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Title: Sweet Sixteen
Author: Pattyanne
snapkik@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: None of the BtVS
characters belong to me.
Feedback: Love some, thanks!
Rating: Up to NC-17
Summary: AU. William and Buffy are
teenage neighbors meeting for the
first time.




Part twenty-nine:



~~~~~~~~~~
"Tonight you're mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?"
~~~~~~~~~~



How in the world was he going to break this news to
her? And why the hell had he waited so long?


Two very good questions with no sensible answers.


As he made his way across the lawn and driveway, head-
ing for Buffy's house, William mentally added another
one to the list, a deeply disquieting one; What if he
confessed the truth...and she no longer felt the same way
about him? Not because he was a member of the
nobility, but because he was a liar.


Technically though, he hadn't lied. Yes, he had
omitted one very important fact about himself, his
background and upbringing, but he hadn't really lied
about.......


He shook his head, cutting that thought off abruptly.
A lie of omission was no more palatable than a
deliberate one, and he had no right to try and excuse
himself with such a pathetic defense.


Well, there really WAS no defense..he should have
told her in the beginning. If not in the VERY beginning,
then at least when he'd told her about Black Oaks.


Although she'd never asked outright, it wasn't difficult
for Buffy to realize that he came from a monied background.
She was young and a little naive, but she was by no means
stupid, and paying cash for a Ferrari was a loud and clear
signal.


But there was a difference between having money, and
having money AND a title, especially when that title meant
a great deal of personal responsibility for him.


It wasn't like being third prince down the line from the
crown. He wouldn't be spending his time traveling from
one glitzy vacation spot to another, with an occasional
charity gig thrown in to keep the general populace
happy.


Once he gained his majority, everything that was currently
being handled by trustees, executors, business managers
and legal advisors would be turned over to him.


The estate alone was huge, nearly a quarter of a million
acres, and there were a vast amount of tenants on it. Add
on the London townhouse and the estate in Scotland, and
just dealing with the property holdings became a full time
job.


Then, there were the investments. Over the years, his family
had quietly become major shareholders in more businesses
than he cared to think about, and although his involvement
in that aspect would be limited, he would still have to maintain
a certain presence at board meetings and company functions.


It was a life he'd been groomed for from birth, but Buffy
had not.


Would she be able to deal with it? Would she even want to?



~~~~~~~~~~
"Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment's pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs
Will you still love me tomorrow?"
~~~~~~~~~~



His hands were sweaty when he knocked on her door,
and he had to wipe his palms on the legs of his jeans.


Clearing his throat, he took a deep breath as the door
swung open.


"Hi!" Buffy said brightly, giving him the smile that always
made his heart skip three beats in a row.


William couldn't hold back his urge to take a grip on
her shoulders and pull her close to him. Pressing his
face against the side of her neck, he closed his eyes
and drew in the scent of her skin. "Hi", he replied
quietly. "How was the dentist?"


"Ugh," she mock groaned, pulling back as far as he
could force himself to allow her. "Don't ask. I have one
teeny little cavity..it's barely even there..and my mom is
flipping out like every tooth I have is rotting away. I'm now
on mandatory sugar rationing."


Smiling down at her, he kissed her smooth forehead. "Poor
you. I know how much that's going to hurt. No more gummi
bears."


"No..don't say it!" She pretended to collapse in his arms,
burying her face against his shirt front. "I can't go on without
cherry gummi bears," she moaned dramatically.


William chuckled, his troublesome thoughts momentarily
pushed to one side by her whimsical behavior. "Don't panic.
Maybe I can smuggle some in for you now and then."


She giggled. "Good luck getting them past the warden,"
she said, glancing over her shoulder to check for possible
parental hovering. "She's got this weird 'mother radar' thing
going on. She can tell just by looking at me when I've
spoiled my dinner."


"I heard that." Joyce Summer's voice floated from the
direction of the kitchen. "And my weirdo 'mom radar' is now
telling me that you didn't bring the mail in, did you?"


"See what I mean?" Buffy mouthed silently to him, rolling
her eyes.


"And don't roll your eyes that way!"


William laughed out loud, dropping his head onto Buffy's
shoulder. "How did she know?"


"I told you...mom radar." She slipped out of his grasp
and stepped out onto the porch, heading down the front
path to the mailbox before William remembered the
limo parked in front of his house. "What's that for?" she
asked, stopping in her tracks. "Is that at your house?"


He followed her line of sight for a moment, feeling
awkward and uncertain. "Yes," he said, staring at the
sleek black car shining in the afternoon glare of the sun,
its chrome glinting. "It's...well, it's what I came over to
talk to you about."


She looked at him, concern in her eyes. "Are...are you
going somewhere?"


Not if he had anything at all to say about it!


"No," he assured her, shaking his head in a manner that
would put any fears she might be developing completely at
rest. "We have....we have visitors."


"Oh." Her expression smoothed out. "Gee...they came in
a limousine?"


"Yes."


"Well, who is it?"


"It's my...."


"Is it someone from England?"


"Yes." Taking hold of her arms, he turned her away
from the direction of the car. "Buffy...there's something I
need to tell you...something I should have told you before."


"Okay." She hesitated a moment, obviously reading
his face with no trouble. "Should I be nervous?"


Oh, why not? Why should he be the only one?


"No." He shook his head again. "It's something about me
that you didn't know...and it's my fault for not telling you
in the beginning...."


Glancing over her shoulder, his heart jerked unpleasantly
in his chest when he saw the front door of his uncle's house
swing open, and his grandmother's assistant emerge.


He knew exactly what was about to happen, and he tightened
his grip on Buffy's arms.


"Ouch," she murmured, turning in his grasp. "William...that
hurts..."


His gaze snapped back to her, and he realized that his fingers
were clutching at her far too tightly. Instantly, he modified his
grip. "I'm sorry. Buffy....the person...the visitor I told you about...?"


"What?" she asked, nodding. "Who is it?"


"It's....it's my......"


"Pardon me, Your Grace...but the Duchess has requested
an introduction."



~~~~~~~~~~
"Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I'm the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun?"
~~~~~~~~~~




William's eyes closed for a moment as the matter
was taken out of his hands.


Buffy turned around, regarding the newcomer with a per-
plexed look. "The what?"


Westham allowed a small smile to reach his lips as he
inclined his head towards the petite American girl, his
usually impassive expression disappearing for a moment
from his face. "The Duchess of Richmond," he explained
kindly.


"My grandmother," William added grimly.


"Indeed, yes. She has requested that His Grace present
the young lady to her...immediately."


Buffy looked back at William. "Your grandmother is a
duchess?"


"Yes...she's..." He looked briefly at Westham. "Tell her
we'll be there shortly."


"Of course, Your Grace." With another small bow, he
returned to the Giles home.


"Why is he calling you that?" Buffy wanted to know.


"Because of my....Buffy, it's what I wanted to tell you. I'm..my
grandfather was the Duke of Richmond, and when he died
my father and mother became the Duke and Duchess, and my
grandmother became the Dowager Duchess...his widow..."


"And....when they died..." Buffy began softly. "I mean...your
father...when he died...."


"Yes," he nodded agreement. "I inherited the title...I'm the
Duke of Richmond. I have been since I was ten years old."


Holding his breath, he waited for her to absorb this new
revelation. hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.



~~~~~~~~~~
"I'd like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of..."
~~~~~~~~~~



She was only silent for a matter of moments before
turning her face up to his with a sunny smile. "I don't
have to call you 'Your Grace'...do I?"


William released the breath he'd drawn in so deeply,
returning her smile, an exultant looseness flooding
through his system....she didn't hate him! "No," he said,
slipping his arms around her waist and lifting her right
off her feet. "Oh, Buffy....I love you so much." His words
were muffled against the side of her neck, his breath
warm on her skin.


To his intense delight, he felt her slender arms wind
tightly around his neck and heard her whispered reply
in his ear....


"I love you, too."



~~~~~~~~~~
"So tell me now, and I won't ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow...?"
~~~~~~~~~~



TBC...





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