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Chapter 38 – Moment of Truth


Leading Buffy into their room, Spike almost couldn’t turn around to face her, listening to her soft sobs.

“Come here, sweetheart,” he whispered, closing the door behind them and pulling her into his arms, closing his eyes when she buried her face in his chest and cried as she clung to him.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. “Is this just some Higher Power who’s wanting to get a good laugh at my expense?”

Pulling back to look at him, she felt her chin tremble as she looked into his eyes.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, brushing the tears away from her cheeks.

Stepping away from him, she wrapped her arms around her body, slowly pacing the room, muttering to herself. “Let’s have her mother kill herself, and then she has to kill her father. That’s poetic justice. Because it brings the family full circle and leaves her right where she should be…alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Spike said softly, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

Turning around to face him, Buffy’s eyes widened when she realized what she’d said and the fact that she forgot she wasn’t alone in the room. “I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered, offering him a soft smile when she saw the slight pout forming on his lip.

“Why do you keep saying that?”

Letting her smile fade, she glanced at the floor. “Maybe that’s how I feel sometimes,” she murmured, not wanting to see the look on his face.

“Is that what you want?” he asked, looking at the floor, trying to keep his throat from closing with the emotions he was feeling.

“No,” she whispered, feeling the tears spring to her eyes as she shook her head. “No, that’s not what I want at all…I just…”

“Just…what?” he asked, tilting his head to study her as she swiped at the tears on her cheeks. He could feel her pain radiating into him, and it felt as if he was growing weaker by the moment.

“I just know you can’t help me with this,” she murmured, her chin trembling with emotion.

“I’ll always help you,” he whispered, finally closing the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.

“The prophecy says I have to kill him, Spike,” she said softly, her fingernails digging into his back as she held onto him, obviously not ready to let go. “Not you…me.”

“Doesn’t say anything about you having help, though,” he replied, feeling a wave of uncertainty pass through her before she slowly looked up at him. Seeing the honesty and the desperate need to help her, Buffy finally smiled as she nodded.

“I guess that’s true.”

* * * * *

“How’s this going to work?” Fred asked, looking from Wesley, who was sitting at the reception counter in the lobby, to Buffy, who was restlessly pacing back and forth, checking her watch every few minutes as she waited for the sun to set.

After resting with Spike for a few hours and spending the remainder of the day sparring with him to be ready for the confrontation, Buffy was getting edgy. She wanted this finished.

“Simple,” she replied, not making contact with anyone in the room as she continued her pacing. “I find him. I kill him. It’s pretty cut and dry.”

Furrowing his brow as he watched her, Spike tilted his head, disturbed by the disassociated tone of her voice. He was tempted to leave his spot against the wall to attempt to talk to her, but he could tell by her rigid stance that she was simply preparing for battle.

And it was really turning him on.

Finally snapping out of her thoughts, Buffy let a small smile pull at her lips as she turned to Spike, feeling the wave of lust that hit her through the claim. Suppressing a smile when he merely smirked at her and arched an eyebrow, Buffy rolled her eyes as she resumed pacing.

Frowning after a moment, she slowly looked around the room, feeling a distinct presence missing.

“Where’s Cordy?”

Seeing everyone look toward Angel’s office, Buffy swallowed hard before taking a deep breath and walking toward the door.

Not bothering to knock, she slowly walked into the small room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

“Hi,” she whispered, looking at the woman who, by all rights, was her mother.

Sitting at Angel’s desk, Buffy could see the picture frame in the brunette’s hands as she gently ran a hand over the glass that separated her from the picture of her with the man she loved.

“I used to say that he didn’t photograph well,” Cordy whispered in a choked voice. “Isn’t that silly? He obviously looks good, no matter what the situation is.”

Feeling her heart ache for the other woman, Buffy felt tears come to her eyes, wondering if she could be this graceful and mellow if the situation was changed and someone was prophesized to kill Spike.

No.

She knew she wouldn’t be.

Maybe that was a lack of maturity on her part. Maybe she just wasn’t as adept to hiding her emotions. She knew that Cordelia loved her father more than anything, so it definitely wasn’t a question of that. But then again, Cordy had known about the prophecy for some time. She’d probably been through the denial, anger, and disbelief that any normal human goes through when faced with the death of a loved one.

Now it was just quiet acceptance.

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whispered, fresh tears streaking down her cheeks as she remained huddled next to the door.

Looking over at the young woman, Cordelia offered her a watery smile. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about,” she said, shaking her head. “Angel knew all about the prophecy. He accepted it. That’s part of the reason he stayed away while you were growing up. He knew that it would be even harder on you if you had to kill a man you were close to.”

Nearly choking on a sob, Buffy’s legs gave out, sending her crashing to the floor as she curled into herself, weeping into her hands.

Feeling herself wrapped in a comforting hug, Buffy was vaguely aware when she was passed to a stronger pair of arms, realizing that Spike had entered the room.

Knowing that he was feeling everything she was, Buffy snuggled closer to him as she cried, trying to give and receive comfort at the same time.

“He knew,” she whispered. “He knew the entire time and I…I just acted like a spoiled rotten brat because my father couldn’t be bothered with me. He was trying to save me from even more pain and I…”

“Shh,” he whispered, nibbling along her neck to soothe her. His mate was distraught and it was affecting him more than he thought possible. “He understood, luv. He knew what he was doing and how you would react.”

Resting her head against his chest and finally relaxing when he wrapped her tightly in his arms, pulling her even closer to him, Buffy was about to respond when the door opened.

Everyone turned to see Wesley standing in front of them with a somber expression on his face.

“It’s time.”




Thanks so much to: Cecilia, Ariel Dawn, Panta_Rei, Franchesca, Melissa, shelly, Kimber, Frozen in Forever Darkness, baby spikes, spufette, aerialla, Caitie, Cordykitten, Amanda, gypsy_jin, stace, willowmouse, Tasha, Jessica, Crystal Pegasus, Mariana, BuffyRat, Sevvy_O, daisy, starhawk, phantomwriter, BuffyandSpikeForever, & Brunettepet for reviewing!





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