Hurting The Ones We Love
Sequel to "Return of a
Rival"
by Calli
“…Riley, I can’t even remember last night!” Buffy lied to her boyfriend.
“Funny, ‘cause I can. I seem to remember you making a phone call. To
Angel. You still love him, don’t you?”
Riley accused angrily.
“No…no, I was drunk for heavens sake! People do stupid things when they get drunk Riley. Get over it.” Buffy yelled back. God knows how I could've got drunk on non-alcoholic stuff...I’ll have to have a word with Spike about that. Buffy frowned at her thoughts. There you go again Buffy, any excuse to speak to Spike. At least this time it’s a good excuse.
Outside, Willow stood poised at the door, eavesdropping. Oh Goddess. Riley sounds real mad.
Riley sighed. “Buffy…I want…I don’t know how to say this, but…”
“You want to break up with me, don’t you?? Well, that’d work out just fine for you, seeing as
you’re already two-timing me! Just let me ask you one question, what was she
like? Come on, I know you’re with her -
that Emily.” Buffy spat
out the name like it was poison. “Well, hard luck Riley,” she
said as if mocking him. “I’m not the
one doing the two-timing! Okay, so I still have feelings for Angel, but he’s
bad now, and I’m with you. Or rather, I was. I think it’s best we don’t see each other
any more. We’re through, Riley Finn.
Now get out of my room.”
Surprised and bewildered, Riley edged towards the door, and opened it to
see Willow standing there. She glowered at him, and he edged past her,
confusion written all over his face, scratching his head in bewilderment as he
walked down the corridor.
Willow looked at her friend. “Oh
Buffy. I-I heard everything. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry Wills. Things haven’t been right between Riley and I for a long time...I’m surprised we lasted this long.”
“Oh. I could do a spell...”
“No, I think it would be better if you helped Giles figure what to do about Angelus.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure I could give him his soul back. I’ll stop by the magic shop on the way to
Giles’”
“No Willow. This has happened too many times. Angel –
Angelus - has to go.”
“Buffy??”
The Slayer took a deep breath and sighed, looking up at her friend “I’m going to kill him.” Once and for all.
“But Buffy…you...Angel...soul mates...eternal love?” Willow tried to
dissuade her friend.
“It’s no good Willow. This is something I have to
do.” Just have to pull together the
guts to do it. “Now, go
Wills -- to Giles’.”
Buffy ushered a protesting Willow out of the door.
“Now, where has that childe of mine gotten to?” Angelus was pacing up and down inside. “The sun is setting.” He turned to
Dru, who was dancing with Miss Edith, humming to herself.
“Miss Edith likes her new dress, Daddy,” she said, in a voice slightly more whacked out than usual.
“I really wanted to tell him our news,” continued Angelus.
“What news?” came a suspicious voice behind them.
“Ah, William.”
“It’s Spike and you know it,” the blonde growled back. The atmosphere was tense.
“William,” began Angelus annoyingly. “Dru and I...we’ve
been having a little chat.”
Shit, I’ve heard that one before. The blond could guess what was coming.
“I’m moving in here. Dru asked me.”
Spike knew the second part was a lie -- his princess couldn’t even decide what to dress Miss Edith in, let alone invite Angelus to move in.
“It will be all happy families again.”
The whacked out clairvoyant joined in the conversation.
“Now, Dru. I thought we decided...”
“But Angelus!
Spike is mine! You
gave him to me! As a present,” she
pouted like a sulky child.
“Drusilla,” said Angelus through gritted teeth, surprised at his childes
outburst, “We’ll talk about it later.”
Nodding meekly, Drusilla danced off to the other side of the crypt with
Miss Edith, and Angelus turned back to Spike.
“So, William, as you know, there’s barely enough room for two in this
poor excuse for a home…the mansion isn’t safe enough, and, the factory...I
don’t like the color-scheme. Too fire-blackened.” Angelus had grabbed a small beetle from the ground and was
pulling the legs off it thoughtfully as he spoke.
“So...?” inquired Spike. What’s
he gettin at?
“So, you and I, Spikey, we’re swapping places.”
“You’re kickin’ me out? Out of my own crypt?” Spike could barely believe what he was hearing.
“Technically…yeah. Literally
too, if you want,” the older vampire mocked.
“Dru and I need time together. Alone. To, let’s say ‘catch up’ on what we’ve missed. Y’know, Sire and Childe, like the old times.”
“Aahh…the old times...” Drusilla echoed from across the crypt.
She's under his spell. Damn you Angelus! “I’ll be off then,” he said, trying not to seem bothered. He held up his keys to a fledgling. “Bring the car around.” It could do with a run anyway. The fledgling did nothing. “I said, bring the car around!” Spike yelled. The fledgling looked helplessly at Angelus.
“Do as he says,” ordered Angelus.
“Oh bloody hell!” cursed Spike angrily.
“I’ll get it myself!” With that,
he grabbed his few belongings and stalked off into the night. Damn you Angelus! Why couldn’t you have
drained me like you did everyone else?