NA GRACH CROI
Chapter 10: ‘Ciocras’ (Longing)
Summary: Spike and Buffy long for each other and a family of their own, always. In this chapter we will meet other characters that have a ‘ciocras’ of their own.
Spike lay next to his wife, Buffy, intently watching her as she slept soundly. His arms were wrapped tightly about her tiny waist and he watched, almost mesmerized as her beautiful, milky white breasts rose and fell, to the cadence of her breaths. ‘Even in sleep, no actually, especially in sleep,’ Spike ammended his thought, ‘she looks like an angel.’
Although Buffy had just fallen asleep, less then an hour before this, Spike missed her already. He missed the warm kisses she returned to him, her bright, musical laughter and, of course, her mutual desire when they made love. Spike longed for Buffy to suddenly wake up, fully rested and ready to return to their passionate love making.
He longed for her, still, even after the hours of lovemaking they had enjoyed earlier, just before she had fallen into an exhausted sleep. Longed for his Buffy, he did, and always would. For her warmth, her companionship and her love.
‘She has no idea,’ Spike mused silently as he watched her smile slightly in her sleep, ‘no idea what light and happiness she’s brought into my empty life.’ It was true, sure as that, that Buffy had brought Spike back to life when she had come to him.
The realization of this sometimes frightened Spike, although mostly, it delighted him. He had never depended on anyone else in his entire life to complete his happiness, much less his existence. Spike certainly had never needed anyone, not like he needed his Buffy. “I’d die if I ever lost you Princess,” he whispered softly to her as he leaned in to gently kiss her lovely lips.
“Will?” Buffy murmered, her eyes were now just half opened and she felt a smile form on her lips. “Is everything all right? Why are you still awake, darling?” She finally opened her eyes, completely and took in the look of wonder that her husband had on his handsome face.
“Sorry, sweet,” he whispered, though unneccessarily, “I didn’t mean to wake you. Just was watching you sleep and thinking.”
He wondered why both he and his wife were talking so lowly as the other family members in the house were asleep, far from their own bedroom. “They cannot hear us, you know?” Spike smirked slightly and cuddled Buffy closer to him, “we don’t need to whisper so. Good thing because when I’m cummin’ inside you, you know how I tend to scream, baby.”
Buffy giggled, wickedly against Spike’s chest. “You are just awful, Will,” she accused him and burrowed her face deeper into his strong chest.
“I’m awful?” he pulled back from her with a mock pout.
“No, you’re actually wonderful,” she sighed affectionately, “but you say the most scandalous things!”
“Like you’d know scandalous, Buffy sweet,” he kissed the tip of her nose lovingly. “Such a sweet girl, you are, my wife. I’m surprised you even know the word scandalous.”
Buffy turned her head quickly and lay her cheek against the place on his chest it had just been. She changed the subject, hurridly.
“Tomorrow, what time shall we leave for Balleycastle?” she asked softly.
“About 7:00 AM, luv,” Spike yawned suddenly, “and we best get to sleep I suppose. It’s past midnight and I’ll have to roust that brother of mine up early to get ready to go with us. Knowing Angel, he’s dead drunk and he’ll be a bear to raise in the early morning.”
With another sigh, Buffy snuggled into her husband’s warm body and closed her green eyes. “Will?” she whispered in the dark to him.
“What, Princess,” he responded softly, “tomorrow, in Balleycastle? Do you think that Tara can introduce me to this Cordelia Chase? Your sister seems to truly believe the girl loves poor Angel, I’d like to meet her.”
Spike nodded, tiredly, “it’s true. Cordelia Chase does love Angel, he’s just too damn stubborn and blind to see it. Too wrapped up in his own self pity to see the world about him. Sometimes,” he continued sadly, “I truly wish I’d never pulled my baby brother from that mine shaft. It just seemed to prolong his suffering.”
The O’Hara family arrived in Balleycastle just before 8:30 AM the next morning. Once Spike had helped his wife and sister down from the wagon, he and Angel headed off to the local bank to do some business. Buffy and Tara headed to the Chase Mercantile in hopes of finding some suitable material and of course for Buffy to meet Careen Chase and her daughter, Cordelia.
Tara took Buffy by the hand and led her into the Mercantile, eagerly searching about for either Careen or Cordelia. Behind the counter, Buffy noticed an older, attractive woman, taller then herself, but not so tall as Tara.
“Hello, Careen,” Tara called warmly to the woman behind the counter.
“Tara!” Careen Chase greeted happily, “it’s so good to see you. This must by William’s bride, Elizabeth is it?” The woman hurried from behind the counter and rushed to take Buffy’s hands in her own.
“Cordelia,” Careen called out to the back of the store, “come see who’s here to visit!”
“We’ve been so anxious to meet you,” Mrs. Chase gushed all over Buffy, “Cordelia especially.”
A younger version of Mrs. Chase appeared from out of the back room. She was as dark haired as her mother, a bit taller, but equally attractive.
“Hello,” sang the younger Chase female, “I’m Cordelia and you must be Elizabeth. Oh, Tara,” the young woman giggled, “William’s done very well for himself. We’re all so pleased that such a fine man has found happiness, at last.”
Buffy immediately took a liking to both of the Chase women and asked them to call her Buffy. “It was my late Mother’s pet name for me,” she explained, “though I can’t imagine why.”
“It suits you,” Careen stated simply, “Elizabeth is a beautiful name, but Buffy is bright and full of bounce. Suits you to a tee, I can tell.”
“Cordelia is such a lovely name,” Buffy responded politely, “it’s from Shakespeare, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” Cordy smiled, genuinely pleased that Buffy had mentioned her moniker, “it translates into ‘the daughter of the sea king’ although my Da is certainly no king.”
“Is, uhm, Angel with you?” Cordelia asked shyly, her brown eyes ‘seemed’ to focus on a dress that hung in the window of the store.
“He’s here,” Tara answered quickly, “but…..” The younger Chase woman just nodded with dissapointment and pulled Buffy over to the material area. “I’m sure there is some suitable fabric for you Buffy,” Cordy said softly, her voice just a bit shakey. “What did you need the material for?”
“I need some new, more practical dresses,” Buffy explained, “for my new life on my Will’s farm. I…..”
Before she could finish the sentence, the Mercantile door opened, the little bell above it alerted them to more customers. Although Buffy expected to look up and see her husband and his brother, she was surprised to find three unknown men walk into the Mercantile.
She thought nothing of it, really, until all three of the other women by her audibly groaned.
“Morning, Miss O’Hara, Miss and Mrs. Chase,” the first man greeted coolly. He was a large man, with fair hair and dark blue eyes. Buffy would have thought him good looking, usually, but since no man could compare to her Will, she paid his appearance no real heed.
“Good day Mr. Riley Finn-Rayne,” Careen Chase greeted coldly to the man. “A good day to you Graham Walsh, Mr. Doyle,” she continued, with equal coolness.
“Maam, ladies,” the two other men grunted in unison. Buffy noticed that both Cordelia and Tara nearly cringed when the three men had made their presence known. ‘I wonder what that’s about?’ she thought to herself. ‘Wait,’ she stopped suddenly, ‘Finn-Rayne’ isn’t that the family Will warned me about?’
“Hello, Tara,” Riley sauntered up to Buffy’s sister-in-law, brazenly, but eyed Buffy herself up and down.
“Riley,” Tara mumbled nervously, “this is my sister-in-law, William’s bride, Elizabeth O’Hara. Buffy, I mean Elizabeth,” the poor girl stuttered, “this is Riley Finn-Rayne. He’s….”
“The oldest son of the most important man in these parts,” this Riley finished for Tara. “And, hopefully,” the man continued with an arrogant demeanor, “Miss Tara’s future stepson. If she’d just finally say yes to my poor widower of a Father.”
Buffy gasped openly, she had no idea that this pompous boy’s Father was interested in Tara, much less wanted to marry her.
Tara cringed, physically, then finally sighed, “your Father knows full well that I have no intention of marrying him Riley. If he can accept that, why can’t you?”
“Well, more’s your loss, Miss O’Hara,” Riley mumbled then changed the subject quickly. He lewdly grinned at Buffy, “old Spike’s done quite well for himself, eh, Tara, boys?” he chuckled and looked back at the two imbeciles that came in with him. They nodded, like a couple of puppets on strings and agreed with Riley.
“Nice to meet you Elizabeth,” Riley finished with a quick bow.
“I guess,” Buffy responded weakly and sidled behind Mrs. Chase, rather quickly. Buffy noticed that Riley’s attention had fallen onto Cordelia and that his said attention was anything but remote or genteel.
“How are you Cordy,” Riley asked, leaning into the young woman, even as she backed up a bit.
“I’m fine Riley,” she answered simply and turned to go back behind the counter.
“That you are, Cordelia Chase,” Riley chuckled deeply. “When are you going to allow me to court you, properly girl?” He flopped down on a chair near the counter and eyed the younger Chase woman, rakishly, Buffy felt.
“I care for another, Riley, you know that,” Cordelia stated clearly while she looked over some books on the desk behind the counter. This statement would hopefully end the direction of this conversation, or so Buffy thought.
Riley snorted rudely, “waste of time, Cordy,” he grumbled. “Angel O’Hara is a fool, and a cripple. Not worthy of a fine girl like you.”
Careen Chase cleared her throat and motioned to Tara and Buffy, along with Cordelia to follow her into the back of the store. “Good day, Riley, gentlemen,” the woman nodded at the three unwelcome men as she led the ladies into the back.
Again, the front door tinkled the appearance of more customers and Spike walked through it. He glanced about the store, glared at Riley and his companions, then strode over to his wife and sister’s sides.
“It’s time to go, luv,” he said gently to Buffy, kissing her on her cheek, tenderly. Spike shot Riley a death look and wrapped his left arm about Buffy’s slim shoulders.
“Congratulations Spike old friend,” Riley stuck out his hand for Spike to shake. Buffy noticed that her husband did not take Riley’s hand in his.
“I’m not your friend Riley,” Spike announced evenly and led Buffy, followed by Tara towards the Mercantile door. “And I think you’d best move on now,” he added to the three men there.
Riley was visibly upset by Spike’s snub and began to say something back to Buffy’s husband when Cordelia interrupted.
“We’ll see you soon,” Cordelia called out hopefully to the O’Haras as they left the store. “Very soon,” Buffy called back to her and her Mother.
“Will they be all right, Will? Cordy and Mrs. Chase?” Buffy asked anxiously as they headed towards the wagon. She turned to see the three men leaving the Mercantile, right after them and immediately felt better.
“Finn-Rayne and his whole family are all bluster and talk, Buffy darling,” Spike assured his wife and his sister. However, a part of him did not believe his own words. He knew, deep down inside, that someday the animosity and envy that the Rayne family felt for the O’Haras would blow up in all of their faces. But, not today.
“Just talk or not,” Tara muttered, “that man and his whole family make my skin crawl!”
“Is the Father, this Ethan Rayne really interested in matrimony with you Tara?” Buffy asked incredulously. “Not that you are not a fine catch, but that old man? By the look of his son, this Ethan must be middle aged?”
Spike chuckled a bit, “no one wants my sister to marry old man Ethan Rayne, dear one,” he assured his nervous wife. “Frankly, I’d rather hang first before any sister of mine married into that trashy family,” he finished firmly.
“Tara!” came a gentle, soft voice from behind them. Buffy looked to see a tall red haired woman hurry up to them. She was grey eyed and quite pretty in a fragile way.
“Willow,” Tara gushed warmly as a wistful look passed between the two young women. Buffy noticed ‘the look’ and wondered if her husband had caught it. She glanced at her William and realized that he was oblivious to it. But, she, Buffy was not. It was then that Buffy realized that Tara O’Hara would never marry, not ever, no matter how many of the fine young or older local men wooed her.
Buffy was aware that some women preferred the company of other women to that of men. There were two women, working girls of Anya’s that were closer then husband and wife to each other. Always devoted to each other first, these two young working girls were. So, the idea of Tara and Willow being in love with each other did not stun Buffy at all.
She did however, realize that her husband, William and his younger brother Angel probably had no idea that their sister had these feelings towards this Willow. To Buffy, it was obvious, but not to anyone else, apparently.
It was then and there that Buffy decided to never mention the situation or ask about it of anyone, especially Tara. This was Tara and Willow’s business and if they wanted anyone to know about it, then they should be the ones to tell them.
“This is Buffy,” Tara quickly introduced her to Willow who smiled warmly at her. “My brother is a smart and a lucky man, is he not Wills?” she asked the girl with a chuckle.
“He is,” Willow agreed shyly and shook Buffy’s hand. “Will you come to tea, at my Mother’s shop sometime then, Buffy?” Willow asked hopefully, causing Buffy to realize that the young girl was lonely for friendship and company. Buffy was nothing if not intuitive and perceptive of the human condition. Her past profession had demanded a certain empathetic nature and it served her well, even here in Balleycastle.
“I would love to, Willow,” Buffy nodded eagerly, “perhaps the next time we come here?” Willow’s face lit up and she glanced shyly at Tara, reassuring Buffy that she had been quite right in her first assumption of the relationship between the two women.
“How’s your mother, Willow?” Spike asked politely, glancing about for a sight of his brother.
Willow began to ramble on about her Mother and dying Auntie in Portrush, and so on. In the mean time, Spike spied Angel coming from a pub down the street.
‘Christ,’ Spike shook his head in disgust, ‘barely 9:30 in the morning and he’s already drinkin’ himself into a stupor. What am I going to do with that boy?’
“Shall we go have breakfast then,” Angel grinned devilishly as he joined his family on the street corner. “Will you join us then, Willow?” he added with a wink at the red head, illiciting a blush from her.
Spike nodded and pulled his Buffy closer to him, “yeah, let’s go eat then. We’ve got a lot to do today here and I’d like to get home long before supper. He bent down a bit and nuzzled Buffy’s golden head with his lips, “can’t wait to get you home again, sweetheart,” he whispered in her warm little ear.
Buffy giggled happily with a hot blush and looked quickly at Tara who smiled warmly. When her glance fell on Angel, however, she noticed he had a dour look on his face and it disturbed her, momentarily that is. Her William had her in his arms and it was a beautiful Irish morning. There was nothing in the world, at that moment, that could ruin Buffy’s lovely day with her family.
As the O’Hara family rode home in their wagon, Buffy and Tara chatted away together about just everything. It had been a wonderful shopping day in Balleycastle and Buffy could not wait to go again, and soon.
“I was thinking,” Tara began carefully, “that Angel and I should move into the little house, just beyond the barn. At the farm that is. You’re married now William,” Tara stated the obvious with a blush, “it’s time for you to have the main house for yourself and Buffy. I’m sure you’ll be having little babes soon, you need the house for privacy.”
Spike was rather surprised by his sister’s words, but not unhappy about them. Actually, he would prefer to live in the main house with Buffy, alone. Then, when it was time, their children together would share the home. It was the natural way of things, surely Angel would see that, as Tara had?
“Tara, Angel,” Buffy gasped in shock, “we cannot even think of sending you from your home. It would be wrong.”
“No, Buffy,” Tara shook her blond head, “it’s the right thing. Angel will marry someday and even if I don’t…..”
Buffy thought Tara sounded so sad, almost wistful and it tugged at her heart. ‘Poor thing,’ Buffy sighed to herself, ‘if only the world saw things differently. Everyone in love could be happy, with the ones they love.’
Angel had been silent, especially since Tara had mentioned that Cordelia Chase had asked after him in Balleycastle. Now, he finally spoke up.
“Tara’s right,” he grunted simply, “it’s best if her and I, for now, move into the extra house. Behind the barn. We’ll move there by next evening and that’s that.”
Spike looked over at Buffy, who gave him a little pout. ‘My wife,’ he thought happily, ‘she’s a good girl, with a good heart.’ “I love you,” he whispered to her.
“Love you,” she murmered back and squeezed his strong hand with her tiny one.
A/N: I hope this chapter introduced some characters and situations properly into this story. Things are going to be okay for a while, look really ‘happy’ and such. But, then something is going to happen, something bad that will threaten Spike and Buffy’s marriage. There is someone in Balleycastle, or closer to the O’Hara farm, who will try and destroy Buffy’s love for Spike. Please read and review, thanks. Luv, Spuf
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