Nocturnal Bravura

William entered his room and shut his door he leaned against it for a moment shutting his eyes. After a long moment he walked over to his desk and sat down. He stared at the triple framed picture on his desk. One side was a recent picture of him and The Scoobies. Xander, his girlfriend Anya, Willow and her boyfriend Oz. The best mates a Slayer could ask for. They stood by him in battle and in life. Xander was somewhat of a weapons expert while Willow was good at anything to do with research that and she was a hell of a witch.

Anya, well that one was complicated. Hard to explain to the average human that you best friend’s girlfriend was once a demon that had been around for 2000 years. Even more strange to try to get them to wrap their heads around the fact that she wasn’t anymore because she got begrudgedly stuck here but somehow became a white hatter.

Oz was a great friend loyal and trusting. Adored Red who William loved like a sister. However they had to keep him caged up three nights a month being a werewolf and all.

In the center was a family picture. Spike and William’s 16th birthday their parents hugging each of them. Before their mother Jenny died. Before either of them knew anything about their destiny and fate. Before Spike.....

Spike had always been closer to his mother than he was to his father. William had deduced along time ago that it was because they shared the same carefree spirit. They were both artist. Jenny a painter; Spike a musician. They both wore their hearts on their sleeves and gave into their emotions. While William and his father were more reserved. They were both shy and sometimes a bit distant. Which was why their family unit worked so well. Gone were those days.

William looked at the final picture. It was the one that always choked him up. It was taken at Disneyland near The Haunted Mansion. The four of them looked so happy. It was Dawn’s 10th birthday. Elizabeth had begged her mother to trust her enough to take the long drive from Sunnydale to Disneyland. At first they adamantly refused Elizabeth was only 16 and had just gotten her driver’s license. William would never forget the disappointment of Elizabeth’s face. Unlike most older sisters. Elizabeth adored spending time with Dawn. She desperately wanted to give Dawn a special birthday seeing as their father said he would not attend. Hating to disappoint his two favorite girls William walked over to the artist studio behind the Summers home that Joyce and Jenny shared and volunteered his services.

Spike and William took them to Disneyland. Elizabeth absolutely spoiled her little sister showering her with everything from cotton candy to silly mouse ears. William and Spike had sat down on a bench waiting for an impossibly long line to move to let then into the “haunted” attraction. Elizabeth seizing the opportunity asked the people behind them to take a picture of the four of them. Dawn jumped onto Spike’s lap. Which seemed odd to William Dawn had always been partial to the younger of the twins. It hit him that The Bit was manipulating the situation so that Elizabeth’s only option would be to plant herself on William’s lap which she did. It was a happy genuine moment for the four of them. Gone were those days as well.

He looked at Elizabeth her eyes danced full of life and love. So different than what they looked like now. Confused, lost, weak. He put the picture down and begun his nightly ritual. He took a shower and got into bed. William closed his eyes wondering what memory would invade his dreams tonight.