Need
Epilogue
Epilogue
Buffy could still remember a project she'd
done her freshman year of high school. The teacher had instructed the class to
make a scrapbook depicting what they saw themselves doing after graduation.
Buffy had been so sure of her future then. She was going to stay in L.A. and go
to cosmetology school so she could be a professional stylist. Angel would
already be halfway through college, and they'd be preparing for a future
together, the whole marriage-and-kids package.
She
hadn't gotten that. Instead, she was living in London, sharing a flat with a
man she'd hadn't even known back then. Instead of cosmetology, she'd gone to
school for psychology, finding herself more drawn to the subject that she'd
ever thought she would be. She was a far cry from the girl she'd been when
she'd planned her future out as a high school freshman, but she knew in her
heart things had worked out for the best.
Now,
she'd just finished her first year at the university, and had almost surprised
herself with how well she'd done. Her final grades had been something to be
proud of, and she'd decided to celebrate with a passion that had remained with
her even when so many other things had changed—shopping.
Buffy
looked up from the rack she was browsing, catching the eye of the man that was
responsible for much of the good currently in her life. She hadn't been looking
for love the night she'd met William, but she'd found it all the same. He'd
been the most shy, unassuming person she'd ever met, yet he'd turned her world
upside down, changing everything she wanted, everything she needed.
William
grinned at her from where he stood, the confidence
that was clear in his stance a far cry from what he'd been a year before. Buffy
knew she'd made him a man in more ways than one.
It
was then that she noticed where he had ended up, and rolled her eyes.
"Come back over here," she said.
"I
like it here better," William replied, running his tongue over his teeth.
He reached on to the rack, picking one of the garments and holding it up.
"How about this, kitten?" he asked, his grin turning to a leer.
Buffy
eyed the scrap of red lace. "I'm not underwear shopping today, Will,"
she replied.
"You
can never have too many pairs of skimpy panties pet," William said.
pair decorated with silver glitter. "Oh, these are nice, too…"
Buffy
glanced over, seeing a couple of older women across the store eyeing them
disapprovingly. She walked over to William, her hands on her hips. "Knock
it off."
William
pulled another pair off the rack. "I'd rather take these off of you.
Buffy
tried to look annoyed, but couldn't hide the smile that was creeping to her
lips. "You're making old people stare at us," she said in a whisper.
"They're
just jealous because no one wants to see them in sexy knickers," William
replied.
Buffy's
nose wrinkled. "Gee, honey, thanks a lot for that mental image."
"Says
the woman who let the cat out of the bag about my mother and Giles.
completely happy living in denial about that."
"Could
you get over that already?" Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "It's been
over a year. I thought you would've dealt with it by now."
"No.
No dealing. Repressing.
Much better for my sanity," William replied.
"They
are very happy together," Buffy pointed out.
"Yes.
Very happy in their completely non-sexual friendship," William said, arms
crossed over his chest.
"You
are too pathetic," Buffy said, shaking her head.
"Only
sex I want to think about is the kind involving you, luv," William
replied. He stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to brush her arm.
"Speaking of…" He looked her up and down with a leer.
"
crossing her arms over her chest. "You're just going to have to be
patient, mister."
William
pouted. "But I'm bored."
"You're
like a little boy sometimes, you know that?" Buffy said. He responded by
continuing to look pitiful, bouncing on the balls of his feet with barely
contained energy. "Okay, how about this," she said with a sigh.
"You stay over here and pick out underwear for me while I shop for real
clothes. Deal?"
William's
eyes lit up. "And you'll wear it for me when we get home?"
"Yes,
dear."
"Deal
made then."
Buffy
smiled as she kissed him, unable to find him anything but adorable. She'd been
drawn to him from the start, attracted to the shy, innocent boy she'd found
with a broken heart. But the man he'd become—the man she'd showed him how to
be—was everything she could ever ask for in a lover.
No,
her life hadn't turned out the way she'd once planned.
It
had turned out better.
*** *** ***
And
"short" fic that somehow managed to turn into a smutty epic…. Thanks
to everyone who stuck with me through the whole thing, bumps in the road to
Spuffy love and all.
Even
though it's the end, please remember to review—let me know if you enjoyed it
all the way through!