Nocturnal Bravura

A Time To Mourn

William watched his friends and his newly adopted sister sitting in the living room. They never said why they gathered in The Giles’s home on this day. But he knew why. It was the day he was called.

The day Spike died.

They came over every year and told funny tales about how they all came to be Scoobies.

How William found out about Oz being a werewolf when he came to his house one day and saw him shackling himself to a desk.

How Anya got stuck here when Rupert smashed her amulet.

When William first began slaying all the mistakes he had made.

They talked about Spike.

His music, his life. Things he did with the band. But no one brought up Lizzie.

Not because of William or Dawn, but because of what happened when she found out he had died.

How broken Lizzie was. How she never really recovered from Spike’s death. How fragile she had become.

William looked over at Lizzie’s old window.

It was a sound a simple sound that brought her out of it, but a part of her was lost that day. He would never forget the look in her eyes.....

FLASHBACK

__________________________________________________________________

William sat her room. Watching her as she just laid there staring at the ceiling. She had been that way for two days now. Before he and Rupert even got to The Summer’s House to break to the woman their tragic news Lizzie had known somehow she had known.

The police showed up at The Giles Family doorstep to tell them the news of an accident. Spike’s car his black Desoto exploded on impact the charred remains of a male were all that was left. William and Rupert where stunned they were sure he had died at the hands of a Vampire. It did not help any, in fact it made it worse.

When they walked over to The Summer’s house to tell them the news. Joyce announced she would be the one to tell her daughter. After a few moments Joyce yelled for Giles. Giles and William ran up the stairs and found Lizzie lying in her beg staring up at her ceiling.

Lizzie had been catatonic for two days now. Joyce and Rupert started the heartbreaking proceedings to find a hospital to admit her into.

William sat there holding her hand talking to her trying to coax her out.

Dawnie came in to brush her hair and read to her. Try to tell her stories that used to make her laugh.

William and Dawnie even turned on The Princess Bride and sat there watching it with her. Talking to her. Letting her know when her favorite parts were coming on.

Nothing stirred Lizzie. She just laid there staring.....

William sat there looking up at the sky praying, making bargains to however would listen. He would stroke her cheek and try to talk to her.

“Come, on Luv. Spike is up there watching bloody furious with me right now because your in such a state.” William said

He held her hand.

“Come on Luv come back to us.” He whispered.

William watched her for a moment then he began to cry.

“Please Lizzie I can’t lose you too.” William whispered.

A gust of air from the window filled the room causing Lizzie’ s window to slam shut.

Lizzie shot straight up startling William.

“Spike?” She said with a small smile looking toward the window.

William watched as her face slowly fell.

She turned to William her once bright eyes filled with pain.

“Will?” She questioned.

“Yes Luv.” He whispered.

“He’s gone isn’t he?” Lizzie said quietly.

“I’m sorry Lizzie.” He said.

Lizzie screamed. She screamed so loud the other occupants of the house came running in.

Lizzie screamed over and over again until no sound came from her mouth. Tears ran down her face like rain against a window.

She heaved gasping for air.

“SPIKE!!” She wailed.

William took her in his arms. Lizzie clung to him letting out the most pain filled sobs he had ever heard.

“Please no!” She screamed.

“I’m sorry Lizzie.” William cried holding her as tight as he could.

The two teenagers held each other tightly.

Crying.

One for the brother, he had never been without.

The other for the love, she could not live without.

There was no funeral. Spike had long ago said if he had died he wanted a party at The Bronze with The Dare playing. He wanted his ashes scattered in England near a garden he had fallen in love with a long time ago.

Everyone assembled to say goodbye to the talented musician. He had so many local fans. Everyone gave his brother and father condolences. The Dare took the stage. They stood there looking off the side as if they were waiting for someone.

Finally a person took the stage.

William sat there with Dawn, Joyce and his father as Lizzie walked up to center stage wearing the same outfit she had the night Spike sang to her.

“I wanted to thank everyone for coming.” She started.

“Spike would be bloody pissed about all the trouble we have made for him.” Lizzie said smiling using the words Spike would have uttered himself if he had been there.

Everyone in the room chuckled for a moment.

Lizzie looked at William trying to find the strength to continue.

William stood up smiling at her. Encouraging her by nodding.

The two had become closer than ever. No one else seemed to understand their pain quite like the other did.

“You can do this.” He mouthed at her.

Lizzie bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath.

“We were all lucky to know him.” Lizzie said.

She looked down a smile crept across her face as a single tear ran down her cheek.

“I was luckiest of all. To be the girl he loved.” Lizzie whispered.

She looked up and closed her eyes.

Oz on cue began to strum his guitar.


“There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
What would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.


May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.”

William crossed his arms listening to Lizzie sing. She had the voice of an angel. It was strange to him he felt no jealousy. Just pride. Pride that the girl his brother adored was honoring him, singing for him. With the band he loved.

“So what would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.

May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.”

Rupert held Dawn in his lap. Joyce touched his shoulder as tears rolled down his eyes.

“And if you were with me tonight,
I'd sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart so big,
god couldn't let it live.”

From outside in the shadows a lone figure watched the girl as she shone on stage. Her eyes filled with so much sadness.

May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.”

William walked up to the stage and took Lizzie reached out for her knowing what would come next.

She hugged him tightly trying in vain not to let her pain consume her but she couldn’t.

Lizzie broke down in his arms began to cry, her knees gave out .

William caught her. He picked her up and carried her off stage.

The lone figure from the outside watched the whole scene unfold and whispered one word...

“Lizzie”