[BtVS] Fic: Normal? Never [Part 2/10]
Nov. 9th, 2004 09:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inkisrunningNormal? Never
by DearOne
Part 2: Breaking Up and Coming Back Whole
[-NN-]
I found strength inside me I never knew
While he was holding me
While he was showing me how it's suppose to be
While you were gone
Learned a lesson
Learned how to get along
Learned how to be strong
Learned how to love myself
While you were gone…
--Kelly Price, While You Were Gone
[-NN-]
As Buffy walked into Angel’s office, she felt an uneasy chill go up her spine. It was like walking into a sterile, but posh hospital room, minus the bed.
The room was devoid of any scrap of character. The walls were painted a color an interior decorator probably picked out from a magazine to match the awkward bulky furniture. Nondescript items lay neatly on the desk top. A few file folders were placed off to the side, one laid open. Buffy glanced at the file’s pages; they were to far away to read, but she noted the familiar loops and curls of Angel’s almost girlish handwriting. Buffy smiled to herself at how easy it was to remember such little details about Angel.
She knew Angel was watching. She could feel his heavy gaze at her back. The room was too quiet, but she didn’t want to break the silence just yet. Her eyes continued to wander the room in search of something. But she couldn’t place what she was looking for. The place was lifeless and fake. Even the trash can that was filled with crumpled pieces of paper seemed forged to make you think it held something real.
The only sign that made it Angel’s office was an elaborate and extensive collection of weapons covering a wall.
Am I just noticing this now? thought Buffy.
She placed the car seat on the coffee table and threw her purse and diaper bag onto the couch just behind it.
She remained silent letting her mind take her to lost moments of the past. Moments when she was just a girl, in love with a man, and too naïve to realize there is so much more to love than what she shared with Angel.
Now, she knows better. Thanks to another, she found what few people find. She was able to touch and feel real love, a love that dulls everything else in comparison.
The click of the door jarred her away from her thoughts and back into reality. Turning to face him and smiling a smile that can only come from a proud mother about to introduce her bundle of joy, Buffy announced, “Angel, I want you to meet my son,” she moved out of the way to reveal her son lying asleep in a car seat decorated with ducks and sailboats. Watching him slowly walk up to her and her baby, she continued, “his name is William Alexander. Giles dubbed him as Alex for short; however, Xander, Willow and I, like to call him Will.”
She waited and watched Angel’s __expression go from utter shock, to surprise, to thoughtful repose, and back to shock again. Amazingly, Buffy distinguished the expressions. It’s a wonder, as all looked similar, and not at all different from his usual broody _expression which seemed to never leave his face.
“You... You have a… son?” Angel said in amazement once his shock subsided.
“He’s just about half a year old now.”
With his eyes still locked on Alex’s sleeping form he didn't know what to say but what was evident, “he’s beautiful.”
Angel whispered the words so quietly; Buffy almost thought that nothing was said at all.
In contrast, Angel could hear nothing but the questions and thoughts yelling in head to be voiced, she did it. She moved on. She got her family. Just like I thought she would. Just what I wanted for her: a life, a normal life. Why am I not happy then? Shouldn’t I feel happy?
“Yes he is, isn’t he?” said Buffy, smiling.
“Do you want to take a seat?” asked Angel. “I think I’m going to need to,” he sat down not waiting for her reply. “Where’s his father?” he asked, not yet wanting to deal with who was the father in question.
“He’s not here. Well, he is, but not physically,” she said evenly, while she looked at her son.
“You mean you are raising him all on your own,” Angel stated flatly.
“Well, yeah, but it’s not like he’s missing out on being loved. Sure he hasn’t known his real father’s love, but he does have Giles, Xander--"
Angel, getting agitated with the realization Buffy was alone couldn’t hold back any longer, “geez Buffy, how could you let him leave you with a baby? Is he at least helping you out financially? Don’t tell me you let him off Scot-free. I swear if he walked out on you, I’ll hunt him down and—"
“What? You'll kill him?" Buffy questioned. Then, as if said in defeat, "you can’t,” she said softly. Too softly. And then even softer still, “he’s not to blame. He doesn’t know. He’s not even alive.”
That had stopped Angel dead in his tracks, shit. Angel cleared his throat, not knowing how to continue, then, “I'm sorry Buffy... I don't know what to... Look, if you need—"
“I don’t…” Buffy put her hand in the air stopping him before he was able to finish. “I don’t need anything from you. I’m not your responsibility,” she said. Walking over to her purse, Buffy pulled out a thick envelope. “That’s why I’m here actually, to tell you that, and to give this back,” she said, and placed the envelope onto the table.
Angel stared at Buffy’s face quizzically and then slid his gaze to the envelope lying on the table. “Give what back?” Angel asked, amused.
“The money you sent. I can’t… I won’t accept it. I have a job, a great one actually. Giles and—"
“Wait. I didn’t send you any money,” Angel interrupted, with confusion written all over his face.
“Then who did? It’s addressed from Wolfram and Hart. And I know the money didn’t mail itself."
[-NN-]
Somewhere, in the city of Los Angeles, a rogue vampire prowled the streets…
TBC...
by DearOne
Part 2: Breaking Up and Coming Back Whole
[-NN-]
I found strength inside me I never knew
While he was holding me
While he was showing me how it's suppose to be
While you were gone
Learned a lesson
Learned how to get along
Learned how to be strong
Learned how to love myself
While you were gone…
--Kelly Price, While You Were Gone
[-NN-]
As Buffy walked into Angel’s office, she felt an uneasy chill go up her spine. It was like walking into a sterile, but posh hospital room, minus the bed.
The room was devoid of any scrap of character. The walls were painted a color an interior decorator probably picked out from a magazine to match the awkward bulky furniture. Nondescript items lay neatly on the desk top. A few file folders were placed off to the side, one laid open. Buffy glanced at the file’s pages; they were to far away to read, but she noted the familiar loops and curls of Angel’s almost girlish handwriting. Buffy smiled to herself at how easy it was to remember such little details about Angel.
She knew Angel was watching. She could feel his heavy gaze at her back. The room was too quiet, but she didn’t want to break the silence just yet. Her eyes continued to wander the room in search of something. But she couldn’t place what she was looking for. The place was lifeless and fake. Even the trash can that was filled with crumpled pieces of paper seemed forged to make you think it held something real.
The only sign that made it Angel’s office was an elaborate and extensive collection of weapons covering a wall.
Am I just noticing this now? thought Buffy.
She placed the car seat on the coffee table and threw her purse and diaper bag onto the couch just behind it.
She remained silent letting her mind take her to lost moments of the past. Moments when she was just a girl, in love with a man, and too naïve to realize there is so much more to love than what she shared with Angel.
Now, she knows better. Thanks to another, she found what few people find. She was able to touch and feel real love, a love that dulls everything else in comparison.
The click of the door jarred her away from her thoughts and back into reality. Turning to face him and smiling a smile that can only come from a proud mother about to introduce her bundle of joy, Buffy announced, “Angel, I want you to meet my son,” she moved out of the way to reveal her son lying asleep in a car seat decorated with ducks and sailboats. Watching him slowly walk up to her and her baby, she continued, “his name is William Alexander. Giles dubbed him as Alex for short; however, Xander, Willow and I, like to call him Will.”
She waited and watched Angel’s __expression go from utter shock, to surprise, to thoughtful repose, and back to shock again. Amazingly, Buffy distinguished the expressions. It’s a wonder, as all looked similar, and not at all different from his usual broody _expression which seemed to never leave his face.
“You... You have a… son?” Angel said in amazement once his shock subsided.
“He’s just about half a year old now.”
With his eyes still locked on Alex’s sleeping form he didn't know what to say but what was evident, “he’s beautiful.”
Angel whispered the words so quietly; Buffy almost thought that nothing was said at all.
In contrast, Angel could hear nothing but the questions and thoughts yelling in head to be voiced, she did it. She moved on. She got her family. Just like I thought she would. Just what I wanted for her: a life, a normal life. Why am I not happy then? Shouldn’t I feel happy?
“Yes he is, isn’t he?” said Buffy, smiling.
“Do you want to take a seat?” asked Angel. “I think I’m going to need to,” he sat down not waiting for her reply. “Where’s his father?” he asked, not yet wanting to deal with who was the father in question.
“He’s not here. Well, he is, but not physically,” she said evenly, while she looked at her son.
“You mean you are raising him all on your own,” Angel stated flatly.
“Well, yeah, but it’s not like he’s missing out on being loved. Sure he hasn’t known his real father’s love, but he does have Giles, Xander--"
Angel, getting agitated with the realization Buffy was alone couldn’t hold back any longer, “geez Buffy, how could you let him leave you with a baby? Is he at least helping you out financially? Don’t tell me you let him off Scot-free. I swear if he walked out on you, I’ll hunt him down and—"
“What? You'll kill him?" Buffy questioned. Then, as if said in defeat, "you can’t,” she said softly. Too softly. And then even softer still, “he’s not to blame. He doesn’t know. He’s not even alive.”
That had stopped Angel dead in his tracks, shit. Angel cleared his throat, not knowing how to continue, then, “I'm sorry Buffy... I don't know what to... Look, if you need—"
“I don’t…” Buffy put her hand in the air stopping him before he was able to finish. “I don’t need anything from you. I’m not your responsibility,” she said. Walking over to her purse, Buffy pulled out a thick envelope. “That’s why I’m here actually, to tell you that, and to give this back,” she said, and placed the envelope onto the table.
Angel stared at Buffy’s face quizzically and then slid his gaze to the envelope lying on the table. “Give what back?” Angel asked, amused.
“The money you sent. I can’t… I won’t accept it. I have a job, a great one actually. Giles and—"
“Wait. I didn’t send you any money,” Angel interrupted, with confusion written all over his face.
“Then who did? It’s addressed from Wolfram and Hart. And I know the money didn’t mail itself."
[-NN-]
Somewhere, in the city of Los Angeles, a rogue vampire prowled the streets…
TBC...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 06:45 pm (UTC)And I'm glad that you are loving the fic, *smiles* I'll post more asap:)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 10:44 pm (UTC)can't wait for the next installment! :)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-09 11:58 pm (UTC)i love your story more than chocolate, you are a genious, yada, yada, yada...
Really more than chocolate? *blushes*
That's like one of the biggest comment I have ever received on my fics (esp. because I LOVE chocolate)
Thankies for the fantabulous words...will post the next chap on...wed. if I can get on the comp. tomorrow:)And hopefully you'll get his (Angel's) reaction soon 'nouf:)
Normal? Never [Part 2/10]
Buffy combined Spike's and Xander's name. Angel has no clue after whom the baby is named William.
Mmmh interesting, somebody sent money from W&H but not Angel...
(icon made by
Re: Normal? Never [Part 2/10]
Date: 2007-09-15 05:08 am (UTC)I think Angel wouldn't have thought otherwise.
Kind of predictable, I think.
Cute icon!