Disclaimer: Own nothing all belongs to some top exec who has way more money than I will ever see in this life time.
William sat on the front porch smoking his cigarette, letting the nicotine sooth his frazzled nerves. He had talked to his sister for over two hours and it had helped him decide that it was time once and for all to set Buffy free.
When his father’s car pulled into the driveway, he took one last drag of his cigarette and flicked it in the yard.
Giles got out of the car and frowned. “William are you smoking again?” he asked somewhat concerned.
William looked at his father with a droll look on his face, “Nope,” he replied sarcastically.
Giles rolled his eyes. His son could be such a twit sometimes. “Then can you explain to me why there’s a smoldering butt in my garden,” he asked dryly.
William stood up and brushed off the seat of his pants. “Stupid questions deserve stupid answers,” he stated matter of factly and smirked down at his father.
Kennedy came bounding across the yard and wrapped her arms around her uncle’s waist. “Uncle Will!” she exclaimed excitedly and then quickly pulled away. “You stink,” she pointed out scrunching up her little nose in disgust.
“Hey, I don’t stink,” William defended indignantly.
“Ya huh, you smell like an ashtray,” she retorted huffily
William frowned and brought his shirt to his nose. It smelled of his cologne and a hint of smoke, but it didn’t exactly stink, at least not to him anyways.
Giles couldn’t help but snicker. Leave it to Kennedy to somehow manage to hurt a grown man’s feelings just by telling him he smelled bad.
Kennedy scowled at her uncle. “I guess it doesn’t really matter if you stink or not when you’re dead,” she pointed out nastily and then stomped off into the house.
William looked at the retreating form of his very brassed off niece and then back to his father with a look of complete bewilderment.
“What in the buggering hell was that?” he asked stupefied.
Giles walked up the steps and let out a chuckle. “Apparently she’s anti-smoking, what do you think?”
William didn’t find his father at all amusing. “Oh bugger off,” he grumbled and walked in the house.
Giles let out a full laugh and followed his son in the house.
“So I take it you’re in somewhat of a better mood,” Giles observed as he went about making himself a cup of tea.
“I talked to Cecily,” William replied with a shrug.
“Really, how are she and Derek enjoying San Francisco?”
“You know Cec, she could make a good time being stuck in a cardboard box,” William replied with a chuckle.
Giles had to smile; his oldest child was quite the remarkable woman. Even if she was bored out of her mind, she would smile and see to it that she had a good time. She was a firm believer that every cloud had a silver lining.
“Right you are,” Giles commented knowingly. “So did she say when they would be back?”
“They’ll be in Monday morning and I think she said that they don’t fly back to London for another week or so after that,” William replied trying to recall what his sister had told him.
“And will you be staying here as well?” Giles asked his son hopefully.
William looked up at his father. “Da’ you know I can’t stay, got work back in LA,” he replied resolutely. “Besides, I have to get back so I can sort out all the paperwork.”
“Paperwork?” Giles asked confused.
William looked at his father with emotionless eyes. “For the divorce.” His voice was cold and flat, void of any emotions that he felt churning in his gut. If he was going to be able to do this, he was going to have to completely detach himself from the situation.
Giles looked over the brim of his cup, eyes wide with shock. “You’re filing for divorce?” he asked disbelievingly as he set his cup on the table.
William took a deep breath and let a determined look mar his features. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking in the last two days and it’s time. Buffy’s moved on so it’s time for me to do the same,” he stated resolutely.
”Well I must say I’m a bit surprised,” Giles commented still somewhat shocked.
“Nothin’ to be surprised about. It’s been eight years, time to move on,” William replied casually as if he was talking about selling an old car.
Giles regarded his son. It was more than a bit disconcerting that he was acting as if this was no big deal. His son had mourned his wife’s leaving like you would a death in the family and now he acted as if he never really loved the girl at all.
“William I think-,” But he was cut off.
“No Da’ I heard all that I need to hear from everyone. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to see Buffy tonight and tell her that she can finally have what she wants, her own life.”
Giles nodded his head in understanding and left it at that.
William gave his father a curt nod and walked out of the kitchen to his room. Closing the door, he leaned against it, clamping his eyes shut to keep his tears from surfacing.
He took a deep breath and pushed all of the anguish that was knotting in his gut aside. He was going to do this, even if it meant making Buffy hate him.
He knew that when this was all said and done, Buffy would have no problem signing those papers, it may not be the right way to go about things, but it was the only way he knew how.
**************************************************************************************
Buffy stood at the edge of the stage, eyes closed as she listened to the roar of the crowd. This was her favorite part of the concert. Feeling the adrenaline rush from anticipation, knowing that the people in the crowd wanted something only she could give them, it sent chills down her spine.
Lindsey watched Buffy as she went through her regular routine of working herself up for her performance. He had never seen anything more beautiful. Lindsey walked over behind Buffy, leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“Alright darlin’, this is your night, go show them what you’re really made of.”
Buffy opened her eyes and turned to look at Lindsey. “Thanks Lindsey, no matter what you’ve always stuck by me, you can never know how much that means to me,” Buffy gushed leaning in for a tender kiss.
Lindsey let a smirk curl at his lips. “What can I say, I’m one hell of a guy,” he joked.
Buffy let a serious look cross her face. “You are and that’s why I need you Lindsey.”
Lindsey captured Buffy’s lips in a heated kiss and then pulled back to look in her big green eyes.
“Darlin’ that’s exactly what I needed to hear. Now get out there and do what you do best,” Lindsey told her lovingly.
Buffy smiled brightly as she turned and headed on stage.
Lindsey smiled and hollered over the crowd. “I love you.”
Buffy turned and looked at Lindsey with warm eyes and mouthed back, “I know.”
Turning to the crowds of screaming fans, Buffy took a deep breath and let the rush of excitement take her away.
“Hello Sunnydale!”
**************************************************************************************
William had found Joyce with no problems and was now in the far corner of the crowd so he was sure that if Buffy scanned the crowd he would be nowhere in sight. She looked absolutely amazing up on stage with the lights on her so she was the center of attention. This is where he knew Buffy had always belonged.
He watched as Buffy sat on her stool barefoot with her acoustic guitar and couldn’t help but let his mind wander to a time when things weren’t so confusing, before they had gone and broken each other’s hearts.
**Flashback**
Buffy sat on her front porch, legs crossed with her acoustic guitar in her lap. She had begged her dad to buy it for her and after practically selling her soul, he had broke down and got it for her, so now she was going to have to learn to play.
She had read the guidebook on how to play the night before and now she was going to put her knowledge to the test. She placed her fingers on all the correct strings and strummed experimentally. It wasn’t the best sound, but it wasn’t exactly horrible either. Feeling a bit more confident, she experimented with some different chords, getting a feel for her new instrument.
“Don’t quit your day job kid,” William commented cockily as he walked up the Summers’ walkway.
Buffy looked up to see William standing there with a smug look on his face. Her first reaction was to turn beet red and then to scowl.
“Angel’s not home,” Buffy spit out nastily.
William smirked at the small blond perched on the porch. She may have only been thirteen, but he had to admit she was cute as hell.
“Well I guess that works out nicely for you then,” he commented taking a seat next to her.
“And why is that?” Buffy asked indignantly.
“Because now I can help you learn to play that thing without you scaring all the neighbor kids,” William teased.
“Who said I needed your help?”
William raised a brow at her question. “You’re kidding right? You can hear can’t you?”
Buffy let her mouth fall open. “Harsh much.”
“Sorry pet, just statin’ the facts,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Buffy let a scowl mar her cute face. “I bet you can’t even play,” she grumbled under her breath.
William snatched the guitar from her hands and settled it in his lap. Checking to make sure it was tuned properly; he closed his eyes and began to pluck at the strings softly as he sang along to the soft melody.
If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me
For I must be travelin’ on now
There's too many places I gotta see
And if I stay here with you girl
Things just wouldn't be the same
For I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird you cannot change
And the bird you cannot change
And the bird you cannot change
Lord knows I can't change
Buffy sat there in awe. She had had no idea that William could play, let alone sing. His voice was so smooth and deep that it caused goosebumps to erupt all over her body. She closed her eyes and let the words wash over her, committing the sound to memory.
Bye bye it's been sweet love
Though this feeling I can't change
Please don't take it so bad now
Cause lord knows I'm to blame
And if I stay here with you girl
Things just couldn't be the same
For I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird you cannot change
And the bird you cannot change
And the bird you cannot change
Lord knows I can't change
Playing the last chord, he opened his eyes and looked at Buffy who was now staring at him with a look of amazement on her face. Not wanting Buffy to see the way she was looking at him was affecting him; he thrust the guitar back in her lap and smirked.
“See I told you it was to your advantage,” he told her cockily
Buffy quickly recovered from her swooning and rolled her eyes. “You’re okay I guess,” Buffy commented causally not feeling the need to stroke his ego. But if truth be told, Buffy thought William had the sexiest voice she had ever heard, and that was even before she had heard him sing.
William shook his head and let out a chuckle. “Whatever you say princess.”
Buffy rolled her eyes. She really hated when he called her princess, well sort of. “Alright mister, show me how to play what you just played,” she demanded resolutely.
“You do realize that I can’t teach you in one sitting no matter how good I am right?”
“Are you always this arrogant or is today just my lucky day?” Buffy asked dryly
William curled his tongue behind his front teeth and purred, “What can I say princess, I’ve always been bad.”
Buffy felt her entire body go up in flames. Looking away shyly she suggested, “Well I guess if you have time you could teach me then.”
William noticed how adorable she looked when she was all shy and bashful. He knew inside it wasn’t a good idea for him to spend alone time with his best friend’s little sister but he just couldn’t tell her no.
“Tell you what, how ‘bout once a week, I’ll come over for an hour or so and help you practice,” he suggested.
“You don’t mind?” Buffy asked hesitantly.
“Not at all,” he replied honestly.
Buffy squealed and lunged at William for a big hug. “Thanks Will, I really appreciate it.”
William was caught off guard by the small blond in his arms but quickly recovered and returned her hug.
Buffy pulled back and blushed as she realized she had practically knocked William over with her hug. “Sorry,” she apologized with a blush.
“S’alright pet, so we have a deal then?”
“Deal,” she agreed excitedly.
“Well on that note, I’ll be shoving off. We can practice next week whenever, just let me know,” William said as he stood up to walk back home.
Buffy stood up and called out to him. “Hey Will?”
William stopped and turned around, “Yeah?”
“Thanks,” Buffy said softly and flashed him a million dollar smile before going in the house.
William watched as Buffy went inside and let a lopsided grin curl at his lips. “You’re welcome.”
** **
William watched as Buffy poured her soul out into her music. She had finally found her dream and who was he to hold her back. He turned to go and try and find Joyce but ran smack into someone.
William looked up to see a man staring at him. There was something about him that was familiar, like he had seen him before. “Sorry mate didn’t see you there,” he apologized cautiously.
Lindsey narrowed his eyes. He knew this guy from somewhere but he just couldn’t put his finger on where. When the platinum blond opened his mouth and the thick British accent came out Lindsey knew exactly who he was. It was Buffy’s husband William.
“No problem,” Lindsey replied in a casual tone. Sure he knew who William was, but William didn’t know him.
William stepped around the man that had his senses tingling and headed in the direction as to where he had left Joyce. What was it about that bloke that had him so off kilter?
Lindsey watched as William walked away. Was this why Buffy was acting so weird today? Did she know William was going to be there? To say that Lindsey was unhappy would have been putting it lightly. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
Big thanks to spuffette, DaniD, jeanie, MidnightGirl, caatje, Brat, spikestheman, vitalis, cordykitten, Kimber, Raspy_Luv, SarahandJamesFanatic, Nicki , and everyone that has taken the time to read this fic. You are all amazing and I can't thank you near enough. Much luv! Kuddos!
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Well I have to say I am blown away by how much this fic has been accepted. I know you are all ready for William and Buffy to meet face to face but I promise it will be in the next chap. So go on and let me know what you think of this chap and who knows I might get generous again and post again tonight *winks*!