ONE NORMAL LIFE / TWO EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

CHAPTER 187 - SURPRISE

DECEMBER 23, 2009
TUESDAY
4:00AM
SOMEWHERE OVER THE ATLANTIC

Buffy shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. She'd taken the midnight flight from LAX to London hoping she would be able to doze for at least part of the long flight. However, so far sleep had evaded her. It wasn’t just in anticipation of seeing William, but also finding out why he’d basically cut off all communication with her. That in and of itself was enough to keep her awake, but it was what happened at the airport before she left, which left her feeling disquieted.

Wesley had finally called her back, calmly listening while she grilled him about his part in helping William get to London. Without emotion, Wesley told her all that he knew, which wasn't much. He told her he’d originally planned on accompanying William the whole way, only to be needed back in Los Angeles.

At the end of the conversation he informed her there was an important scroll that needed to get to Giles, asking if she could please come by his office and pick it up on her way to the airport. She’d retorted, that if it was that important to him, he could meet her at LAX and deliver it to her there. After forewarning him that if he weren’t there when she arrived she wouldn't wait, they agreed on a meeting spot in the parking lot, closest to the international terminal.

Pulling into the lot, she soon spotted the car he’d described, and parked nearby. Expecting the Wesley of old, she was shocked by his appearance. Instead of the bespectacled, nerdish watcher she remembered, a tall, good-looking man, not much older than herself, got out of his car. Bruised, limping, and his arm in a sling, it was obviously he’d recently seen battle; that or he’d been involved in a car crash. Either way, she now regretted having made him make the trip to the airport in his condition.

“What happened?” she asked.

Wesley proceeded to tell her about what had happened to the slayers and himself up in Big Bear.

“God, Wes, I’m so sorry! I wish you’d called me. I could’ve helped,” she’d said, automatically.

“Quite frankly, asking you never occurred to me.”

“And why the hell not?” Buffy had asked, infuriated by his matter-of-fact attitude.

Wesley had eyed her curiously before he spoke. “Because you’re retired. Aren’t you?”

Buffy was taken aback. In that moment, she’d truly forgotten what she was.

Retired.

Muttering an apology, she promised to take good care of the scroll, then said her good-byes.

Now, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, Buffy wondered if retiring and letting other girls carry on in her stead, had been the right thing. Was being the slayer for seven years, averting numerous apocalypses, losing loved ones, and even dying twice herself enough justification to turn her back on her calling?
For what, she wondered. In order to have a normal life? Despite the outward appearance of her life, past and present, she certainly didn’t feel normal. She didn’t imagine she’d ever quite feel normal again.

And now, she was flying off to England to find/confront her former vampire-now-human-lover, (though she used the term loosely as of late) but to what ends? To convince William that he could have a normal life with her? Elizabeth Worthington, nee Buffy Summers: Master & Commander of All Things Abnormal in this Life! Would he ever be able to again, now knowing what he did about himself? Would she? Just because they had that in common, it didn't mean he would come back to her, despite his reassuring words before he left. Since then, his actions, or rather inaction, had spoken for him.

Her eyes grew wet, as she pondered the futility of it all. Looking around the plane at the sleeping passengers, she decided she hated them, hated them and their stupid normal lives. But most of all, she hated herself. She hated herself for quitting, while others still died in the battle against evil, and she hated herself for what she still wanted, and what it seemed she couldn’t have...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


DECEMBER 23, 2009
TUESDAY
1:00PM


To say that Giles had been surprised to find William already at the breakfast table yesterday morning, and offering to go to The Council with him, was an understatement. What with this latest episode just barely a day old, he certainly wouldn’t have taken any bets on this scenario. That wasn’t to say he wasn’t pleased; William had been quite an asset to both him and the girls when he’d been there in the past.

Giles glanced over at William working on a translation; rather he was supposed to be. Instead, he was staring off into space. If Giles had heard him snoring, he wouldn't have been surprised, as eerily still as he seemed to be. Just then he stirred, and Giles quickly looked down at his own papers, so as to not be caught staring. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see William giving him a hurried glance, before going back to his work. And so it went...ever since yesterday; odd moments of zoning out, distractibility, far less than stellar sparring and fencing exercises with the girls, careless mistakes on his translations.

As was his habit while attending paperwork, Giles would occasionally take a glance at the monitors linked to the training rooms. Often, seeing his girls as they progressed from untrained gems in the rough, to capable slayers was what made him feel it was all worth it, and what kept him going. It was what kept The Council going.

Yesterday, however, he'd found himself frowning - not at the girls, but at William who’d been fencing with them. Giles winced as he saw him stumble, due to nothing more than bad form, certainly unbecoming for one classically trained such as he’d been.

“Come on, William,” he'd found himself saying aloud, as he watched more of the same. The fencing came to an abrupt stop, and he watched as the girls surrounded William. Unable to see what was happening, he rose from his desk to go downstairs...

~~~~~~~~

“Are you okay, William?” asked Rose, rushing to his side.

William looked down, surprised to see the red stain spreading on the upper sleeve of his shirt.

“I’m so sorry,” Rose said.

“No need. I let down my guard, and you took the advantage. That’s exactly what you want to happen in a fight.”

“Yeah, but not in here. I...I cut you. God, I’m really sorry!”

“Why were you fencing without the safety tips on?” Vi asked, looking at Rose sternly.

“I don’t know,” Rose mumbled.

“Don’t blame Rose, it’s my fault, too,” William said.

Rose smiled gratefully at William. He’d defended her.

“Giles is going to have a cow when he finds out,” Vi said, biting her lower lip.

“It’s okay, really,” William said, as the other slayers gathered around him and were now examining the wound. “It doesn’t hurt. Much.”

“Do you think he needs stitches?” asked Rose.

“No, it’s not too deep,” Vi said. Fatima had run off to get the First Aid kit, which she now handed over to Vi.

“See, what did I tell you...ouch!” William said, as Vi swabbed the wound with peroxide.

“Still...” Rose said.

“Perhaps William should help me in the office today,” Giles said, appearing over Vi’s shoulder to get a better look at the wound, then turned to William.

“Yes, I suppose that would be best,” William said, chagrined.

“I’m sure you’ll be back up to snuff in no time, as soon as that injury you told me about last night is better,” Giles said.

William was about to ask what he was talking about, when he caught Giles’ intent.

“What injury?” asked Rose.

“Um...twisted my ankle yesterday,” he said, glancing at Giles, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“You should have told us,” Vi said.

“Really, William. I wouldn’t have been so hard on you,” Rose said, winking at him, but relieved that this injury hadn’t really been her fault after all.

“Guess I just forgot about it.”

“Why don’t I look after William, and you girls take a break?” Giles asked, as he nodded to William to follow him.

~~~~~~~~

“I appreciate your giving me an opportunity to save face, but you didn’t have to do that,” William said, trying to keep his voice even, as they made their way up to the office. “It’s not like I didn’t know that I wasn’t fencing very well, or that I can’t accept the consequences of having done poorly."

“Understood." Giles said, nodding. "And if I offended you, I apologize.”

“No need...”

“Actually, I do need your help on something, so I'd be happy to have you consider my interference as just a way to enlist your help,” Giles said, with a wry grin.

"Yes, well...I'll do that then," William answered.

~~~~~~~~~


6:00AM PST
STILL OVER THE ATLANTIC

Buffy could hear the stewards starting to come down the aisles with carts full of coffee, juices, and whatever passed for a continental breakfast. Make that trans-continental. Quietly, Buffy turned off the small, overhead light, and raised the shade a couple of inches. It was brilliantly sunny outside now, at however many thousands of feet high they were flying at. She could see the clouds beneath them, but not the ocean. Just as well, the thought gave her the willies. She glanced once again at her watch. It was already past noon in London. Willow would be there to pick her up in only a couple more hours and then...Her stomach clenched at the unknown. And then...that was the big question.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2:30PM
GREENWICH
COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS

The phone rang, startling both William and Giles.

A few minutes after answering it, Giles turned to William. “It seems we’re being ordered out of here, in deference to the girls’ need to decorate for the party this evening.”

“They’re not decorating in here, are they?”

“No! Oh dear God, I hope not,” Giles said, making a mental note to make sure to lock the office door. “Just the same, they want us out of the building proper. So, what say you we finish up, and head for home shortly? I think I could use a nap before tonight’s doings in any case.”

William nodded, fighting back a yawn at the mere mention of sleep. Not that he would dare chance it, not before having to go to this party. He dreaded the very idea of having to mingle and pretend he was in some sort of cheery holiday mood, but pretend he must. It was part of the plan. They had to see him as acting normal.

“I’ll just be another couple of minutes. I’d like to finish up this page first, if that’s alright.”

“That’s fine. I have a few things to finish myself,” Giles said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3:30PM
LONDON
HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

It had taken almost an hour to go through customs after been tagged to have her luggage gone through by London’s finest. Luckily, she’d left her stakes at home. That would’ve been interesting to explain. After finally getting through the process, she walked out to where families, friends, and loved ones awaited.

Buffy saw Willow first. She was holding up a big cardboard stake, with her name in yellow crayon, written lengthwise down the middle.

“Very funny. Does that also come with a cardboard vampire?” she said, tapping Willow on the shoulder.

“Buffy!” Willow cried, throwing her arms around her, in a welcoming hug.

“You cut your hair!” Buffy said, looking at Willow as she stepped back. “I like it!”

“Really?” Willow asked, her hand automatically going up to her hair.

“I do,” Buffy said, admiring the short, curly style. She grabbed the handle of her larger suitcase, then positioned the carry-on top of that.

“I’ll get that,” Willow said, as she took hold of the handle just as Buffy had finished attaching the smaller one on top.

“You don’t have to do that, I’m fine.”

“Nope, allow me. You can just carry the...what is that?”

Buffy looked down at the large cardboard tube she had in her arm. “I honestly don’t know. It was something Wesley wanted me to deliver to Giles. He said it was important. Old and ancient texts on some old and ancient scrolls, as far as I could tell. Let me tell you, trying to explain something like that to the baggage screeners, not of the fun! I think they thought I was a mule or something, with a payload of drugs inside there.”

Willow laughed, as they made their way through the maze of concourses on their way to the parking lot. They got to the car and Willow put the luggage into the boot, while Buffy waited for Willow to unlock the door.

“Um, Buffy?”

“Yeah?”

“Um...you didn’t want to drive, did you?” Willow asked, trying not to panic.

“No, why?”

“Wrong side.”

“Huh? Oh yeah, so it is,” Buffy chuckled, as she now took notice of the steering wheel through the window. “Wow. It’s like something you know exists, but until you see it, you really don’t believe it.”

“Like vampires?”

“Good analogy, except vampires I know exist. Now cars with steering columns on the right side, and driven on the opposite sides of the road, those are the things I have trouble comprehending! How screwed up is that?”

Willow laughed. That was her Buffy.

They didn’t talk until Willow had exited the parking lot, and got onto the Motorway.

“Speaking of vampires, at least a former one now residing with my former watcher; how long will it take to get to Giles’ place?”

Willow looked at her watch, calculating both the traffic and time of day. “About an hour; a little less if we’re lucky, a little more if we’re not.”

Buffy nodded and settled back in her seat, as Willow narrated points of interest as they drove toward Greenwich.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5:00PM
GREENICH
COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS

“Hey, it’s looking pretty good,” Vi said, as she came into the training room. Being the largest room, it had been chosen for the site of their party. A large Christmas tree had been brought downstairs and festooned with lights, garland, tinsel, and ornaments. Colorful decorations had been hung on the walls, streamers hung on the windows, and a large poster of a fireplace was mounted on the wall. Long tables covered with red and green checkered tablecloths were beginning to fill up with plates of Christmas cookies, truffle cakes, pies, candies, and other treats.

Another table was set up for liquid refreshments. Unopened bottles of wine and liters of soda were being iced, while an empty punchbowl sat in the middle, waiting to be filled. Two other tables had been set aside; one to serve the traditional English holiday fare of roast goose, mince pies, plum and figgy puddings, stuffing, and potatoes; the other for foods representing the home countries of the many other slayers who now studied and resided here.

“Thanks,” Rose answered. She and a few of the other slayers had been in charge of this area. “How about you, are you finished with the entryway hall?”

“Just about,” Vi said.

After she’d gone, a couple of the other girls came up to Rose.

“So, what do you think the chances of William coming to the party are?”

Rose patted her head thoughtfully. “I’m not taking any chances tonight ladies. As soon as we’re finished here, I’m going to put on my sexiest, most revealing dress, then I’m going to Giles’ flat on a search and rescue mission to make sure that he does!”

The girls giggled, conspiratorially.

“Who’s with me?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5:00PM
GREENWICH
TRAFALGAR TAVERN

Buffy made her way back to the table, where Willow, a strong espresso, and a salad awaited her. As soon as they’d gotten into Greenwich, she’d asked Willow if they could stop somewhere so she could get some fresh clothes and make-up out of her luggage. There was nothing like traveling for hours and hours to make one feel all skanky. She would’ve have liked to showered, too. Unfortunately, Willow lived in Bath, and the only other alternative would’ve been to rent a motel room for an hour or so, but that was ridiculous even for her sleep-deprived brain.
So, a restaurant’s bathroom was put into service in the name of making herself halfway presentable. It also gave her time to catch her breath, if only a bit, before just arriving at Giles’ doorstep, luggage and hopes in hand.

“You look refreshed,” Willow said with a smile, as Buffy sat down. She’d changed into a pair of smart tan pants, a maroon shell with a cowl neckline, over which she wore a short, ivory cashmere sweater. Her hair had been taken out of the ponytail, and now looked freshly brushed. It hung loosely, except for the small, shiny maroon clip holding back one side.

“Well, as refreshed as one can, dressing in a stall, and applying makeup under a dim restroom light bulb,” Buffy stated ruefully.

“You can’t tell at all; you look very nice.

“Really?”

Ever the optimist, Willow nodded emphatically. “Absolutely! William is going to take one look at you and fall in love all over again.”

“If it were only that simple...”

~~~~~~~~~

4:30PM

Bolting awake, William jumped out of bed when Giles knocked on his door to remind him that they were to leave for the party within the hour. His heart pounded furiously, as he struggled to come back to his awakening reality.
He hadn’t meant to fall asleep. Sleep meant nightmares, and this had been no exception. In fact, it had been worse than normal.

Hearing Giles’ retreating footsteps, he sat back down on the bed, his hands in his head. There was no way he could go to this party and act like everything was okay. Not now. He would just have to tell Giles that he wasn’t feeling well, and to extend his regrets to the girls. That decided, he rose from the bed and went over to the table to look over the document Lawrence had sent him to sign. He would post it first thing tomorrow.

After returning from The Council, William had placed a call to Lawrence. He tried to be as casual as he could, considering the reason for his call.

Ever the diplomat, Lawrence didn’t question him directly about the possible reasons for the request, instead he had suggested other options.

“William, I understand that you want Elizabeth to be covered in case something happens to you, considering what you went through...”

“What do you mean?” William had asked quickly.

“You losing your memory for five years and being presumed dead, of course.”

“Right; what I thought you meant.”

“As I was saying,” Lawrence continued, diplomatically, “I understand that you want Elizabeth to be covered in the case of your actual death in the future. I want to assure you she already is by your will as it stands now, even though you’re not married. However, it is highly irregular for one to legally will everything over to another, before that occurs. I just need you to realize that if you do this, that you’ll have nothing at all. No assets, no money, no holdings, no stocks, bonds, investments...”

“I understand.”

“And how do you expect to live if you don’t get back with Elizabeth?”

“Like everybody else; I’ll work.”

“You know; if I didn’t think I knew you better, I’d believe you were planning something dire.”

“What?” William asked, in as an incredulous voice as he could muster. “No! I’m not planning anything, I just... just want Elizabeth to have everything now.”

“I’d be remiss not to advise you that if something unseemly were to happen to you in the near future, these particular changes might be looked upon suspiciously by the courts.”

“What would you suggest, then?” William said, after a moment.

“I’d say there are a few changes that would make the document stronger, and which would insure Elizabeth, upon your death, inheriting your total estate and assets, with a minimal of court interference or estate taxes owed.”

“You think that’s better?”

“Yes, William. I do. As a matter of principle, not to mention common sense, I always advise against a person giving up their total estates, no matter the reason, unless a person is infirm and no longer able to make decisions on their own. In fact, should that ever happen to you, the addendum I’ll draw up, will also have that provision, as well.”

“Alright, we’ll do it your way,” William said, the issue now resolved.

In the end, what did it matter which way it was worded? As long as Elizabeth didn’t have some magistrate challenging his will, then she would be okay financially.

She’d be okay

She’d be okay.

It was his mantra, and the only thing that he had left to believe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5:30PM
TRAFALGAR TAVERN

“That’s The Council,” Willow said, as they drove past.

“Hmm...not what I expected. I thought it would look like a fortress or something.”

Willow laughed, “Well, I think the old building that Travers and them used to work out of was more like that; I’ve seen pictures. Giles is a lot more laid back, and so is the building. Kennedy tells me that it’s a lot bigger inside. It has a couple of subterranean levels”

“Oh...”

“It’s too bad we couldn’t have driven through London proper, but that would’ve take forever. There’s so many wonderful places to see!”

“Like Harrod’s?”

“Besides Harrod’s, Buffy! There’s Kensington Palace, The National Gallery, The Tower of London...”

“I know, Willow. I was just teasing. I’m going to be here for a little while. You can take me on a tour, okay?”

“And Harrod’s I was going to say. I’m gay and a girl; I believe shopping is in both my job descriptions.”

“So it is,” Buffy said, and they both laughed at the joke. The irony was that over the past years, she’d mostly only shopped when it became a necessity, not for fun like she had when she was younger. Until last year, that is. Having someone to buy stuff with and for, that had made it fun again.

“Are you ready to go now, Buffy?” Willow asked gently.

She slowly nodded, “As ready as I’m ever going to be...”

~~~~~~


5:45PM

“Let’s go,” Rose said to the two other girls accompanying her. Having spent the last thirty minutes transforming herself into a sexy vixen, she looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror, satisfied with the results. She’d had her eye on William for a long time, and tonight she would make her intentions known...

~~~~~~

“Here we are,” Willow said, turning the car off.

Buffy looked at the house, but made no attempt to get out.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”

“I think so. Why? Don’t you?”

“I dunno. All of a sudden I’m not so sure, maybe I shouldn’t have come. Maybe he really doesn’t want to see me, maybe...”

“It’s just nerves.”

Buffy didn’t answer.

“Well besides all that second guessing your head is doing, what does your heart tell you?” Willow asked.

Buffy took a deep breath and nodded. Willow opened her door and Buffy followed suit, then together they walked up the sidewalk to Giles’ front door.

~~~~~~~

Glass of sherry in hand, as he read the day’s newspaper, Giles looked up as William came into the study. He started to ask if he was ready, but something about his demeanor stopped him.

“I’m sorry,” William said, “but I don’t think I’ll be accompanying you to the party.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“I’m afraid that I awoke with a horrible headache. I didn’t mean to fall asleep; looks like I would’ve been better off.”

“Are you sure? We needn’t stay that long. In fact, a spot of food might be just the thing you need.”

William shook his head, “No, I’ll just eat something here. I just don’t think I can stand the girly noises right now. Please give them my regards and...”

Giles and William both turned their heads, as they heard the knock.

“Wonder who that could be,” Giles said, as he got up to go into the foyer.

~~~~~~~

Buffy stood off to the side a bit, as Willow knocked.

“He’s coming,” she whispered.

“William?”

“No, Giles.”

The door opened, followed by moments of stunned silence.

“Surprise...”


END CHAPTER 187