ONE NORMAL LIFE / TWO EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

CHAPTER 60 – TAVERN ON THE GREEN

Willow and Dawn were both finished with breakfast, just having their coffee on the deck when Buffy and William joined them.

"Good morning, guys," Dawn said, as she bit down on her lip trying not to make any knowing faces at her sister that William might see. Faces that would say, 'I know what you did this morning!'

"Good morning," Buffy and William both echoed, as they sat down with their bowls of cereal and coffees.

They sade bde by side on the same side of the picnic bench, only slightly apart, close enough for Buffy to entwine her lower leg in his, while he tried to pretend it wasn't distracting him.

"Nice day," William said, "are we going to the beach today?"

"Don't see why not," Buffy answered, smiling brightly.

After they'd finished, Dawn asked William to help her in the kitchen.

"So, how you guys doing?" Willow asked, innocently.

Buffy looked over and saw the not-so-innocent look on her friend. Blushing she said, "Good. Real good."

Willow giggled, "You guys really should sound-proof that room!"

"You can hear that much through the walls?" Buffy asked, mortified.

"I should record it!"

"You wouldn't!"

"No, I wouldn't. But hey, if I did, I can see selling it under the title, "Former Slayer Girl and Former Vamp, Gone Wild!"

Buffy groaned, then got a mischievous look in her eyes. "Think it would sell? Maybe we could start a cottage industry.”

"Hey, you made a pun!"

"So I did..."

"Need to change the subject, Buffy."

"Thank God!"

"It's about when and how we're going to head back to California."

"Oh."

'Yeah, oh. Look, we really need to make some plans, because we have to make reservations, arrangements, rent whatever we're planning on driving, all that stuff."

"I know."

“I thought that maybe I could talk to Xander about driving us, or at least share the driving.”

“No, Willow. I don’t think that would work out.”

“Why not?”

“Like I told Dawn, I haven’t even spoken to him in years, for one thing. I’ve thought often about him, and Dawn keeps in contact, but I just…didn’t want him to be reminded of…well, all of it, me, Sunnydale, demons, vampires…”

“Losing his eye.”

Buffy flinched, “Yeah, that, too.”

“I think he came to terms with that a long time ago. You know how he is; he doesn’t dwell on the bad, just goes on living. Did you know he’s married and has a couple of kids?”

“Yeah, Dawn told me. Alex and Ann right? Wife’s name is Angela?”

Willow smiled.

“What?”

“Just for someone who hasn’t talked to him, you remembered all the important things.”

“He was my friend.”

“He still is.”

Buffy shook her head, “Not really, and that’s okay. He needed to have a normal, life more than any of us; it’s what he was born to have. Not me, I was called, and you, you powerful witch, you…”

“I think he’d do it,” Willow said.

“He never liked Spike, in fact, I’d say he pretty much hated him after what he did, rather tried to do. Even after he got his soul,” she said, voice low. “I don’t think he’d care even that Spike is human now, that he’s William. So, why would he want to leave his family? Drive or fly here, just to drive him across country?”

“Maybe, because like me, I realize how much we owe him. Spike. If it hadn’t been for him, none of us would be living the lives we’re leading now. The First would have most certainly destroyed a good portion of the world, if not all of it, if it hadn’t been stopped. I mean there must have been thousands and thousands of ubervamps inside the Hellmouth. Spike saved us all.”

Buffy’s eyes had grown moist thinking back to all that she’d lost, but also to all that had been saved. “I know,” she said quietly.

“Xander’s not the kind of guy who’s the deep thinker type, but I think on some level, he realizes what Spike did, what sacrifice he made.”

“I don’t know,” Buffy said, “one thing I know for sure though, Wil, and that’s Xander doesn’t owe me or Spike anything. He paid plenty up front, for years. I…just don’t think that it’s fair to ask him to do anything for me, not anymore.”

“I’m going to ask him anyway. Look at it like this Buffy. I would love to see Xander, we all would. It’s not like we’re going to be in any danger, I mean, because of Spike, not with the protection spell and all that. It will be like old times, all of us together,” Willow said, so hopefully that Buffy almost smiled.

“Okay, okay, you win. Now, how are we going to ask him?”

“Well, here’s my plan…”

June 24, 2008
Tuesday
6:30am

Buffy awoke in William’s arms, warm, secure, complete. She sighed, happily. This had been the happiest time of perhaps, her whole life, this past week. Life was good. Simple. Hug, kiss, love, eat, swim, eat, hug, kiss, make love, repeat.

Buffy kissed him on the lips, softly. He kissed her back, without opening his eyes, pulling her in closer.

“I didn’t ask,” she whispered.

“Don’t have to,” he replied, as his hands started roaming over her body, a body he’d gotten to have known so well in the past few days. A body that responded to his touches eagerly, each and every time.

“No, oh, oh…William. I have to go…no time right now,” she gasped between kissing him, feeling herself start to turn to a wanton state of goo.

“No, stay, just a while,” he said to her between kisses, eyes pleading with her, as his hand tenderly cupped and stroked her backside.

She didn’t have the willpower to tell him no, “It has to be quick, William.”

“I know, Elizabeth. I want to make love to you slow though, make you come a hundred times, a hundred different ways, all of them with you screaming my name, but for you, right now; I’ll be quick about it. Just as long as you don’t leave me without letting me show you how much I want you, first,” he whispered to her, his voice so sensual, she nearly climaxed right then.

In that way, William was very much like Spike, very much with the sensual talk before, during, and after. Making love to him was a whole, mind, body, heart experience that left her so full, sometimes she thought she might burst.

“Dawn! Wake up,” Buffy said, standing over Dawn’s bed in the front room, as she ran a hairbrush through her wet hair.

“Huh? Buffy? What time is it?”

“It’s 7:30. Willow and I are leaving for the airport. You sure you going to be alright, watching William?”

“Sure, we’ll be fine,” Dawn said, getting up, “don’t worry! I’m not going to let anything happen to him. I’ll watch him like a mother hen, okay? Now go!” she said, kissing Buffy on the cheek, as she walked with her toward the kitchen.

“We’ll be back tonight. Remember,” Buffy said, whispering, “William only knows that we’ve gone to talk to see an old friend, but not that we’re flying somewhere. I jusn’t n’t want him to worry.”

“I know. I won’t say anything. He’ll be fine; we’ll be fine. Honest.”

She heard the car honking for her, “Okay, see you. Take care of him, and yourself.”

“Bye, Buffy!” Dawn said, turning on the coffeepot.


“American Airlines flight number 21 from South Bend to Newark, New Jersey is on time and will be landing in 10 minutes. Pe bue buckle your seat belts, return your seats to their upright positions, and put your trays back up.”

Buffy glanced at her watch. It was 10:30am. Xander was going to meet them during his lunch hour.

“Excited?” she asked Willow.

“Yeah, I can hardly wait to see him,” she answered, “this has been the longest time that we’ve ever been apart. Five years. I can’t believe it!”

“Yeah. Long time.”

They watched in silence as the plane descended over the densely populated area where the airport was located. Miles and miles of houses, as far as the eye could see.

“What are we going to do for the next couple of hours?” Buffy asked.

“I don’t know. Guess we’ll just find the restaurant and wait,” Willow answered.

“Too bad the airport doesn’t have a mall.”

“Probably has some little gift stores.”

“That will kill about 10 minutes.”

“Yeah.”

Buffy looked up, then she smiled. “Look,” she said, pointing toward the crowd.

Willow looked around, then started to grin, as she saw a three-foot, helium filled Mylar balloon. It was shaped like a yellow crayon. And standing there, holding it was a man with an eye patch, sporting a fake parrot on one shoulder. Xander.

Willow took off running, nearly knocking him over, “Xander, Xander, you made it, you’re early!”

“Hey Willow! You didn’t really think I wouldn’t be here, did you?”

“I thought you had to work.”

“Yeah, but lucky for me, I know the boss.”

Buffy walked up smiling.

Xander and Willow let go of each other.

“Buffy,” Xander said smiling, then opened up his arms to her.

She threw her arms around him, overcome, “Xander, it’s so good to see you!”

“You, too, Buffy, you, too.”

He stepped back, “Let me look at you two. You guys look great! I see you’ve even got tans. Guys been at the beach a lot lately?” he asked.

They nodded. “Actually, yes,” Willow said. “For the past 9 days or so. In Michigan.”

“Mich?” ?”

“Yeah, it’s long story, which is why we came to talk to you in person.”

“I know. Look, I got my truck outside, and I got lunch reservations in Manhattan for us.”

“Manhattan?” Buffy and Willow both asked, eyes wide.

“Sure, it’s only about 30 minutes from here. Well, probably more than an hour with traffic, but your return flight isn’t until around 4:00pm, right?”

They nodded.

“Well, you didn’t think I would let my girls just fly in and eat crappy airport food, did you?”

Again, they shook their head.

“Okay then, let’s go,” Xander said, and offered an arm to each of them.

An hour and fifteen minutes later, after parking in what had to be the highest priced garage in Manhattan, they walked the 2 blocks to The Tavern on the Green.

“I’ve heard of this place,” said Willow.

Buffy was just in awe, being in New York.

Xander held the door for them and went up to the Maitre ‘d. “Reservations for three, Harris,” he said.

“Very good, you’re in the Crystal Room, sir. If you’ll follow me?”

They followed the Maitre ‘d through until they came to the Crystal Room. The room called that for the shimmering crystal chandeliers, which hung from the ceilings had glass walls offering looking out on Central Park.
“Wow!” Buffy said.
“I’ll second that!” Willow echoed.
They were seated, and gave the waiter their drink orders, while looking at the menu.
“Xander, you didn’t have to do this. It’s awfully…expensive,” Willow said, gulping.
“No worries, ladies. Boss has an expense account here. We did some remodeling on the owner’s home a couple of years ago. He made a deal of some sort, so we get the stuff almost for free. Works out nice, when we have to take a client to lunch. Impresses them.”
“I’m impressed,” Buffy said.
“Me, too,” Willow agreed.
They ordered lunch off of the summer lunch selection. Buffy ordered Hearts of Romaine Salad for her first course and Cold Poached Salmon for her second.
Willow ordered Tomato Gazpacho for her first course and Penne Alla Norma for her second.
Xander ordered Penne Alla Norma for his first course and Southwestern Frittata for his second.
On the way into the city they had talked mostly about Xander and his family. He had showed them pictures of his son and baby daughter, as well as of his wife, Angela.
Willow waited until they after they were having their coffees and deserts before speaking.
She cleared her throat, “Um, Xander, the reason Buffy and I came to see you was to ask you for a favor. It’s a big one and we didn’t want to ask you over the phone.”
He put down his fork, looking nervous, “I figured it must be, or you would have just asked me over the phone. What is it? Another Apocalypse looming?”
“No, nothing like that. No new ones that we know of,” Willow said, smiling.
Xander let out a breath, “Glad to hear that, because now I have kids to think about, if anything…” he just shook his head.
“Xander,” Buffy started, “you know about what happened in the cavern, under the Hellmouth, right? You know that Spike was wearing the amulet that Angel had brought from L.A. and how he was originally planning on wearing it himself?”
“Yeah, I kind of picked up bits and pieces of that back then.”
Buffy continued, “And you know what happened to Spike?” she asked softly.
Xander looked at her, “Yeah, Buffy, I do. And over these years I’ve felt guilty for not having told you how sorry I was that he was killed during the fight.”
Buffy nodded, “It wasn’t just that he was killed, it was that the power of the amulet that he channeled that made the rest of the ubervamps explode, it’s what caused the Hellmouth and all of Sunnydale to collapse. I asked him to leave, once it was clear that the cave was beginning to collapse. I told him he’d done enough, but he said he had to see it through, wanted to see how it would end.”
Xander was looking intently at Buffy; “He could have escaped with you?”
Buffy nodded, “I think so. All he had to do is to take the amulet off and follow me up the stairs.”
Xander whistled softly through his teeth. “I had no idea that he…I don’t know what I thought. I just thought he was a casualty, more or less like some of the potentials, and like Anya, ” he said, sadness in his voice. “He really did that?”
Both Buffy and Willow nodded.
“He died saving the world, Xander. Not just for Buffy’s sake,” Willow said, “for all our sakes, for the sake of the world, itself.”
“I would have stayed with him,” Buffy said, “but he made me leave; wanted me to have a normal life.” She laughed softly, shaking her head, “Remember when I used to always talk about wishing I could have that?”
Xander nodded.
“You know I was going to school, right?” Buffy asked, after a few moments.
“Yeah, Dawn told me,” he said, “though, you could have told me yourself, Buffy.”
“I’m sorry, Xan, I just…at first I didn’t talk to anyone much. I just…needed to figure out what I was going to do with my ‘normal life’ so to speak. And then, after a while, it just seemed like…it felt like I would have been intruding on your life, on Willow’s life. You guys did so much for me, all those years, over and over again. I just sort of figured that you needed your own space to…move forward. Especially you Xander. I was so happy to hear that you got married and had babies,” she said smiling.
“Well, think Angela would take exception, if you told her that ‘I’ had babies,” he said, grinning.
“So, back to what I was saying…”
Buffy went on for the next half-hour telling Xander how she’d seen the picture of the amulet in the display case at the university and how her and Dawn tracked it to Chicago. How Willow had found out about the prophecy, and what it had said about the Shanshu prophecy.
“Wait, wait,” Xander said, as he held up his hands, trying to take it all in, “you’re telling me that Spike is supposed to come back?”
“Yes. He is,” she said, looking at Xander, “he did.”
“Did? You mean, he’s alive?” he almost shouted, causing patrons at the nearby tables to look their way.
“Not only alive, but he’s human, Xander. 100%, completely human.”
“Good Godfrey Cambridge!”
Buffy told how, with Andrew’s help and the call from Leroy, she’d tracked him down from the museum to the hospital. Willow filled in the details of how her, Dawn, and Buffy, as well as Dr. Turner and Leroy, helped him escape from almost being taken to Angel.
Xander whistled. “Spike’s with you now?”
“Yes. More accurately, William is with me, with us now. Dawn’s watching over him while we’re away today.”
“What’s he like? I can’t even imagine,” Xander asked.
“He only has the memories that he had prior to Drusilla turning him. He only has William’s memories. So, up to about 1880.”
“1880’s Spike? Victorian Spike? That’s a good one!” Xander snorted.
Buffy looked at him, a bit hurt. “He’s a good man, Xander. William is a good man. Just like Spike was, only some people just couldn’t or wouldn’t see it, even after he’d went away to get his soul back,” Buffy said a bit too sharply.
Xander looked at her, “I’m sorry Buffy, I know now that you felt the same about him that I did about Anya.”
Buffy sighed, nodding, “Not all your fault, Xander. I gave a lot of mixed signals, not only to Spike, buso tso to everyone around me as to what he and I did share, what he meant to me; I didn’t always own up to it, myself. And, I understand why you felt the way you did, but he did change, even before he died.”
“So, Xander, here’s the favor Willow and I have come all the way across the country to ask you. Spike is, rather William is, very much like a child in some ways, that is to say, he’s very innocent of all that he was for the past 100+ years. Between the three of us, he’s only begun to learn about the world of 2008…”
“Plus, everything between 1880 and 2008,” Willow interjected.
“William had never seen a telephone, a computer, never rode in a car, had electricity, you name it, he doesn’t remember any of this, or any of Spike’s life,” Buffy said.
“For the past 11 days,” she continued, “I’ve, rather, we’ve tried to integrate as many new experiences into his life as possible, while still giving him time to recuperate from the hospital ordeal, from a life threatening situation that was not of his making. He’s been to the beach, ridden in a car, gotten a haircut, and gone to Walmart. That’s been the extent of it, and that’s been a lot for him to take in.”
“We’re in a ‘borrowed’ cabin and I have to get him back home; across the country to California. I don’t see how I can possibly expect him to get on a plane, so we thought we might rent an RV, and take it nice and easy.”
“And what do you need from me, Buffy?” Xander asked. was was hoping, if it’s possible, for you to help us make the drive. I would pay for your flight out to meet up with us, of course. If, all things considered, you’d want to.”
“There’s something else, too.”
“What’s that, Buff?”
“That you only consider it, if you think that you can accept Spike, or, rather William now. He doesn’t know about the past, and I don’t want him to. At least not right now. If you have any ill feelings toward him, that might come out, then…well, I’ll understand. No hard feelings, okay? I…I just can’t subject him to any more hurt. He’s fragile. I don’t want him hurt. God knows; he’s been hurt enough. As William before, as Spike, as William even now,” Buffy said, her eyes getting moist. “It’s been the one constant in his life, and unlife. I know. I caused enough of it myself.”
“In all fairness, Buffy, he caused enough of it himself!”
“He was a demon, Xander. And even then…oh, what’s the use? Look Xander, forget I asked! Willow; let’s get going. Xander, could you give us a ride back to the airport?” Buffy asked, standing up.
“Buffy, I’m sorry, I don’t want to argue with you. Sit down! It’s just a lot to take in, okay?”
Buffy sat down, keeping her eyes on the coffee cup before her.
“But I just can’t help be a bit selfish here. I’ve got to consider my family now, my ‘babies,’ if you will, and Angela. I can’t risk taking a trip across country if there’s a chance that Angel is going to try to come after ‘William’ like you said he did at the hospital.”
“Oh, Xander, I forgot to tell you, because of Spike’s sacrifice, my coven bestowed on me, very strong, very special powers to protect him and Buffy from all supernatural interventions for the next 2 years. Anybody helping him is also protected, automatically,” Willow said.
“I see,” Xander said, thoughtfully.
“I’ll think about it Buffy. When do you have to know?”
Buffy looked up into her old friend’s eyes. “By the end of week. We’ll probably need the last week there to make arrangements, rent the RV, etc.”
“I’ll let you know in a couple of days.”
They were mostly quiet on the way back to the airport, talking mostly of Dawn and what they’d done for the past 5 years.
Xander pulled the truck up to the terminal gate; “I promise I’ll let you know, Buffy. Tell Dawn I said hello and that I miss her bunches.”
“I will. And Xander, no matter what you decide, you know I love you, don’t you?”
Xander nodded, “I love you, too. You, too Willow!”
“Well, duh!” Willow said, and leaned over giving him a long hug and a kiss.
“Bye guys!” Xander said, as they got out.
“Bye Xander, give our love to your little ones and Angela,” Willow said.
“Will do,” he said, as he waved to them.
END OF CHAPTER 60