but I was worried even if she isn’t you she’s the closest thing I have and the baby that was ours that grew inside her was the only thing I had left of you, even when I thought it was her I was scared about losing it and it scares me so much that I don’t ever want you to leave the house for fear that something might happen to you, her our baby, it was here that you were attacked. To any vampire they wouldn’t know you weren’t you.”
“Lose me? You’d never lose me. I’m so sorry about…” Buffy’s words were cut off by a scream of pain. Liam wrapped his arms round his wife and held her hand while helping her walk home. On the walk she tried to explain.
“They called me, I never said the spell. I came back. I left my sister and my friends and I came back for you.”
“Buffy I thought didn’t love me.”
“Of course I love you, I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t.”
“I love you too.” Since the servants had known she was going to the tavern and why they had the doctor waiting when Liam and Buffy returned. Liam helped her to her room and placed her gently on the bed. He was at the door about to go when she screamed.
“ANGELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!” his heart shattered at that moment, she didn’t really love him, only what he could have been. But she couldn’t have him so she took him as second best. He waited outside her room for his child to be born. The screams of agony coming from the room were killing him, he loved her more than anything and wanted so badly to take away the pain. Staying out here while she was in there was killing him also, he braved out whatever the doctor might say and went inside. He grasped her hand and kissed it. He looked into her eyes and he felt her relax a little.
“Why did you leave? I shouted you.”
“You shouted for…”
“Angel, cos to me that’s what you are. You’re the same person. Remember I explained to you before. You’re an angel. You’re my angel.” She managed a smile for him and he kissed her softly on the top of her head. The screams got worse and louder until another scream joined hers. The scream of their baby. The tight hold she had on his hand loosened a little. The midwife cleaned their child while the doctor checked Buffy was okay and not loosing too much blood. Buffy relaxed into the pillows. A clean nightdress was handed to him by a servant and he helped Buffy out of the blood covered one and into the clean one. He lifted her up like she weighed nothing and returned her to their room. He placed her softly on the bed and smiled down on her exhausted body.
“I feel sore and tired and dirty, but good.” She smiled back at him and he clasped her hand to him.
“I love you Buffy.”
“I love you too Liam, my angel.” He kissed her softly on her head as the midwife came in with the baby. She handed the small bundle to Buffy.
“You have a healthy baby girl.” The midwife smiled at the unusual couple and left them alone. Buffy shifted her daughter and pulled her husband onto the bed beside them.
“She’s perfect right?”
“Yeah she’s perfect, just like you.”
“Yeah well I don’t feel perfect right now. But it was worth it.”
“What are we going to call her?”
“Your call my brain is exhausted as well as my body.” He laughed and she grinned at him.
“How about Victoria?” Buffy made a face at him. “What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s old fashioned.”
“Not here it isn’t.” She just looked at him. “Fine you try.”
“Kayla.”
“What that’s not a name.”
“Yes it is.”
“Julia.”
“NO! Pretty Woman, hooker not calling my baby that.”
“I understood none of that.”
“Just a thought but can we use my mom’s middle name as her middle name?”
“Depends what it is.”
“Abigail.”
“Why not a first name?”
“What about a middle name then?”
“Annabelle.”
“Caitlin.”
“That’s a strange name. But I like it. Abigail Caitlin Finnley.”
“Perfect.”
“What’s perfect? They wanted to wait until they told you of my arrival but since I know you so well dearest cousin I knew you wouldn’t care.” Buffy smiled.
“Hello Daniel.”
“Buff how ya doing?”
“I’m okay. Well actually I have been better.”
“So who I repeat is perfect?”
“Our daughter.” Buffy grinned at Liam.
“Name?”
“Abigail Caitlin.”
************************************
“Abby don’t go too near the edge okay?” It was a lovely sunny day in early September and Buffy and Liam had decided to take their daughter on a picnic by the lake for her second birthday. Buffy laid back again and groaned in pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“Backache.”
“Again?”
“You wanna try carrying a baby.”
“I was just saying.”
“I know hormones, I think. Do you want a boy or another girl?”
“I don’t care as long as it’s ours.” Buffy turned her head to face her husband and they kissed.
“I love you.” Since their daughter’s birth Buffy had been back to her normal self. The pain at being away from home and missing her friends had gone. She couldn’t imagine Sunnydale being home to her ever again. Her home was here with her beloved husband Liam and their beautiful and wonderful daughter Abby. And the baby that was still growing inside her. She was 7 months pregnant with their second child, but the pregnancy was taking it’s toll on her worse than when she’d been pregnant before. But no matter to her, she couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than right now.
**************************************
“Dawnie?” Willow called and Dawn came to the dining room where Willow had her computer stuff laid out.
“Yeah?”
“I was doing some stuff on the web and this pop up thing came on and it was to trace your ancestors.”
“Yeah.”
“I traced Buffy, there’s a picture with names and dates.” Willow turned the computer round to show Dawn the picture of Buffy and her family. Underneath the picture was the information:
Liam Paul Finnley 1727 – 1778
Buffy Anne Elizabeth Penneth-Finnley 1732 – 1778
Abigail Caitlin Finnley 1754 – 1808
Paul Andrew Finnley 1757 – 1798
Tiffany Faith Finnley 1758 – 1818
Dawn Samantha Finnley 1758 – 1819
Michael Alexander Finnley 1760 – 1821
Anthony Giles Finnley 1761 – 1811
Courtney Willow Finnley 1762 – 1832
“She named one of her daughters after me.”
“Sister love.”
“She managed to get her name on there.”
“Trust Buffy.”