[Reviews - 202]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 1818 times

- Text Size +




Author's Chapter Notes:
*Chapter Repost*
David Sands rushed to calm his wife. The way she screamed, he thought something had happened to the baby. When he looked her over and found nothing amiss, he widened his search to include the floor. Seeing the fallen florist's box and the flowers that were strewn on the dining room floor, he tried to soothe her as best he could, "Maybe it was just a mix up at the florist, Sweetheart," he said, looking around the room at the veritable jungle his house had been transformed into, "It looks like all the flora from miles around is in our house at the moment. How many people did you tell, anyhow?" David rubbed Talitha's shoulders, gently kissing the nape of her neck, "Maybe they ran out of all the other colors? What does the card say?"

"I don't know," she sniffed, looking at the piece of white cardboard that was in amongst the black petals, "I didn't look."

David knelt to pick it up, "Well, let's find out, okay?" he flipped the card over and read aloud, " 'Congratulations on your bundle of joy.' See?" he assured her, "Just a mix up. Hey I know, to take your mind off of things, why don't we go out? Nothing too strenuous, and we won't be gone long, just to get you out of here, for a while. How about that new place, 'Veritas'?"
**********************

THREE NIGHTS AGO-"VERITAS" NIGHTCLUB

He strode past the inviting neon sign that declared this new club open for business. The interior was familiar. So familiar that his stomach lurched at the sight of the stage. There had been many a night when he'd been forced to sing like a canary for little or no information. Or information he could have gotten faster, in his old stomping grounds, just by introducing the right, or the wrong depending on which side of the fence you were on, kind of people to his fangs and fists.

But this was another town, and another place and another time. Or so it seemed.

The bartender hadn't noticed him. No matter. He wasn't looking to be intimidating, at least not tonight. Tonight he wanted information. Information only the bartender knew how to give.

He slid silently up to the bar and leaned into it. Without looking up from his inventory of whiskey and rum, the green-skinned gentleman said icily, "I thought I told you never to look for me. Although, I don't know why I'm surprised. Cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast. Why should you be any different?"

Angel knew coming in here that he wouldn't be welcomed with open arms, despite what the sign in the foyer said, but he needed information that only he could provide, "I know," Angel said, as he looked around at the club's rather garish décor, "But to be fair, this isn't exactly hiding."

Red eyes narrowed at him, "You aren't supposed to be looking. What do you want, here? I'm busy."

"I need to know if a woman's been in here."

Lorne huffed, "Women come in here all the time. That doesn't mean I'm gonna pick up the 'Bat Phone' and tell you."

"You'd notice her. She most likely is expecting a child."

Lorne shook his head and waved his hand dismissively at the door, "Then you've got the wrong place. Pea-In-The-Pod types don't come in here. This just isn't their speed."

Angel took a napkin from the bar and fished a pen from his pocket. He scribbled something on the napkin, "I'll take the risk. If she comes in here, call me," he said as he slid the napkin across the bar.

Lorne nodded, "Sure. Now get out."

The second Angelus wasn't darkening his doorstep, Lorne crumpled the napkin into a tight wad of paper, and tossed it, from the three-point range, into the wastepaper basket, "Ice water's chance in Hell that'll ever happen. I do know whom I will call though, and it sure isn't you."
*******************

For Spike, the past month had been a blur. First, he'd been blissfully happy. There was no way to describe how happy he'd been in that penguin suit, twirling Buffy up and down that dance floor until they were both giddy from the weightlessness of it all.

Then, his little oasis of life came crashing into the reality of death, and everything changed.

Now, with this little book in his hands, the two forces of his existence seemed to come together, here. It seemed that the Chinese philosophers, and dear little Georgina, had been right. In order to be whole, one did indeed need both.

He needed Jonina as much as her writings seemed to tell him that she needed him. He loved her already, and she wasn't even a twinkle in someone's eye.

He couldn't give that up. Not for the world. Not even for her. Somehow, he just couldn't let go of her, of the idea of her. He needed it. He needed her. And no one was going to take her from him.

Just reading her words, she painted the pictures with such meticulous skill that he could hear the sounds she heard and see the things she saw.

As he read the words now, he could almost hear the cant of her voice and her cadences as they whispered to him.

DECEMBER 6, 2027

We buried you today, Daddy. Right next to Mom, like you wanted. George and aunt Willow sang that old lullaby you and Mommy used to sing me to sleep with, even after I'd grown out of it. I heard it on the television just yesterday. That film has got to be almost a century old. But then again, it kind of makes sense. It was like you and Mommy were trying to tell me everything was going to be all right and that you were still out there somewhere, watching out for me.

I stopped to listen, and I cried a little. I miss you both so much. I can still hear it in my head, as if you were right here. It helps me get to sleep at night. I asked George to write the words down for me, for me to look at when I need you:

"Baby mine, don't you cry. Baby mine, dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine. Little one, when you play, don't you mind what they say; Let those eyes sparkle and shine, never a tear, baby of mine. If they knew sweet little you they'd end up loving you, too. All those same people who scold you, what they'd give just for the right to hold you. From your head to your toes, you're not much, goodness knows. But, you're so precious to me, cute as can be, baby of mine."

I know it's not you, Daddy. But, it's close enough.

Spike blinked away the tear he felt in his eye as he closed her book, "Don't you worry, Sweetling," he sighed as he made his vow to her, "I'll find you."
***********

IN THE INTERREGNUM

Joni was so excited she couldn't stand still. She and Buffy were locked in a hug so tight that not even a crowbar could pry them loose, "I told you it would work, Daddy! See, I told you!"

Buffy smiled at Joni, "Yeah, you sure did. But I think your Daddy forgot just how sentimental he really was...make that is, deep down," she said as she kissed his face and watched his eyes roll up in surrender to the feminine influences of his world. Buffy even thought she heard him sigh, "Oh, you love it," she teased, "I bet you used to cry at Garbo pictures, right?"

Spike's back went rigid, "I bloody well did not!" he hissed. But Buffy could tell that he was covering. Being the "Big Bad" for Jonina's benefit. But she knew she was right. Wives just knew that kind of thing, "Uh huh," she nodded.
*******************

APRIL 20, 2005

George answered the telephone quickly. No one who wanted a schedule of martial arts classes usually called this late at night. Still, just to be on the safe side, "Synergy Dojo, may I help you?"

"Is the heir apparent, about, Georgie Girl? I need to talk to him."

"Lorne! How are you? Is this important?"

"Only in a Messianic sort of way. Listen, don't bother him if he's busy saving damsels in distress. Just let him know that I'm sending a very important couple, apocalyptically important, to rest at his inn for the night. Tootles, Georgie."

Lorne gave the couple the address on Jennings Street, "Go to this address, nowhere else. The couple that run the place, they're friends of mine. And, they're yours, too. Believe me," he motioned to the cabdriver, "I'll have Bernie, here, take you there. I trust him. He'll get you there, without a scratch."

"Thank you." David said, as he took the address from him.
***************************





You must login (register) to review.