Chapter
Fourteen
Forever
and Always
He carried her all the way
home encased in his strong arms his leather duster wrapped around her body,
protecting her from the chill of the night air. Her head rested on his chest
and his chin rubbed her hair with every step he took.
He felt so free, so
content. He never would have thought that saying those three little words
could open his heart and mind to the beauty of their love and bond. He had
been so stupid and stubborn to deny it, to both her and himself. He had always
known that she was his, and now that he had finally spoken it out loud he felt
like a new demon.
When he reached the house he
opened the door and carried her inside and up to her room. He gently laid her
down on the bed and slowly started to undress her. She watched him with loving
eyes as he took his time softly caressing every curve of her skin as he did.
He turned her over and inspected her back. He scowled at the red burn marks
that literally covered every inch of her skin. His eyes wandered down to her
bare thighs and he growled at the angry red handprints that were clearly there.
She lifted her hand to his face
and gently brought his eyes to hers “Its okay, it doesn’t hurt.” She wanted to
reassure him, but honestly it hurt like hell. But for Buffy it was pain she
welcomed with open arms.
He just grunted at her then
went into the bathroom and came back minutes later with some ointment.
He took his shirt and shoes
off and sat down on the bed. Opening the tube he poured a little in his hand
then rubbed his hands together, ever so gently his put his hands on her back.
At her hiss of pain he growled again and scowled into the darkness of the room.
Very gently he worked the
ointment into her skin covering the marks. By the end she was purring with
contentment and he smiled at the sound of it.
“That feels wonderful.” She
sleepily said into her pillow.
When he was done, he went
back to the bathroom and washed his hands. He walked back into the bedroom and
placed her in the bed covering her with the sheets.
He placed a kiss on her
forehead and turned to leave. She reached for his hand.
“No don’t go, stay with me?”
She asked.
He shook his head and got
undressed. He pulled the covers back and joined her. She scooted over to him
and put her leg across his and rested her head on his chest holding him tight
to her.
“I’m sorry. I lost control.”
he apologized. He still couldn’t believe the rage that had taken control of
him; he could have killed her.
Buffy just smiled into his
chest and kissed his nipple. “Don’t be it was well worth it. I’m just glad that
you finally came to your senses.”
“Humpf either that or I’ve
lost my mind.”
She giggled, “Well love
makes you do the wacky.” He smiled.
“Buffy I may not always say
or do the right things, and there will probably be plenty of times where I yell
and scream at you for no reason. But know that I meant what I said. I feel no
weakness or shame in admitting it to you, myself and the world.”
He tilted her chin up to his
face so she could see the truth in his eyes “I love you and I will always love you.
I promise to protect you and take care of you, till death, and as you have
shown me, through dimensions or whatever tries to tear us apart. You are mine:
here, there, anywhere, your mine forever and always.”
Tears were streaming down
her face and she drew his lips down to hers for a long passionate kiss.
When the kiss ended she was
breathless, her hand started to trail down his stomach but he stopped her and
brought it to his lips. Kissing it lovingly “Not tonight Ioniun, your body is
tired, sleep. We have the rest of our lives to make love.”
She felt like her heart was
going to burst with the love that filled it for this demon “I love you Angelus
I always have and I always will, forever and always.”
“Shh go to sleep now.” He
gently commanded her pushing her head back down on his chest where it belonged.
The second she closed her
eyes she quickly fell asleep warmed by his words, his embrace and the quietness
of the room.
Angelus lay there holding
her tight and breathing in her heady scent. She smelt of vanilla and him, he
smiled…then the smile disappeared...there was something else there.
He took another whiff this
one longer; there was definitely another smell on her that he couldn’t quite
make out. She had already fallen asleep so he very gently rolled them over so
she was on her back.
He leaned up and very
carefully trailed his nose down her body trying to detect where the smell was
coming from. When he got to her belly he stopped.
He leaned up on his elbows
and stared at her flat tanned belly. He closed his eyes and concentrated on
her. He heard her breathing, heard the steady beat of her hearts…wait…hearts?
He leaned his ear down on
her belly…yes, there was a little heartbeat pumping inside!
The broadest smile lit his
face as he realized what that smell was…a child…their child, conceived tonight,
the result of their declared love and passion.
Truly it was a miracle!
He lay back down and
gathered her naked body close to his, she snuggled deeper into his embrace and
he held her tight.
A father! I’m going to be a
father!
**
Giles walked into the
Master’s chambers and a shiver passed through him. Walking over to the bed
where the Master was encased in satin comforters, he sat down.
He looked at his friend of many
years and saw the tiredness in his face that before tonight was not there. “How
are you feeling?”
The Master smiled at him “My
mind and my body are very tired.”
“Then it has begun?” Giles
asked anxiously.
The Master smiled at him “Yes
my old friend it has. I witnessed it myself. So beautiful Giles you would
have loved it.”
Giles was like a kid in the
candy store “Was it truly the bluest of blues sparkling all the way to the
heavens?”
He smiled “Indeed, a blue so
innocent yet so full of power that it was blinding in its intensity. And its
reach…its reach was as far as the eye can see.”
“Remarkable.” Giles would
have loved to see it.
The Master shook his head in
agreement “Yes, a miracle.”
“Indeed” Giles smiled.
The Master sighed, “So now
it begins, my life has finally come to an end. And I must admit that I’m
looking forward to it, the rest will do me good.”
Giles smiled kindly at his
long time friend. “You have earned it Master.”
“Yes well there is still
time. We must educate the children on what’s happened and what will be.”
“Yes of course I will take
care of it.”
“Good now you’ll have to
excuse me I’m very tired.”
“Of course Master.” Giles
stood up ready to leave.
“Rupert?”
“Yes”
“About Oz and Willow…”
“Yes...” he hesitantly asked.
They both knew what was
going on between the two but never spoke of it. But with the events of tonight
the Master saw a new age coming. And it was time to put to rest all the farces
that he and Giles had so meticulously construed.
“As of tomorrow Oz
relinquishes his hold over all Slayers and under the midnight moon he shall
wed the White Wicca and make her a proper mate in the eyes of our Gods.”
Giles smiled “It would be my
greatest pleasure.”
“Good. Goodnight friend.”
Giles nodded to him and
quietly left the room, a tear in his eye. He headed toward his chambers he had
much work to do in preparation for tomorrow.