Nobody Wants To Be Lonely
-This will be the first part of my first real attempt at a chapter story. In this story, the two that were the last of the Sunnydale population thrive to get to a land where they can live in peace without fear of being sucked into the Hell Mouth. - Also, sorry for my poor Latin put together, I don’t really speak it I only used a translation site for help with words.-
The days seemed endless and the nights were dangerous, the last apocalypse had brought much terror and little peace, though there was one thing that survived, one treacherous, evil thing that could never be defeated and would always remain, the Hell Mouth.
Ever since The First had destroyed Sunnydale, turning it into a broken city and used it as the site of ‘The Sunny Massacre’ as it was called, nothing was the same and most likely could never be again.
Walking down the lonely, dank, shadowy streets, hearing nothing but the crisp wind and falling rain onto the metal rusted dumpsters, she pondered every last memory that she could possibly pull from her mind’s keepsake box. Memories of her friends and family, even her worst enemies.
The night grew darker and she became more and more weak by the minute. In a matter of weeks she’d lost nearly everything, her dearest friends, her sister, home and worst of all, her ability to deal with life as it was thrown at her.
The slayer, Buffy Summers had lived through another apocalypse, though this time she’d wished quite the opposite. Life was far too difficult without her loved ones, and it was far too confusing as well. Down the dark alley she silently strolled, these thoughts bounced around in her mind, endlessly tormenting her thin soul.
The thought had occurred to her many times over. She’d plan the time, place, and method that she would use to complete the plan and end her suffering. Suicide seemed like the only way out. The only mere fact that kept her from taking her own life was that she believed killing oneself sent you straight to a fiery and painful inferno.
Would hell be better than living here though? She thought, tapping her dull wooden stake against the palm of her hand. There was no one left for her to slay for, no mortals to protect. For her friends were gone and were never going to return.
Going back to that night, when the Bringers captured and killed them all with slow torturous techniques, she saw herself blinded by what she believed was true. All the Bringers wanted was her, not her friends, not Spike. Her. That single belief withheld Buffy from saving her family and Sunnydale that night.
Bringing back those fearful memories, Buffy cried silent tears down her already wet face and sighed a deep and painful sigh.
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Not far from where she was, thunder began to crash and the rain smacked the ground with even more force than just seconds before, sending chills down the spine of another who had survived the fatal attack.
Pacing the floor and holding his last burning torch, he scowled at the shadow his figure made on the wall. A figure which seemed so strong and gallant, but it was only a frail and ineffectual shell of how he once was.
The anger that burned inside of him was starting to not only boil his icy cold, motionless blood, but it now also pinched under his skin.
After what seemed like endless tears the first time, he thought he’d learned his lesson when she plummeted to her death. Saying to himself that he would never let her die again, that he would protect her until she was at the time to die of old age. Yet again his promise wasn’t kept. He’d let her die again.
When the rocks fell, seemingly crushing her every bone, he too was crushed. Only emotionally of course, as he walked from the scene, with only cuts and bruises. Just minutes after watching the building fall to rubble.
Now in the cave he resides, shielded from the outside world, unaware that she too had walked away, cut and bruised.
So then into the night he went, on his nightly walk to watch over the town, as she once did.
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The storm wasn’t letting up anytime soon, and she could walk no further on her blistered feet. In front of her house she stood, bold and fearless. Stepping through the house’s now crooked door, she became fully aware that she wasn’t alone.
Stake firmly gripped in her hand, she quietly walked through her dilapidated home in the fighting stance in which she had mastered. Sensing the immortal presence, she made her way up the stairs, not making a single step creak. Though she was weak, her senses never failed.
Peering into each room, she scanned their contents and moved on to the next, stopping at what was Dawn’s bedroom. Buffy listened carefully, she heard a tapping noise. Inside she went, ready to fight, only to find a leaky ceiling and water dripping onto a vanity.
Moving on, she reached the room she still called her own, trying to breathe slowly to steady her heart beat and remain calm, those attempts to do so became futile when she stepped inside to find her prey sitting on her bed, crying.
Her heart beat a thousand times a second, it had been so long since she’d seen him. Believing none other than the fact that he was dead. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, to make sure that her tired mind wasn’t playing an evil trick. Quietly she stood, still not believing her eyes. Only when he looked up did she know that he was real.
The look upon both of their faces was of pure shock and disbelief. Neither spoke just yet, they needed to let what was happening digest into their skeptical minds. Each looking over one another, observing every detail and taking in every emotion as the chilled wind blew past them from the broken window.
Until that very moment she wasn’t even sure her vocal cords still could function properly, now though, would be a perfect time to find out. “Is that...really you?” Buffy asked in a raspy tone. She cleared her throat, not taking her eyes off of the being that sat a few steps in front of her.
He stood, knowing she was real. Rather than advancing, he remained in his position. “As real as you are, Luv.” Speaking in a way that completely masked his fear, a skill that he had always been particularly good at all of his unlife.
Unsure of how to react, Buffy took a deep breath and did the only thing her mind wanted her to do. She couldn’t hold herself back and she could never be lucky enough to have an invisible force do that for her either.
So she walked towards him taking baby-small steps. Reaching her destination, which happened to be standing right in front of him, she reached her arms out and hugged him. Her eyes filling with tears of happiness. No longer was she alone in this seriously disturbed world of demonic torment.
Leaning her head on his chest, she thought, he -is- a demon...but a good demon. Not a scary one, or one that wanted to kill her. One that still loved her. That she could feel, just by the way he acted around her still, she knew he would never stop loving her. He knew it too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holding her close, protecting her from the evil that lurked outside in the shadows, the two sat on the living room sofa by the boarded up window. They sat in silence, the TV no longer worked for two reasons: It was busted and there was no electricity to make it’s screen come to an animated life.
Every few seconds when the lightning flashed, the room illuminated ever so slightly through the cracks in the boards that were covering the window, creating a very eerie feeling in the house.
The world felt as if it could end any minute now, but for some unfathomable reason, it didn’t. In fact it was only just beginning. This was a challenge for them, he thought as he brushed his hand over her matted hair. They lived through the massacre for a reason. He needed to get her out of there, and soon.
“Spike?” She said, her voice breaking into the violence of the storm. Words weren’t coming to her very easily, it was as if she was living in slow motion.
Thunder crashed again before he could speak, he was beginning to get annoyed by the constant raining day and night for the past week. “Yes, Luv, What is it?” He calmly replied, wondering what it was she could possibly have to say at that moment.
“Nothing, I’m just making sure you’re still here.” Buffy said quietly with a small smile. She was worried that he wasn’t even real, that she was hallucinating his presence only to help her cope with the fear and loneliness that she faced in her once beautiful home. Or that maybe it was the aftermath of The First still haunting her.
He held her hands, interlocking their fingers, assuring her that he in fact was real and was still there. He’d always be there for her, no matter what. This time he would live up to his word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After they could no longer sit in agony in that musty room, they composed a plan that seemed reasonable enough for escaping the Hell Mouth and amazing enough that it seemed too good to be true.
Onto the water logged grass they walked where the cemetery had once been. All that remained of this burial ground were uplifted skeletons and broken gravestones. How horrible this was, that these demons could do so much damage to such a holy place that meant so much to so many.
None of that mattered now though that the whole population of Sunnydale mortals, aside from the slayer, were eliminated. Escaping was mandatory to lead a normal life again. For the Hell Mouth would forever be taken over by every demon on the planet. Except for Spike, who would be hers.
Passing through the pitch dark graveyard with only a small flashlight, Buffy and Spike felt the crushing of bones with every step they took and heard demons screaming with power in every direction.
They walked out onto the street at the other side of the graveyard, cautiously scanning their surroundings. Their plan was being put into action as they got closer and closer to their destination underground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a small little place and it was somewhat safe. The Anodyne. The place where the good demons lived together to protect themselves from becoming killed. Clem stayed there, in fact it was he who had arranged the place to be a safe house.
The duo walked inside with more grace than they felt. Sitting at a corner table, they met with Clem and a few others and told of their strategy. None of the demons quite understood, but each was happy to participate in clearing out the baddies and making a courageous attempt to make Sunnydale a better place and destroy the Hell Mouth once and for all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once everyone understood their role in the plan, Buffy and Spike again set out on their way to begin the elimination process of the demons which served as part 1 of the plan.
Something unexpected happened though. The two stopped dead in their tracks as they stepped outside.
It had stopped raining. What they saw before their eyes was the most amazing thing either of them had seen their entire lives. Hovering in the air not far from where they stood was a spirit with an orb floating in front of it. This spirit wasn’t just any ordinary spirit. This one was chanting something in Latin and it very closely resembled...Willow.
“Buffy is that...” Spike murmured as he and Buffy stared at the apparition in front of them. Buffy nodded, pretty sure that the spirit was in fact the ghost of Willow. Hopefully, she was there to help and not cause further destruction.
They thought it would be best to just stay and listen to what she was saying even though neither of them could understand her language.
“Amphitrite desino imber bris! Aboleo abnocto malefactor oris! Bellona adiumentum ambo, proeliator virago! Hecate abduco ducere proeliator virago abutor uti veneficium, licet licere licuit frequento absol fortunatus!” Willow’s glowing orb then ascended into the sky and disappeared. She smiled down at Buffy and Spike then faded away.
“Wow.” Said a voice from behind them. Buffy and Spike turned around to find Clem standing there with a look of awe on his face. “That was...wow.” He finished.
“D- do you know what she said?” Buffy asked of the red-eyed demon.
Clem nodded then began to translate for them. “She said: ‘Amphitrite goddess of the sea, stop the rain. Stop the evil doers. Bellona goddess of war, help the two warriors. Hecate goddess of magic, lead the warriors with magic. May they live happily.’ Sounds like you don’t even need that plan anymore.” Clem smiled. He knew that they’d get out of there alive and that his friends too would be able to survive.
A small tear ran down Buffy’s cheek as she smiled. Wishing that Willow could have been in a corporeal form so she could give her one last hug, but she was thankful enough for what Willow had done for she and Spike.
Clement walked back inside and Spike turned towards Buffy. “Luv, we need to get going, Willow’s gotten rid of all the demons and made a clear path to get out of Sunnyhell. I’m suggesting we go while the gettin’s good.”
Buffy looked up at him, nodding in agreement. She took Spike’s hand and they began their journey towards a better life.
(Part 1 Title- ‘Nobody Wants To Be Lonely’ song title from Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera)
-Review for more, helps me write better-
-Authors Note: In this chapter, we’ll meet a new character, for those of you who’ve seen the film ‘Vampires: Los Muertos’ then you are aware of the character I’ll be introducing and the ones I might refer to. For those of you who do not, you’ll soon find out.-
Part 2
There‘s No Place That I Could Be Without You, Honestly.
The outskirts of Sunnydale weren't much nicer than Sunnydale itself, in fact, they were worse. They required the ability to be physically strong. A quality that neither Buffy or Spike felt that they held at that point in time. In order to go on in their journey towards happiness, they needed to rest for a few days. Finding a safe place to stay seemed impossible but it was extremely necessary.
The demons that Willow had destroyed were permanently gone, but newer and stronger demons were popping up in every corner and they needed to find a place that could withstand the evil and the elements.
After walking for about seven miles, the sun was only an hour away from rising, which meant in order for Spike to survive they needed to find shelter soon. They walked through a small town called Fernwood. Buffy had seen what looked like a warehouse and the two began down that street, only to be halted by two vampires.
The female one had a reaper blade, Buffy went after this one, quickly knocking the blade out of her hand. Wasting little time, Buffy picked up the vampire’s own weapon and swiftly removed her head in one quick motion.
Spike had gone after the male one. This one had a good reputation for being the tough guy of the gang, Spike could tell. He’d require a little more beating up before he was dusted. That’s when Buffy ran over to help. With every punch and kick she felt a little more powerful and stronger causing the vampire to become weaker. Finally with one forceful kick, she sent the vampire flying into a brick wall. Spike then did the honors of staking it.
Turning around, facing Buffy, he smiled at her. She returned the smile and the two walked silently to the warehouse at the end of the street and entered through a side door that was open about an inch.
Once inside, they found that the warehouse was an abandoned vampire nest. Dead bodies and painted windows easily gave it away. Thankfully this would only be a temporary hide out for the two while the sun warmed the dieing earth.
Walking up a staircase, Buffy examined the upper level of the warehouse, dead bodies completely littered the floor causing her to wince from the sight and pungent odor. Quickly turning around she went back downstairs to Spike who was moving the bodies to one area of the large building. “Spike, I don’t think I want to stay here...” She murmured.
“It’s our only option. Besides, we need some time to think about our next move, decide where we’re headed and how we’re going to get there.” Spike explained. Buffy nodded understandingly.
She sighed heavily and tiredly. “Well, if I have to stay here, I’m glad you’re with me.” Buffy smiled at Spike, then looked down, avoiding eye contact as much as humanly possible. The feelings she had for Spike were confusing and letting him see that she felt them, would make things more difficult to understand.
Spike’s soul warmed inside with the gorgeous glow of her smile. He knew that in the end they could be together, and there was no way that he would let it not happen. There was no where that he could be if he was without her.
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After they’d cleared a space for themselves to sit and be somewhat comfortable, discussions of what they would do next arose.
Buffy spoke first. “So, I was thinking...” Thunder crashed again, and clouds dulled the suns brightness. “...we could go to Vegas and get jobs in a casino, possibly buy a big house outside of the city...” Spike interrupted her with one of his heart-melting smirks. “What?”
“Nothing, please, continue.” He said, still holding the smirk on his ever pale face.
“Not until you tell me why you’re giving me that look.” Buffy crossed her arms defiantly.
“You. The life that you have planned out sounds perfect and I’d love to have all of that...but, do you think we’ll be able to?” Saying that to her wasn’t probably the best thing to say, but he had no choice.
She looked a little saddened. “Well, maybe not exactly like that...we’ll probably have to live in a cave to keep you out of the sunlight.”
“Which isn’t going to happen. You can’t not be happy because of me.” Spike was beginning to think that all of his thoughts about them living ’happily ever after’ were becoming less and less possible.
That sounded all too familiar, Angel had said practically the same thing to her. She wouldn‘t let Spike get away that easily. “What? What are you talking about? I’d be happy living out on the streets as long as I was living on them with you.” Buffy couldn’t believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. What was more scary, was the fact that they were true.
Was this really Buffy that he was talking to? The Buffy that he always knew? The one that hated him and wanted nothing more than to kill him at one point in time? After either of them saying nothing, Buffy spoke again. “There’s no place that I could be without you, honestly.”
Spike smiled this genuine, bright smile and was about to say something in response when suddenly there was a rather loud crashing noise from up in the loft. He looked at Buffy, both of them looking a little frightened by it. “Shh...I’ll go see if anything’s up there.” Spike said as he stood up.
Buffy nodded and watched as he went up the ladder. He disappeared into the darkness of the loft and she prepared herself in case she had to run and help.
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Up in the loft, Spike put on his demon visage and looked around then slowly walked over to a chest and opened the lid, seeing a man tucked carefully inside, hiding. Spike wasted no time pulling him out. “Who the bleedin’ hell are you?”
“Whoa whoa take it easy there...I’m just passing by, no need to get violent.” Said the man. The man had dirty blond hair and wore a mahogany colored jacket and he had some sort of weapon strung around his back.
“I said, who the bleedin’ hell are you?!” Spike had a grip on the mans collar, determined to get some information out of him before letting him go.
“Name’s Derek, Derek Bliss.” Derek tried to offer a hand to shake but Spike would have no part of a proper introduction just yet.
Spike was satisfied with that answer, and thankful the man didn’t give him more of a hard time about it. Being tough always helped get the answers out quicker. “Alright, now that I know who you are, I want to know ‘what’ you are.”
(Part 2 title from ‘Honestly’ by Zwan)
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