Title:Going Out
Author: Dark Childe
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All is owned by Joss, ME, and many other individuals and corporate entities. No profit is made, and no copyright infringement is intended.
Distribution: All list archives. If anyone else wants it just ask.
Spoilers: AU S6. Riley left shortly after his operation, so he could be useful, have a purpose. Tara has left Willow to pursue an academic opportunity. No Buffy/Spike weirdness ever happened.
Summary: Xander sees Buffy again for the first time. Everyone goes out.
Feedback: Yes please. It's great stuff, and addictive. Thank You. - darkchilde78@hotmail.com or princess220@alltel.net
Everyone crammed into Willow's small home was excited and a little nervous tonight. Cordelia and Anya had both come over to get ready for the night with Willow. Xander was a nervous both about being out in public with so many warm living bodies, as well as seeing Buffy again. Spike and Angel were both nervous for Xander, and because, to make the evening seem more normal to outside observers they would be going as couples. Spike was taking Willow, and Angel was taking Cordelia. Willow was nervous, because she was going on a date with Spike, even if it was just a pretend date. Also she was taking the opportunity to show off her new wardrobe. Anya was nervous about going out with Xander for the first time since he was turned. Cordelia was nervous, because she had plans to help bring Willow, Spike, and Angel together tonight.
Across town, Buffy and Giles were similarly nervous. Giles was nervous at the whole situation. He knew there would be a lot of tension between Xander and Buffy, and even more between Spike and Buffy and Angel and Buffy. Also, Cordelia had told him they were all going to go as couples to make things easier, that made him Buffy's date, an idea which unnerved him. Buffy had been pacing his living room for half an hour. "Do I look okay? Do you think this will be alright. I don't want to scare Xander? God, everyone must hate me with the way I've been acting recently. Do you think this will go alright?" she rambled on.
"Buffy, do sit down. You look wonderful. Tonight is going to go just fine. Nobody hates you. They'll understand." Giles tried to reassure her. Buffy didn't sit down and continued asking basically the same questions over and over. Finally it was time to leave. "Buffy, it's time.
Xander, Spike and Angel were waiting downstairs for the girls. Anya came dressed as she usually was. She walked straight to Xander who slipped an arm around her waist. Cordelia came down next looking lovely and elegant in black silk. She walked over to stand near Angel, her "date" for the evening. Finally willow came down the stairs. All eyes were on her, and she blushed at the attention. She was in the outfit Cordy had finally picked from her new wardrobe. Her dress was made of crushed velvet, in a deep forest green color that matched her eyes. The bodice was fitted perfectly to her body, and had bell sleeves, while the skirt was slightly full flaring at her waist and falling to her knees. Cordelia had managed to find shoes to match, and while they were a little higher heels than Willow was used to, they completed the outfit perfectly. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Spike walked over to her and took both of her hands. "You look beautiful luv. I'm glad you're my date."
Willow's blush deepened a little and she whispered out a thank you, before Spike wrapped his arm around her waist and headed toward the door.
"Let's go. Wouldn't want to keep the watcher and the slayer waiting."
The eight of them arrived at the Bronze at almost exactly the same time. They were very quiet as they took a table and ordered some drinks. Buffy finally broke the silence. "Uhm guys, I'm not very good at this, but I want you to know I realize I haven't been exactly helpful lately, and I'm sorry." Buffy was hesitant, but she had talked with Giles, and knew she had to apologize to the group, before they could begin to get back to where they were.
Willow answered her warmly, "It's okay Buffy. I understand what you were going through. I can't say you didn't hurt us, but you didn't really mean to. I forgive you."
Angel quietly ansered next. "Buffy, I do understand. I wish things had gone differently, but we can't take back the past. Just be aware of how what you do affects the rest of us, okay." Buffy nodded.
Cordelia spoke. "We're not friends Buffy, we never really were. The rest of these people are my friends. You didn't react in any way I didn't expect, but it hurt my friends, and I don't like that. I'll accept your apology, but don't do it again." Her voice was a touch cold, but sincere. Anya nodded her agreement with this sentiment.
"Red, wouldn't want me to hold a grudge. Don't hurt my childe, ever. Don't hurt Willow. I won't forgive so easily next time." Spike echoed Cordelia's answer. Possessiveness and protectiveness insisting that he add the last in.
Xander was the last to speak. "Buffy, I know this is tough for you, but it's tough for me too. I never meant to hurt you with what I did, and I know you didn't mean to hurt any of us. An apology isn't necessary for me. I want us to be friends, but things have changed, if you can't change along with them, then I don't know that we can be." Xander had given this a great deal of thought. He wanted Buffy for a friend but he would not hold her to him.
"Thank you. I want to make this work. I'll do whatever it takes." Buffy sounded so sincere. Everyone hoped that she meant what she said.
They were still unsure of how to talk to each other, so their time was filled with uncomfortable silences and breaks in the small talk. Spike was getting bored, "Bloody hell, people, this is supposed to be a social occasion. Willow, dance with me."
Willow nodded, hoping that others would follow their lead, she stood and walked out to the dance floor with Spike. To her delight the other couples at the table, even Giles and Buffy, soon joined them on the dance floor. After a short time, Angel came to claim his dance with Willow, leaving Spike and Cordelia, to either dance or return to the table. They chose to sit this dance out, Spike practically growling in frustration.
"Oh hush, fangless. You had your turn. Besides, we all knew these weren't real dates." Cordelia was trying to get a reaction out of Spike. He was after all the only one who's story she hadn't heard, but promises to Willow and Angel, kept her from being direct about this.
"I know they weren't 'real' dates, but that little girl is mine none the less. Besides look at that, bloody poof has his hands all over her, and we all know they can't let anything come of that." Spikes words were ground out. In reality, Angel was being every inch the gentleman with Willow, just barely allowing his hands to touch her.
"Oh give me a break Spike, he's barely touching her. By the way, how's it feel to be a daddy." Cordelia was turning her sarcasm up a notch even from her usual biting commentary. She wanted Spike to talk, without any specific prodding from her.
"I am not a daddy. I'm a sire. They are very different things, and it's a lot of bloody work. Something I wouldn't expect you to understand. And he is so, all over her. Why can't he ever keep his damned hands off of what's mine." Spike's anger was rising, both in response to Cordelia, and from watching his sire and Willow dance.
"I don't know about hard work, I work very hard mister. And Willow doesn't belong to you, she doesn't belong to anyone, least of all a vampire, who won't talk about his feelings." Cordelia's own anger was rising, how dare he insult her.
"She is mine, why can't everyone see that. She should know I love her. Apparently you do, the watcher does, my damned sire does, how could she not." frustration shot his voice another decibel louder.
"Because, you've never told her, you freak. She's insecure, you of all people should know that. She needs to hear it, or she won't ever believe it's true. God, why do I bother, you people are all so dense. By the way, don't try to make her choose, she'll only resent you for it." Cordelia finished her latest tirade, loudly enough that several people from surrounding tables had turned to look at them. She then walked off in the direction of the ladies room. She had to get away from Spike.
Spike sat where Cordelia left him, finally stunned into silence. It had never occurred to him that Willow might not know how important she was to him. Well, that would end tonight. He would tell her exactly how he felt. She was his, it was time that she knew it.
Angel and Willow talked while they danced. "Buffy looks happy right now." Willow said softly.
"Good. I don't want her to be hurting. Giles loves her doesn't he? And I don't mean like a father for a daughter, he really does love her." Angel asked, knowing that Willow saw most everything.
"I think he always has. But he's so worried about how it would seem. And then there is you to consider. Giles has never thought he stood a chance against you." Willow had noticed the Watcher's emotion months ago, though she'd never said anything to either him or Buffy.
"He's good for her. I should talk to her tonight. You know, Cordelia was right, it's okay to move on. I need to let Buffy know that I know that. Maybe then she can find some happiness. We were doomed from the start, we can't let that rule our lives. Thank you Willow, just for helping me believe it." Angel spoke gently and pulled her a little closer.
Willow smiled, "I'm glad you want to do this. Maybe it will let Buffy finally let go of the past too. I hope so. Everyone's heading back, and I saw Cordy storm away from the table a little bit ago, maybe we should go too."
Angel nodded and led Willow off of the dance floor and back to the table.
"Hey guys, I'm going to go see, what Cordelia is up to, back in a sec." Willow left in search of her friend. She found her in the bathroom, still shaking with anger. "What happened Cordelia? You left in a hurry."
"That vampire, just makes me so mad. Okay, so maybe I was being a little sarcastic, but he was just downright mean. Ohh, I could stake him. But I won't. I'll calm down and everything'll be fine." Cordelia was slowly calming down, and gaining some perspective on everything. It really hadn't gone that badly.
"Okay, well, I hope you are calm now, because, I really don't want to leave the rest of them out there alone too long. You ready." Willow was a bit confused by the intensity of Cordelia's emotion. Where had that come from.
"Yeah, sure Willow. I'm fine now. let's go."
When they got back to the table everyone seemed ready to go. The night hadn't been a complete failure. It looked possible to rebuild their damaged relationships. Angel asked if he could walk Buffy back to her home, and she said yes, after casting a concerned glance at Giles and seeing his nod. Anya and Cordelia were both tired, and decided to go home and get some rest. That left Xander, Spike and Willow to go home together.
The three of them got home quickly and Spike suggested that maybe Xander could use a snack. Xander took the hint and left Spike and Willow alone in the living room.
"Willow, I want you to know something. It's very important okay. I love you. I love you with every bit of strength in my body, with every fibre of my being. You are mine, and I am yours. I wanted to make sure that you knew that." Spike spoke softly, a little unsure, having never really verbalized emotion before.
Willow was stunned, for a moment she didn't know quite how to react, but finally she reached out and pulled him close to her, whispering, "Oh, Spike, I didn't know. I love you too. I didn't think you could ever love me." she would have continued talking, but Spike captured her lips with his own. His kiss was gentle, but thourough, exploring every corner of her warm mouth. He finally broke the kiss, and whispered into her hair, "I don't deserve you, but you are mine anyway."
Across town, Buffy and Angel walked in an awkward silence. "Look Angel, I know you wanted to talk about something. What is it?" Buffy was a little impatient.
"Buffy, I just want you to know, that it's okay to move on. I know we've had this conversation before, but I know I never really meant it. I want you to know I do now. The past was special, and I'll always cherish what we had, but it is past. We can't change it, and we can't allow it to rule our lives. I know I needed to tell you that, before I really could move on. I think maybe you needed to hear it." Angel spoke quietly, gently. His words coming from the heart.
Buffy began to cry softly, "Thank you Angel. I did need to hear it. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I needed to hear it. Maybe, I can let go. We've both hurt and been hurt so much by this. It's not easy to leave it behind, but I think maybe I can start trying now."
Angel gently wiped the tears from Buffy's face and took her hand as he walked her the rest of the way home in silence. They both knew that their relationship had changed forever with the words spoken tonight.
|
Willow Talks | Realizations | |