Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 111

 

At the resort

Buffy and Angel are still on the sofa.

Buffy shifts her weight jostling Angel.

Angel: You need to get up?

Buffy: No, just reaching for my apple.

Angel: Just let me know.

Buffy slices a piece of apple. The juice drips on Angel’s forehead.

Angel: Hey! I thought were done with the sticky syrup.

Buffy: Oops. Sorry.

She holds the apple over the table to cut it. The knife slips and cuts her thumb. She looks at the droplet of blood forming on her thumb. She gazes down and smears it on his bottom lip. Angel glances up shocked.

Angel: Buffy?

Buddy: Waste not, want not.

She looks at her thumb

Buffy: Well it is already closing.

Angel: Good. Don’t do that again.

As she turns back to her apple, his tongue sweeps away the tiny treat. Buffy smiles to herself.

 

 

 

In Sunnydale

 

Dawn is looking out the kitchen window.

Oz: You still looking for that bird?

Dawn: Yes.

Oz: Would you mind helping me fix tea for Giles and Emily?

Dawn: Sure. I can do it. I know just how Giles likes it. You go help with the research.

Oz: Thanks.

Oz returns to the dining room.

Oz: Tea on the way.

Emily: Thank you so much.

Giles: Well looks like we still do not know what these guys got planned. Not even sure of their powers.

Emily: Well Mr. Giles, I have a thought. Now I am not quite that familiar with it but could they be using the Kwo-shun principle, but in reverse.

Giles: The Kwo-shun principle? That positive energy can be funneled and used to heal.

Emily: Exactly. What if perhaps they are funneling negative energy?

Oz: Negative as in the depression of the girl Anya told us about.

Emily: Exactly

Giles: And from what Spike said they were pleased that Faith and Buffy were alone.

Oz: Right. They said Buffy was alone and pregnant. Just like that girl.

Emily: But she is not alone. She has her husband.

Oz: But he has not been here in well over a month.

Giles; So they think she is a single mother.

Oz: Exactly. Which may be our advantage.

Giles: But if this is true, then they are going to need her to feed on.

Oz: They are going to need her to be more than a little sad.

Giles: Depressed enough to commit suicide.

Emily: Faith too.

Giles; And I am suspecting others too.

Oz: Will they try to kidnap them?

Giles: I don’t think so. From what I have learned they do not possess any super strength. Unlikely they would take on one, much less two slayers. More that likely the will lure them to the site.

Oz: With what?

Giles: With an innocent more than likely. They would know a slayer could not turn their backs on an innocent.

Oz: And then they make them commit suicide?

Giles: I think it is more they make them want to commit suicide.

Oz: Reverse therapy. How nice.

Giles: Very. I actually am not concerned about Buffy. She is happier now than she has ever been. But Faith on the other hand is very vulnerable. I am not sure she would withstand the pressure.

Emily: I mirror your concern. She has no family or even friends.

Giles: The girl needs to trust someone.

Oz: We have tried that. She trusts only one person.

Emily: Who is that?

Oz: Angel.

Giles: No. That will not work. Buffy is too sensitive still about Angel and Faith.

Dawn: God yes. She gets weird anytime they are both in the same room.

Emily: She does. I never noticed. Why?

Dawn: It maybe because she tried to one sleep with him or maybe two tried to kill him a couple of times.

Emily: Oh.

Oz: Well can I suggest we talk to Spike. He may know if she has met anyone.

Giles: I doubt she has but we can ask. Now I guess I should check with Wes. He may have some information.

 

 

 

Later that night.

 

At the resort

 

Angel: The sun has set.

Buffy comes out of the bathroom.

Angel: You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.

Buffy: I know. I want to.

Angel opens the door and they walk out.

Angel: It closes in an hour.

Buffy: I know; you told me.

They walk down the path to the pool. The few other quests look up at the newcomers. Angel lays a towel over a lounge chair and helps her down.

Angel: Comfy?

Buffy: Perfect. Now go.

Angel smiles and turns and dives into the deep end. Buffy watches and admires his body and skill.

Lady: Hello.

Buffy turns to the voice.

Lady: He is very attentive.

Buffy: I guess.

Lady: Is this your first?

Buffy: Huh? Oh. No second. Our son is home with family and friends.

Lady: Oh. Well do you see the three over there? The little girl and the two boys They’re mine.

Buffy: They’re cute.

Lady: Did you just get here?

Buffy: No, we got here night before last.

Lady: Really? I have not seen you out here.

Buffy: We have been staying indoors.

Lady: Oh. Oh I see.

Buffy: We live and work in separate towns. Been apart over a month.

Lady: Making up for lost time?

Buffy: You can say that.

They look as Angel talks to the children.

Lady: Well it looks like your husband likes children.

Buffy: He does. Especially since he was told he could never have them.

Lady: But he can?

Buffy: Oh yeah. Not one but two miracle babies.

Lady: Oh heck. They’re fighting. Time to take them inside.

She hurries off. Buffy continues to watch Angel swim but eventually closes her eyes and relaxes.

Jhiera: Hello

Buffy opens her eyes and is surprised to look at the dark haired woman.

Buffy: What do you want?

Jhiera: You are human, right?

Buffy: Last I looked.

Jhiera: And you are married to Angel?

Buffy: You are two for two.

Jhiera: Why?

Buffy: Why what?

Jhiera: Why would you marry much less have a child with him?

Buffy: Because I love him.

Angel swims up to the edge and listens. The three are alone.

Jhiera: But he is a vampire. Aren’t you scared for the children?

Buffy stands up.

Buffy: No.

She leans over and picks up her towel.

Jhiera: You should be. What will you do if he gets mad one day. He could kill you in a heart beat.

Buffy smiles. She grabs her by the throat and lifts her off the ground. She quickly tosses her into the pool.

Angel: Buffy!!

Buffy: What? She asked for it.

Angel: I know but you should not be picking people up while pregnant.

Jhiera: What the hell? What are you?

Buffy: Oh sorry, I didn’t introduce myself properly. I’m Buffy. The vampire slayer. It is my destiny to kill demons and if you come near me or my husband again, I will slay you. Have a nice night.

Angel comes up behind her.

Buffy: I am going to the room, but you can stay.

Angel: No, I no longer like it here.

They leave.

 

 

 

In Sunnydale

 

The phone rings.

Dawn: Hello.

Wes: Hi, I need to speak to Giles.

Dawn: Giles, it’s Wesley.

Giles: Hello Wes.

Wes: Giles, tell Emily she hit on something.

Giles: The Kwo-shun principle.

Wes: Exactly. Fred did some checking on the theory and it was widely practiced in areas of Africa. We were able to track it’s original origins back about seven hundred years to a tiny island off the coast. And Island formerly known as Orfoti.

Giles: Good work.

Wesley: But Giles, the original Kwo-shun was not a vehicle of healing. It was to harness power. The high priest used it to take control of the island from the ruling family and then succeeded in taking over two other nearby islands before he was defeated.

Giles: But he was defeated. Does it say how?

Wesley: We are still looking into it.

Giles: Does it say how he pulled the power in?

Wesley: All it says is there were a number of unexplained deaths around the time.

Giles: Suicides?

Wesley: I think so. I will call if we find anything more.

Giles: Okay. We have less than two weeks

Wesley: I know.

Giles: Sorry. I know you do.

 

 

Next morning

 

In Sunnydale.

Knock on the door. Giles opens it.

Giles: Faith. Thanks for coming by.

Faith: Happy to oblige. Check in like this with B all the time.

Giles: I need to ask you a few questions.

Faith: Fire away.

Giles: Yes right. Well I was wondering if you might have well…

Dawn: He wants to know if you have a guy.

Faith: A guy? Why?

Dawn: well because if you did it would be better.

Faith: You want me to find a boyfriend?

Giles: Well not so much a boyfriend as we need to make sure you are happy.

Faith: Happy? Well I guess. I just spent over two years in prison and now I have a job I don’t mind. A decent apartment. And I get to kick some demon ass. Yeah I guess I am happy.

Giles: All right then.

Dawn: Not so fast.

Oz: She’s right. Faith, is there anything that is not good in you life?

Faith: What with all the interest?

Giles: Well uh. We just need to know if there are any weaknesses the demons can take advantages of.

Faith: Me? Weak? I can kick their butts if I can find them.

Giles: Faith, these guys don’t fight physically. They play off emotions. They look for your weakness and feed from it.

Faith: Oh. So if I am not happy about something they can turn it against me?

Dawn: Give the girl a gold star.

Giles: So if there is anything lacking we need to know.

Faith: Not that I know of but, I’ll get back to you.

She turns to leave.

Faith: You know a new stereo would really make me happy.

Giles: Go to work Faith.

Faith: I’m going.

 

 

At the resort.

 

Buffy is stuffing her face with breakfast. Angel watches her with a silly grin.

Buffy: What? Do I have something on my face?

Angel: No, I just love seeing you eating good.

Buffy: Good meaning everything but the placemats?

Angel: Good meaning not picking at your food and not worry about gaining weight.

Buffy: Oh I worry, I just can’t stop eating.

Angel: So are you full yet?

Buffy: Yes. Do we have plans?

Angel: No. Any suggestions?

Buffy: Well I have very fond memories of yesterday.

Angel: What? Old movies and soap operas?

Buffy: No. Just being with you.

Angel: I liked that part too.

Buffy: Well I need a shower and then I guess we can decide what to do.

Angel: I could make you a bubble bath.

Buffy: Hmmm. That sounds heavenly. Does it come with minions?

Angel: Depends on the demands.

Buffy: Just cool drinks and maybe a foot washing.

Angel: I think I can handle that.

Buffy: I knew I could count on you.

© 2005 Tara