Deja Vu - the updates
folder
AtS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Angel(us)/Spike(William)
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
4,119
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
AtS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Angel(us)/Spike(William)
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
4,119
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Angel: The Series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 91
Deja Vu
Pairing: Fred/Groo
Rating: NC17
Author: Jane Alexander
Disclaimer: No infringement of copyright is intended. The characters belong to Joss. I’m just borrowing them. I’ll try and return them undamaged, honest!
Document version: 16 January 2005
Feedback: janealexanderxxx@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://www.foreverfandom.net/viewstory.php?sid=4394
This story is AU and is a sequel to The Guy in Question.
Warning: includes character death.
Chapter 91
The village - later the same day
**************
“Groo, forgive me, Sweetie, if I’m reading this all wrong… but I’m getting the feeling you’re thinking of leaving without telling her,” Lorne said.
Lorne took another sip of his drink.
Most of the villagers had already retired for the night to get a good night’s sleep before the big day tomorrow. Fred had left just before Groo arrived. She’d claimed to have some sewing she wanted to finish but Lorne suspected she was simply avoiding Groo. He and Groo were currently seated outside of the village hall enjoying the cool night air, cool that was verging on becoming cold. They’d need to get inside soon.
“Oh, no, that is not my intention,” Groo replied.
He picked up his own mug of ale and took a large swig.
“I was wondering…” he began, setting the mug back down on the table between them. “If I might prevail… That is…”
“You want me to tell her?”
“Yes. Thank you, my friend. My gratitude knows no bounds…”
“I haven’t agreed yet,” Lorne pointed out.
“If you would do me this favour, I will be forever in your debt,” the Groosalugg continued, dropping to his knees at Lorne’s feet.
Lorne laughed.
“How could I refuse?” he asked. “You’ve saved my life at least three times. I think I’m the one forever in your debt, Handsome. Come on, stand up, you big hunk of a hero. What will Fred think if she finds us like this?”
The Groosalugg leapt to his feet and began to pace up and down the boardwalk.
“I had not considered this,” he said. “You do not think she believes I am smitten with another when it is only my princess I worship?”
“No, it’s all right, Sweetie,” Lorne chuckled. “I think she knows exactly how you feel about her. That’s not in any doubt. The more interesting question is why haven’t you done anything about it?”
“It puzzles me that you ask this question,” Groo began.
Lorne waited for him to continue.
“She does not know it yet but her destiny lies with Wesley. Her heart will be his one day. You know that as well as I. It would be wrong for me to tempt her…”
“Oh, I think you’re already doing that, Sugar Plum.”
Groo sighed and sat down again.
“Yes, I have seen the way her eyes gaze upon my frame,” Groo said.
He seemed troubled.
“What is it, Honey? You can tell me…”
“I do not understand it but I sense she desires this body…”
Lorne smiled to himself. She wouldn’t be alone…
“It is for this reason I cannot go to her tonight to tell her I must leave at first light. If she… if she offers herself to me, I am uncertain I shall be man enough to resist. You must help me, Lorne. I cannot betray those who befriended me when I first journeyed to the City of Angels…”
*****************
Lorne opened the door as quietly as he could so as not to wake Fred. He had no wish to disturb her and the last thing he wanted to do tonight was to tell her about Groo’s latest quest.
He peeked inside. He could see her outline by the light of a single candle burning on the mantelpiece. She was in the rocking chair. He carefully closed the door behind him and stepped closer. She appeared to be asleep, her sewing basket on the floor beside her and the garment she was working on in her lap. The lamp on the table beside her had evidently run out of oil some time ago; it was cold to the touch. He couldn’t leave her there all night. He knew if he did she’d have a terrible crick in her neck come morning.
“Fred, Sweetie?” he whispered. “I’m sorry to have to wake you, Poppet...”
“Hmm, Lorne?” she murmured. “Oh, did I fall asleep? What time is it?”
“Time for bed, Princess,” he said. “You can have my bed if you want. I don’t mind taking the loft.”
Fred yawned and stretched.
“Did you talk to Groo?” she asked, sitting up straight, suddenly fully alert.
“Er… yes. We had a drink together… That latest batch of Recipe is quite something… Your Grandpappy would be proud…”
Lorne picked up her sewing basket and placed it on the table, anything to avoid having to look her in the eye.
“Lorne, what is it? What did he say?”
Damn! He never could hide anything from Fred.
He pulled the chair out from under the table and sat down in front of her.
“He has to go away again, Sweetie, but it’s not for long… three months at most…”
“Three months!” she exclaimed, leaping to her feet. “Three whole months. I must go to him…”
“No, Sweetie,” Lorne said, placing his hand on her arm. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you? Not after what we talked about earlier.”
“I’ve been giving a lot of thought to that,” she said. “How can we be sure your friends will ever come to rescue us? Everything’s different here to when they came before. Perhaps it’s different where they are too. I know you believe that Wesley and I are soul mates but what if I never even get to meet him this time? I’m twenty eight, Lorne. I’m not going to live for hundred of years like you. I want a husband and a family before it’s too late…”
Lorne reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and offered it to her.
“Groo loves me, I know he does. What if no one else ever loves me?”
“I love you, Sweetie.”
“I know you do, Lorne, and I love you too but it’s not the same. You’re like my big brother…”
She began to sob.
“Oh, Poppet. Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
“I’ve got you.”
“You and Groo are all I have…” she mumbled against his shoulder.
“I know, Sweetie. I know,” Lorne whispered. “Just promise me you won’t do anything hasty. I’m not sure you’re ready for this… I don’t want you to get hurt, Poppet. Please say you’ll wait until he gets back… It’s only three months. It’ll give you a chance to think about things…”
*… and Wesley and Angel a bit more time to get here,* he silently added.
She raised her head to look at him.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“That’s my girl.”
She dabbed at her eyes with Lorne’s handkerchief.
“But I’ve hardly seen him at all this summer. I must say goodbye to him…”
“You can say goodbye in the morning, Poppet. We shouldn’t disturb him now. He needs to rest. He has a long journey ahead of him.”
“I suppose so…”
“But tomorrow is festival day. Can’t he at least stay for the feast? Surely one day wouldn’t hurt…”
“We’ll suggest it in the morning,” Lorne said, pushing her hair out of her eyes and off her face. “Let me make you some warm milk, Sweetie. It’ll help you sleep.”
******************
Early the following morning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was proving more difficult than he’d feared. Fred had begged and pleaded with him to stay just one more day. A delay of one day would not have compromised his mission - he could have made up the time by going without sleep for one or more nights - but he knew in his heart that if he stayed another day he would be unable to leave at all.
“I am defender of this realm,” Groo reminded her. “I have been summoned…”
“Please! Don’t leave us,” she repeated. “Not today, our special day…”
It was to be their third festival together…
“It is my sworn duty…” he explained. “I must heed the call… If I do not go, who else will slay the Mogfan beast and render the Scum Pits of Ur safe once more for our travellers?”
“I suppose so…” she agreed.
“We shall celebrate upon my return,” he said. “Three moons from now, gather the villagers and prepare a feast…”
Lorne stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, Sweetie,” Lorne said, moving to stand beside her. “I’ll keep you company until Groo gets back.”
Groo smiled at her reassuringly.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” Fred said as he took the reins in his hand and prepared to mount, “and watch out for the Drokken.”
“As always, Little One…” he replied, bending down to kiss her on the cheek.
He climbed onto his horse and turned to leave.
“We love you,” he heard Fred’s voice call after him.
He paused to glance over his shoulder and blow her a kiss. He then turned toward Lorne.
“Take care of her for me, my friend.”
“My pleasure, Sugar Plum,” Lorne said. “As always.”
*************
Pairing: Fred/Groo
Rating: NC17
Author: Jane Alexander
Disclaimer: No infringement of copyright is intended. The characters belong to Joss. I’m just borrowing them. I’ll try and return them undamaged, honest!
Document version: 16 January 2005
Feedback: janealexanderxxx@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://www.foreverfandom.net/viewstory.php?sid=4394
This story is AU and is a sequel to The Guy in Question.
Warning: includes character death.
Chapter 91
The village - later the same day
**************
“Groo, forgive me, Sweetie, if I’m reading this all wrong… but I’m getting the feeling you’re thinking of leaving without telling her,” Lorne said.
Lorne took another sip of his drink.
Most of the villagers had already retired for the night to get a good night’s sleep before the big day tomorrow. Fred had left just before Groo arrived. She’d claimed to have some sewing she wanted to finish but Lorne suspected she was simply avoiding Groo. He and Groo were currently seated outside of the village hall enjoying the cool night air, cool that was verging on becoming cold. They’d need to get inside soon.
“Oh, no, that is not my intention,” Groo replied.
He picked up his own mug of ale and took a large swig.
“I was wondering…” he began, setting the mug back down on the table between them. “If I might prevail… That is…”
“You want me to tell her?”
“Yes. Thank you, my friend. My gratitude knows no bounds…”
“I haven’t agreed yet,” Lorne pointed out.
“If you would do me this favour, I will be forever in your debt,” the Groosalugg continued, dropping to his knees at Lorne’s feet.
Lorne laughed.
“How could I refuse?” he asked. “You’ve saved my life at least three times. I think I’m the one forever in your debt, Handsome. Come on, stand up, you big hunk of a hero. What will Fred think if she finds us like this?”
The Groosalugg leapt to his feet and began to pace up and down the boardwalk.
“I had not considered this,” he said. “You do not think she believes I am smitten with another when it is only my princess I worship?”
“No, it’s all right, Sweetie,” Lorne chuckled. “I think she knows exactly how you feel about her. That’s not in any doubt. The more interesting question is why haven’t you done anything about it?”
“It puzzles me that you ask this question,” Groo began.
Lorne waited for him to continue.
“She does not know it yet but her destiny lies with Wesley. Her heart will be his one day. You know that as well as I. It would be wrong for me to tempt her…”
“Oh, I think you’re already doing that, Sugar Plum.”
Groo sighed and sat down again.
“Yes, I have seen the way her eyes gaze upon my frame,” Groo said.
He seemed troubled.
“What is it, Honey? You can tell me…”
“I do not understand it but I sense she desires this body…”
Lorne smiled to himself. She wouldn’t be alone…
“It is for this reason I cannot go to her tonight to tell her I must leave at first light. If she… if she offers herself to me, I am uncertain I shall be man enough to resist. You must help me, Lorne. I cannot betray those who befriended me when I first journeyed to the City of Angels…”
*****************
Lorne opened the door as quietly as he could so as not to wake Fred. He had no wish to disturb her and the last thing he wanted to do tonight was to tell her about Groo’s latest quest.
He peeked inside. He could see her outline by the light of a single candle burning on the mantelpiece. She was in the rocking chair. He carefully closed the door behind him and stepped closer. She appeared to be asleep, her sewing basket on the floor beside her and the garment she was working on in her lap. The lamp on the table beside her had evidently run out of oil some time ago; it was cold to the touch. He couldn’t leave her there all night. He knew if he did she’d have a terrible crick in her neck come morning.
“Fred, Sweetie?” he whispered. “I’m sorry to have to wake you, Poppet...”
“Hmm, Lorne?” she murmured. “Oh, did I fall asleep? What time is it?”
“Time for bed, Princess,” he said. “You can have my bed if you want. I don’t mind taking the loft.”
Fred yawned and stretched.
“Did you talk to Groo?” she asked, sitting up straight, suddenly fully alert.
“Er… yes. We had a drink together… That latest batch of Recipe is quite something… Your Grandpappy would be proud…”
Lorne picked up her sewing basket and placed it on the table, anything to avoid having to look her in the eye.
“Lorne, what is it? What did he say?”
Damn! He never could hide anything from Fred.
He pulled the chair out from under the table and sat down in front of her.
“He has to go away again, Sweetie, but it’s not for long… three months at most…”
“Three months!” she exclaimed, leaping to her feet. “Three whole months. I must go to him…”
“No, Sweetie,” Lorne said, placing his hand on her arm. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you? Not after what we talked about earlier.”
“I’ve been giving a lot of thought to that,” she said. “How can we be sure your friends will ever come to rescue us? Everything’s different here to when they came before. Perhaps it’s different where they are too. I know you believe that Wesley and I are soul mates but what if I never even get to meet him this time? I’m twenty eight, Lorne. I’m not going to live for hundred of years like you. I want a husband and a family before it’s too late…”
Lorne reached into his pocket for a handkerchief and offered it to her.
“Groo loves me, I know he does. What if no one else ever loves me?”
“I love you, Sweetie.”
“I know you do, Lorne, and I love you too but it’s not the same. You’re like my big brother…”
She began to sob.
“Oh, Poppet. Don’t cry. It’ll be all right. You’ll see.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
“I’ve got you.”
“You and Groo are all I have…” she mumbled against his shoulder.
“I know, Sweetie. I know,” Lorne whispered. “Just promise me you won’t do anything hasty. I’m not sure you’re ready for this… I don’t want you to get hurt, Poppet. Please say you’ll wait until he gets back… It’s only three months. It’ll give you a chance to think about things…”
*… and Wesley and Angel a bit more time to get here,* he silently added.
She raised her head to look at him.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“That’s my girl.”
She dabbed at her eyes with Lorne’s handkerchief.
“But I’ve hardly seen him at all this summer. I must say goodbye to him…”
“You can say goodbye in the morning, Poppet. We shouldn’t disturb him now. He needs to rest. He has a long journey ahead of him.”
“I suppose so…”
“But tomorrow is festival day. Can’t he at least stay for the feast? Surely one day wouldn’t hurt…”
“We’ll suggest it in the morning,” Lorne said, pushing her hair out of her eyes and off her face. “Let me make you some warm milk, Sweetie. It’ll help you sleep.”
******************
Early the following morning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was proving more difficult than he’d feared. Fred had begged and pleaded with him to stay just one more day. A delay of one day would not have compromised his mission - he could have made up the time by going without sleep for one or more nights - but he knew in his heart that if he stayed another day he would be unable to leave at all.
“I am defender of this realm,” Groo reminded her. “I have been summoned…”
“Please! Don’t leave us,” she repeated. “Not today, our special day…”
It was to be their third festival together…
“It is my sworn duty…” he explained. “I must heed the call… If I do not go, who else will slay the Mogfan beast and render the Scum Pits of Ur safe once more for our travellers?”
“I suppose so…” she agreed.
“We shall celebrate upon my return,” he said. “Three moons from now, gather the villagers and prepare a feast…”
Lorne stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, Sweetie,” Lorne said, moving to stand beside her. “I’ll keep you company until Groo gets back.”
Groo smiled at her reassuringly.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” Fred said as he took the reins in his hand and prepared to mount, “and watch out for the Drokken.”
“As always, Little One…” he replied, bending down to kiss her on the cheek.
He climbed onto his horse and turned to leave.
“We love you,” he heard Fred’s voice call after him.
He paused to glance over his shoulder and blow her a kiss. He then turned toward Lorne.
“Take care of her for me, my friend.”
“My pleasure, Sugar Plum,” Lorne said. “As always.”
*************