"Immortal Beloved..." CXXVII...
PG-13
Disclaimer: If ya are fan-fic writers, where's your disclaimers?
Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you
no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!
It's all yours and ME's...
Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...
Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (127) versions of
events
following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question"
through
to "Not Fade Away" and beyond... (Not a continuous story, though some
are multipart...)
Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca
verse at -http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html
,
scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series ...
***
The offices of Angel, Burkle-Wyndham-Price, Gunn, and Walthrop...The
firm reconstructed by the intrepid former CEO from the old Wolfram-
Hart, following its sudden collapse after the violent =91terrorist=92
attack on LA had been defeated...
Most of the damage...Thankfully confined to a few blocks...By now, one
year later, repaired...
=93You must be kidding...=94 a firm refusal on the part of the last named
partner, William Soames Walthrop, currently seated in his senior
partner=92s office...The remaining partners, Charles Gunn and Dr.
Winifred =93Illyria (nickname the boys gave me, Mom)=94 Burkle-Wyndham-
Price (=93Dad, we were gonna call right after he asked but then that
attack, you know...=94), watching from their chairs with considerable
interest...As was Angel=92s beloved spouse, Nina Angel...
=93You were thinking of going to England for a while...=94 Angel pointed
out... =93And we need a partner to handle these negotiations with the
Council if our rescue operations are gonna succeed...=94
Save =91em, not kill =91em...I still don=92t think I=92ve quite wrapped my
mind around this one...Charlie noted quietly to Illyria...Who
shrugged...Not the warrior queen to ask, kiddo...
Still, if Angel and Will want to try...
=93So you go...Or just pick up the phone...You=92ve got me loaded down
with the European reorganization and that branch of our little rescue
project...I=92ll be tied up for months...Then I=92m going for a well-
deserved vacation...Look up my roots...See if any family=92s left...Or
any victims of Spike from our little effort who need help...And I have
my boy and...Look, I=92ll have no time...=94
=93Will...She=92s with the Immortal in Rome...She probably won=92t even be
there...You just need to settle things with Giles and the
Council...It=92s im****tant to get them to agree to let us have our
chance...Restrain their Slayers till we can get things ready to use
the modified spell...Lives and souls depend on this...A phone call
won=92t do and I=92m tied down here...Besides, you know Giles and I have a
history...A bad one...=94
=93And we don=92t?...He tried to kill me, you know...And he...=94 a
hesitan=
t
tone...
=93...I=92m sure he wouldn=92t have been able to help Winifred by then,
Will...=94 Illyria, quietly...
=93No offense or blame intended, love...=94
=93It=92s ok...=94 she smiled, a little wanly... =93You guys are always
muc=
h
too nice about...Things...=94
=93Not at all...Well...=94 he returned to Angel... =93The bottom line
is...=
=94
=93He owes you...You didn=92t kill his girlfriend, you saved his little
Slayer girl...And you were an innocent soul when he tried to kill
you...He owes you and he knows it...That=92ll help...Plus, if
necessary...=94
Nina looking rather carefully at both Angel and William...
=93Oh, no...No...=94
=93I=92m not saying you=92d have to ask her to help...Just remind him she=
=92d
probably back you if you did...C=92mon Will...This is im****tant and
you=92re headed that way anyway...So you start the vacation first, right
after this...=94
=93Look...=94
He caught Nina=92s nervous glance...Please...?
Oh, Lord...Mum, this is your fault...Pounding it into my head from
birth...A gentleman never refuses a lady...Till even Spike was polite
with Joyce and such...
Poor kid...He sighed within...I think I see now who decided Angel was
too busy to go to this thing...
=93Another month=92s vacation...And no questions about how I operate in
Europe...Just clean up any demonic messes I have to leave in settling
things...I=92m not *****-footing around with any troublemakers with my
boy in harm=92s way...=94
=93I said I=92d leave that up to you...Just don=92t get into the papers
too
much...=94
=93When=92s and where=92s the damned thing...?=94
=93Next week...London...Giles is holding a full session including Slayer
representatives from around the world...=94
=93What?!...She=92ll be there!...=94
=93She and the Immortal are on their honeymoon...They=92re going to his
estates in Greece next week...She won=92t be there...=94
Will frowned... So you say...
=93You=92d be less likely to see her in England than in Italy next
week...=94 Angel pointed out...
=93=94=93
London, one week later...New Antiquarian Hall of the Royal Council of
Antiquarians and Library Scientists...
A dignified Andrew Wells in suit, dignified as befitting the Vice-
Chairman of European Field Operations...Ignoring the slightly mocking
looks of several young Observer candidates he passed...
Kids...
=2E..Strode toward the tables now set up for the reception of various
international dignitaries and Watcher/Council groups from around the
world for the first full session of the Council since the destruction
of the old Hall by the First Evil=92s minion, Caleb...
Hmmn...He caught a brief glimpse of a slight fellow, brown-blonde in
suit...But it was the nervous-looking, shy brunette on the man=92s arm
who seemed to be drawing stares...
Holy...! He looked round for the nearest Slayer...Gretchen...
One of the small but growing crowd now talking to the increasing
nervous girl excitedly...
What the...? No, wait...My gosh...She=92s got a pass...
So it=92s true?...Angel really did?...
Drusilla...With a soul...
Wow...And...
Oh, no...God, no...He looked for an immediate escape route...
=93Andrew?...=94 William called...
His way blocked by the growing crowd moving toward the surprise of the
conference...
Poor Dru clearly terrified by the attention...William trying to gently
urge folks to back off a bit...
A guard pushed through to Andrew...A little anxious to explain...
=93They=92ve been cleared, sir...=94
=93Yeah, yeah...=94 he waved a hand...
The Chairman didn=92t say a word...Not a word...
Oh, God...
=93Andrew...We=92re a bit overwhelmed by the kindness here...=94 Will had
managed to push through to him, a rather quaking Dru holding to his
arm with a vise grip...
=93You know Ms. Waverly...=94
=93I never...=94 Dru hesitated... =93You=92re not someone It...=94
=93No, Dru...=94 Will patted her arm hastily... =93You never harmed Andy
here...He works for the Council of Watchers...He used to work with Ms.
Summers=92 people in Sunnydale...=94
=93Oh?...=94 she nodded vaguely...
=93Andy, can=92t you get us out of this?...=94 Will indicated the crowd...
=93I didn=92t realize we=92d attract so much attention...=94
=93Everyone is very kind...=94 Dru noted, nervously...Hastily signing a
photograph book thrust at her by an over-eager young Slayer... =93Very
kind...=94 she repeated...
=93Elise...=94Andrew frowned at the girl...
=93Sorry, sir...=94 Elise dutifully nodded, turning to head off in
triumph...Got it!...
More Watchers, Slayers, various attendees moving their way...
=93This way...=94 Andrew sighed, pointed...Ordering the guard still by him
to clear a path...
=93So very kind...Oh...=94 Dru halted, staring at one Watcher giving her a
rather grim stare back...
=93Very, very sorry, sir...=94
=93Come on, Dru...=94 Will tugged her along...Andrew pulling out
handkerchief, mopping sweating brow as they proceeded slowly...
=93Wait!...=94 a Slayer pointed... =93It=92s William...!=94 she
cried...Sla=
yers
around the hall, in the crowd all suddenly transfixed...
Oh, Jesus...Andrew groaned...
=93William!!...=94 =93Spike, I love you!!...=94 =93William, it=92s
William=
!!!...=94
cries from around the room... =93Oh, gosh, William=92s alive!!!...=94
Funny, Will thought...Eyeing Andrew who had hand to head...What to do,
oh God?...
Surely everyone knew ten seconds after he got back to England that
time...Still, I suppose some of the international Slayers never got
the word...
=93Andy?...Can we go...?=94
=93God, yes...Lets get out of...=94 the crowd, a bit thinner in this area,
parted a little...
=93What were you...?=94 a slight brunette in suit, talking with an eager
Elise...Who turned her slightly to face the group moving their way...
You *****...the now doomed Andrew fumed in rage...This is just because
of that extra training session last week, isn=92t it?...
The brunette blinking at William, then Dru...Drusilla=92s face amazingly
managing to turn a even paler shade...
=93You=92re...?=94 the brunette nearly keeling...
I=92m dead...Andrew noted, resignedly... =93Get the Chairman...=94 he
hisse=
d
to the guard... =93Get him...Quick...=94
No need, sir... the guard pointed to Rupert Giles now moving to them,
turning to assist the staggering brunette...
=93Buffy...?=94 William stared at the brunette...
When the devil did she stop?...
Dru looking behind for an exit...Though not releasing her grip on
Will=92s arm... =93Is that...?=94 she whispered...
=93Yes...But Buffy won=92t hurt you, love...=94 Will, a rather vague pat
on
arm...
=93No...=94 Dru whispered, eyes bulging now... =93It=92s...Her...=94
=93Buffy...=94 Giles was helping Buffy...Startled as she shook him off
rather violently...An icy stare at him...
Andrew carefully edging toward the thinner part of the regathering
crowd...
There might still be a chance to slip out and head for Mehico on the
first plane...
=93Andrew...=94 icy tone...
She has been in England for a bit...Will thought...
=93Get over here...=94
=93Buffy...=94 Giles began...Halting at her glare...Ummn...
=93Just a moment...=94 she waved him off, turning to William and the
quaking Dru...
=93You=92re alive...=94 she said...In a rather clipped British accent,
though unmistakably, if somewhat dazed, Buffy...
=93You=92re brown...=94 he smiled...
=93You...=94 she stared at Dru now... A cold rage on her face...
The crowd standing round eyeing each other...Uh-oh...
Still nothing like actually getting to see the famed one making her
moves...
=93No...=94 Dru gasped a little... =93Ma=92am...I...=94
=93Buffy...Dru has a soul, she=92s fine now...Well, still a vamp like me
but...=94 Will, reassuringly...
What=92s with her?...Can=92t believe Kendra meant that much to her all
these years...
Buffy calming a bit...Right...Soul...
=93Of course...=94 she nodded...Still white as the frightened Dru...
=93Hello...You murderous...=94
=93Buffy...=94 Giles tried...
Another hard glare...
=93Sorry...=94 she turned to the puzzled Will... =93I don=92t meet my
resurrected lover and his murderess...Lover?...=94 hesitantly... =93Every
day...=94
=93Nice to see you too...=94 he stared... =93Didn=92t Wells tell
you?...=94
=93No...=94 she said, frostily... =93Andrew?...You didn=92t, did
you?...=94
=93Uh...=94 the hapless Vice-Chairman croaked out... =93Buffy...=94
"Very funny...Isn't very funny, William?..." she said, coldly...
=93Buffy...=94 Giles cut in...Earning a look of adoration from Andrew...
=93I ordered Andrew...=94
=93I know...=94 she said, quietly...
=93You tried to kill him...You wouldn=92t let him tell me...You tried to
stop me from going through the archives...=94 she stated, flatly...
Amazing that accent...Will thought...
=93You kept him from me, you bastard...=94 she finished, coldly...
=93Buffy...=94 Giles tried...
=93Buffy...I=92m sure Rupert thought...=94
=93I know what he thought...=94 she replied...Startling him by suddenly
shaking, clearly near tears...But she got hold of herself...
=93And you two...Back together...=94 she eyed them...Focusing on
Dru...Whose panicked face was quite reminiscent of a deer in
headlights now...
=93Us?...=94 Will blinked... =93Oh, no..." he shook his head... "Ole Dru
just needed an escort round England and Italy while she got her
bearings and helped us out with some rescue work I=92m hear to discuss
with Giles...She=92s hoping to get the Pope=92s permission to let her
resume her devotions...=94
=93Oh?...=94 Buffy blinked...
Dru getting a slight clairvoyant notion that things were not quite so
desperate, calmed a little...
=93That=92s wonderful...Maybe I can put in a good word?...=94
=93Or maybe your new husband?...=94 Will couldn=92t resist it...
=93My what?...=94 she stared...
=93His Benevolence...Your beau ideal...=94
=93My....What?...=94
Giles now considering joining Andrew in his slow sliding toward the
crowd=92s protection...
=93Giles, Andrew...Stay here, please...=94 a calm, but deadly tone...
=93My husband?...The Immortal?...=94 she eyed Will...
=93Isn=92t he?...You and he were married a couple of weeks ago in Rome...=
=94
Angel=92s boys were keeping tabs...He explained...
=93No offense intended to your guy...We just knew him from the ole days
and wanted...=94 he eyed her quivering face... =93I mean, when I saw you
with him and spoke to Andrew in Rome...He said you'd moved on and...=94
Ah...Cha...Andrew, though fully accepting of his certain fate, could
not resist a choked gasp...
=93When you saw me in Rome?...And spoke to...Andrew...?=94 she repeated...
=93It was merely for your own protection, Buffy...=94 Giles began...
=93You really should have burned everything Caleb missed, Mr. Giles...=94
she waved him off, coldly... =93But that=92s right...=94 she held up her
left hand, a gold ring on fourth ring... =93You couldn=92t have burned
this...Even if you=92d melted it down, I=92d=92ve found it...=94
So...Is she married or...? Will, bemused...
=93Buffy...William...You must understand that the Council honestly
feared...=94
=93For itself...With good reason...=94 Buffy nodded calmly at Giles...
=93What is this all about...?=94 William stared at them... =93It wasn=92t
y=
ou
in Rome?...=94
=93We had a wonderful actress...=94 Andrew noted... =93For Buffy=92s
protection, of course...It just worked out well for His B and ...=94
He wilted under Buffy's cool stare... "...they just hit it off..."
=93Get out of here...Both of you...=94 Buffy said quietly... =93And please
see to Drusilla here...My husband and I have to talk...Please go with
Mr. Wells, Dru...No one=92s going to hurt you...I=92m sure Chairman Giles
can help with the Pope...The Council has great influence in the
world...I can testify to that...=94
=94Oh? When did you and the Slayer...?=94 Dru, feeling a bit more
secure, politely addressing the dazed William...
=931880...March...=94 Buffy explained... =93We met but I looked different
then, excepting the hair now...=94
=93Oh...Of course...Cicely, wasn=92t it?...=94 Dru, brightly...
=93Cicely...=94 Buffy nodded...
=93I=92m very lucky to be alive aren=92t I...?=94 Dru eyed her...
=93Yes...=94 Buffy nodded... =93But I can=92t and won=92t blame an
innocent
soul...We=92ll all get together later...=94
All of us...She eyed Giles and Andrew narrowly...
=93Cicely...?=94 William gasped...
=93Dad?!!...=94 Dawn, suddenly breaking through the crowd, staring at
William and Dru, now moving to take Andrew=92s arm...
***
|
