Half a Stranger: Chapter Ten: A Thing of Our Own Choice
This chapter's title is from Lancelot Andrews
Chapter Ten:
Veronica stood next to Spike’s car and watched them fit Ethan into the back seat. She didn’t know what they were going to do with him, but she didn’t really care. Her friends all waited by their cars for her to say goodbye to the people she’d been staying with for the past few weeks.
“Thanks a lot. I’m really grateful to be returned to my own body and all.”
“You were a real trooper,” Willow said fondly. “Come see us anytime, you
know. We get bored of each other real quick.”
“I don’t think you have time to get bored,” Veronica remarked.
She could say it with confidence thinking of the different number of
vampires, demons, spells and other odd things she’d encountered in the short time
she’d been in Sunnydale.
“Well, bored might be the wrong word,” Willow agreed. “But come and see us
anyway.” She gave Veronica a hug and stepped back.
“Yes, please visit,” Giles agreed. “I’m sure Buffy would be glad for a
chance to become more acquainted with you. I know I would.”
“Thanks, Giles. Keep these crazy kids in line.”
“Of course.” He smiled and got into the back seat with Ethan, keeping a
watchful eye on him.
Willow hopped into the front seat and only Spike was left outside. He
smirked at Veronica.
“The one who’s gotta be kept in line is Scottie over there, Private Eye. Boy’s got a hunger in his eyes.”
“Mind your own beeswax,” Veronica teased. “You got a girl at home to worry
about.”
“Maybe.” Spike was obviously not as convinced. “Anyways, you keep
practicing those moves, pet. They may not come as easy in your own bod, but they’ll
help you out somewhere along the road. I can come teach you more perhaps.”
“I’m sure Logan will insist on being in the room. My dad too.”
Spike shook his head.
“Take it from someone a little bit older than you. And by a little, I mean
at least one hundred and fifty years, appreciate it, ducks. Goes by too bloody
quick.”
“You are going soft, I do declare.”
“Watch it or I’ll have to do something violent,” he warned her. “Keep in
touch there, yeah?”
“You too.”
Spike got into the car and Veronica grinned as the sound of the Clash came
hurtling out of the old car’s speakers, causing Giles to exclaim loudly. They sped
out of the parking lot and she joined the people she’d been missing.
“So, like, magic’s real. Weird, huh?”
“Uh, you have no idea,” Wallace said.
He and Mac had been on the fringe of this whole affair and now that the whole
thing had been proved to them irrevocably, they seemed a little shell shocked.
“You guys rock,” Veronica told the two of them. “You knew I wasn’t me. I
think I’m going to take a card from the Slayer Handbook and keep you around as
helpmates.”
“How about friends, dorkwad?” Mac suggested mildly and started to get into
Wallace’s car.
Veronica stopped and hugged her and then hugged Wallace.
“You guys wanna come over tomorrow? I got stories, like, up the kazoo.”
“Sounds fun. Though I got more questions up my kazoo than anything else,”
Wallace answered.
Veronica smiled. She was glad to be home. Wallace and Mac left and the
other three got into Logan’s Xterra and he took the Mars family home.
“You wanna come in for a minute?” she asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Want is definitely a word I’d use, but I think you and your dad could use
some quality time. I do claim you before Wallace and Mac, however.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed and kissed him firmly before getting out of
the car. “I missed you.”
He smiled at her and gave a four fingered wave to Keith. She closed the door
and he watched them walk into their complex.
“I missed you more.”
Veronica turned to smile at him and he waved again before driving off.
Veronica fell onto the couch as she and her dad entered their apartment.
“Now feed me like a good parental,” she demanded. “I missed the Mars family
staples of frozen food extravaganzas while Tara was busy cooking me that horrid, home
cooked, from scratch, actual food stuff.”
“Veronica,” Keith said as he plopped down on the couch beside her, “if you
ever mess with black magic again, you’re grounded until the age of thirty-five.”
“Pardone?” she said indignantly. “Like I messed with something I would have
scoffed at the existence of.”
“I know, kiddo,” he returned, putting his hand on her hair. “Just don’t disappear, for any reason, any reason at all. I’m no good without you here, bossing me around, undermining my orders, folding my socks.”
“Well, it’s not like you know how,” Veronica retorted. She gripped Keith’s
hand tightly. “I’m not going anywhere. I didn’t like being gone, without you, or my
own body.”
“Wanna get a shower? I promise Buffy showered regularly, but there is hot water.”
“I would like to get acquainted with myself again.” Veronica jumped up and
headed toward her room. “I expect food when I get out.” Her voice floated back to
Keith. “Ah, room, room of my own.” It got louder. “I totally expect a pony for my
‘welcome back to your body’ present.”
***
Buffy straightened up from her mother’s bed. Joyce had fallen asleep and Buffy was anxious to see her friends. Letting Dawn sleep as well, she rose and headed downstairs.
“So this is what you spend your time doing when I’m not here?” she laughingly
questioned of Tara, Anya and Xander, who sat on the couch, not even speaking.
“Buffy!” Xander cried and jumped to his feet, giving her a huge hug.
She returned it gladly and hugged Anya and Tara who stood up to greet her.
“We were meditating,” Anya explained. “Tara explains it as very useful, but
I don’t think Xander quite got the hang of it.”
“It’s the whole emptying your mind part,” he explained. “Either I’m already
empty or there’s no room to get to the exit sign.”
“Fill me in on everything,” Buffy demanded and they sat down again.
But there was speaking this time, much speech and laughter. Buffy remember
how much she loved her life, even the parts that irritated the life out of her, like
Dawn and Anya. They talked for a long time. It almost felt like a post-apocalypse
party, except there hadn’t been an apocalypse. Some of their important members were
missing as well.
They showed up as the night wore out sans Ethan.
“What’d you do with him?” Buffy asked, disappointed. She’d wanted to kick
his ass or at least stop him from running away.
“I have some friends from home who are managing him,” Giles assured her.
“They are not like the Initiative who just lock up the dangerous. These people will
try and rehabilitate him.”
“That’s sucky,” Buffy muttered.
But she received Giles’ and Willow’s hugs with grace. Spike hung in the
background, as if not really hoping to be noticed.
“Come join the party,” Buffy said and the late comers joined them. Spike
turned, probably to check on Dawn and then go, but Buffy stopped him. “Spike, sit
down. You were a part of this too.”
“Yeah, yeah, guess I was.”
To everyone's surprise, Xander made room for him, albeit reluctantly.
Buffy was shocked at his reception with the Scoobies. Veronica’s stay must
have made an impact because Willow even remembered to warm him up a cup of blood when
she went in to get refreshments. She could see that he had a long way to go before
really being accepted, but she thought there might at least be a chance. Spike
actually looked confused about the whole thing. She could guess at what he was
thinking. He probably didn't even know if that was what he wanted. Vampires were
confusing no matter if they had souls or chips or anything else.
“They’re asleep,” Buffy whispered as Willow finally nodded off, her face
covered by a wave of red hair as gravity forced it toward the floor.
Spike smiled.
“Typical humans. Get out of it when the best time’s around.”
“You know,” Buffy began, “I’m pretty anxious to give this body a test run. I
need to get used to it again. You feel up to a little patrolling?”
“Always up for violence,” he reminded her and rose.
“Probably why we work so well together,” she commented idly.
She left a note, wanting to reassure anyone who suddenly woke up that she was
okay.
They headed toward the Restfield Cemetery. Spike seemed to know without
asking exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. It was exhilarating
to be back in what was a perfect partnership whether she’d ever been willing to admit
it or not.
They didn’t talk. Buffy had never realized how much she appreciated the way
that though there were times when she couldn’t get Spike to shut up, in the times it
counted, he wouldn’t say a word to her.
“Thanks,” she said as they rested against a mausoleum for a moment. “Thank
you for looking out for everyone while I was gone.”
“Yeah, no sweat, not much else to do.”
“Don’t make it like it was nothing. I know how hard it is to go against your
instincts. And it’s not the chip. The chip doesn’t make you do that.”
“You’re making me sound all soft, Slayer,” Spike complained. “My rep doesn’t
need that.”
“But maybe you do. Maybe you need to know you can be that. That others
believe you can be.”
“What are you blithering about? You and your lot, for all your knowing me,
don’t know half of what I know.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“How the hell does it not?”
Buffy sat down on the ground. She was wondering where her new found patience
was coming from. The pre-Veronica-ized Buffy would have punched him in the nose and
gone home. Maybe being around Logan had helped her realize all men were annoying and
not just Spike. She wasn’t quite sure.
“Spike, listen to me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Well, me too. I do think sometimes. Don’t always go in cock-eyed, no plan,
change the plan-“ Spike broke off mid-sentence as Buffy stood up and kissed him
firmly on the mouth.
She smiled slightly as she pulled back and his absolutely stunned face stared
back at her.
“You wanna know what that was for?”
“Slightly, yeah. Be nice.”
“For being different than when we met. You have changed whether you or I
want to admit it. That proves something to me that I didn’t think was possible.”
“What’s that, luv?”
“Vampires have feelings too.”
“Bloody elementary epiphany that one,” Spike muttered. “Can I kiss you back?”
“You got a reason?”
“Do I need one?”
“Yeah. No horny vampire kisses unless there’s something behind it.”
“I love you.”
It came out fast and forced, but Buffy didn’t mind.
“I’m not saying I love you,” she said softly. “But I want to start. I want
someone in my life who cares about me. I don’t want to feel alone. And I’m not just
picking you because you’re the only one who’s there. It’s because you chose to be
there.”
Spike’s face went through several different expressions before it settled
into wonder.
“Then you’re saying…?”
“You and me, saving the world, together.”
“Done.” Spike wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him and
his lips met hers, sealing their promise. “How the whelp is going to take it!” Spike
exalted.
Buffy swatted his arm.
“You’ll be nice and I’ll be firm and he’ll get over it. Now kiss me.”
Spike complied. She had a feeling he would be doing a lot of that.
***
“The beach, huh? Guess it’s better than a cemetery.”
“Cemeteries are actually kinda fun. Morbid maybe, but truthful nonetheless.”
“Seeing as how I wasn’t the Slayer for the past few weeks I’ll let you handle
the decision making on this one.”
Veronica slipped her hand into Logan’s and they made their way down to the
waterfront.
“So, tell me about how things have been around here. How many girls did you
have to say no to?”
“Oh, you know, like five. But I was too busy fending off Weevil’s advances
to worry about the girls much.”
He felt her automatically stiffen and wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Here
was the part where the glitter of their reunion was washed away by the tide of
awkwardness surrounding Neptune and his place in it.
“So, what happened?”
“Nothing. Buffy and I fought them off. Girl can move well for not having
her powers.”
“That’s it? Nothing else? No fires or property buying?”
Logan stopped and looked Veronica in the eye.
“No.” He sat down on the beach. She sighed and sat down next to him. “I
promise I was an exemplary citizen while you were gone.”
“That’s good.”
“But surprising, right? I mean, you figured without you here to guard dog
me, I’d self-implode or something. Might have even hoped I’d do it while you weren’t
here to feel guilty.”
“That’s not fair,” she said quietly.
“Isn’t it?” He turned to look at her. “I mean, I’m innocent here, Veronica,
but I gotta play nice. Someone does something to you and revenge is to be expected.
But not for Logan. No, when he does it, it’s dangerous and not something you should
be expected to put up with.”
Veronica paused and really seemed to think about that for a moment. It
probably hadn’t really occurred to her that way before.
“Revenge is one thing,” she said finally. “Bringing a town down is another.”
“The town is bringing itself down and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Apparently you started to try. My dad told me that you called the cops last
time instead of trying to do something to get even. I’m glad.”
“You all impressed at my virtues now?”
“Don’t be like that. Don’t play the martyr.”
“Guess I do have past sins to make up for.”
“You know I was thinking about breaking up with you.”
Logan stayed very still.
“Oh.”
“But then I got some new perspective.”
“Care to let me in on the info?”
Veronica nodded and turned to face him.
“You have a say in this. I kept thinking about how I was going to deal with
the problem of you and your toadies. Funny how it never occurred to me to just come
to you and ask you to stop or tell you how I felt about it.”
“Not funny. Veronica.”
“Yeah. So, I decided to be un-Veronica. Here I am, being un-Veronica.
Logan, I don’t want you to go after Weevil or the PCHers. I want you to try and move
on. It scares me that you’re going to go down a path I can’t follow, that you’ll get
hurt, that someone else will get hurt. I don’t think it will lead to anything good.
I can’t be a part of it.”
“Was that so hard?” he queried.
“Yeah, so don’t make light of it. What do you say?”
“Hmmm.” Logan blew out a big breath. “You know, my life has never been easy
but I’ve never had anyone to go to about it. I got used to dealing with it on my
own. I don’t always have the best ideas on that front. You’re the best thing that
ever happened to me.” He ducked his head. “Buffy told me I was pushing you away
with my misbehavior. I think she was right, but I gotta say, you never let me get
close enough to trust you with my inner problems. If you can’t trust me, I can’t
trust you; then I get blamed and have my heart broken and wind up wasted with some
floozy you’ll feel irrationally jealous of and yell at me for even though you broke
up with me.”
“Whoa. No one’s broken up and that’s quite a tale you’re concocting there,
partner.”
“Probably accurate though.”
“Not today.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Today I want to trust
you. Today I want you to move on. Today I love you.”
“And tomorrow?”
“The same.”
Logan lifted her head and kissed her slowly. She returned his gesture.
“This isn’t a snap decision, Mars. Can’t just make the past go away.”
“But we can work on it. You can work, right? I mean, you’ve never had to,
and according to Spike you’re fundamentally different, but-“
Logan pushed her and she fell back, laughing.
“Never met a girl who could drive me so batty.”
“Never met such a jackass guy.”
“Whom you apparently love.”
“I get loved back. Works out.”
He took her hand and pulled her up and they continued their walk on the beach.
“Before I gotta share you, let’s get all that reunion stuff out of the way.”
“It’s not over yet you know, Logan. Neptune’s still a powder keg.”
“Then I’m glad to be dating a savvy, sassy detective who will keep me safe.”
“Hey, I’m the clean up, not the prevention crew.”
“You’ll work it out.”
“I will, for you, just as a favor. Now catch me.”
Veronica took off running and Logan let her get a head start. She would get
wet and tossed into the ocean soon enough.
***
Buffy picked up the phone and dialed a number she’d memorized over the past couple of weeks.
“Hello?”
“Veronica, it’s Buffy.”
“Hey there. Settled back into life?”
“Like I never left. How about you?”
“Thanks for the notes. They helped.”
“I have a confession.”
“Spill.”
“Mac did it.”
Veronica laughed.
“Yeah, it’s her handwriting.”
“You are a detective.”
“You know I figured something else out too. Wanna hear?”
“All ears. Not literally, because you know that’s possible here.”
“That sounds nasty. I hear someone decided to give a vamp a chance.”
“Someone did. Did he tell you?”
“Yeah, pretty hopped up about it too.”
“He seems to think you had something to do with it, so thank you for my part.”
“No sweat. Besides, apparently I have you to thank for a renewed change in
my own guy.”
“He was on his way. I just gave him a little perspective. Girl perspective.”
“It’s appreciated. Though, I guess both of them are to thank for giving us
some new perspective.”
“You wouldn’t think we’d be the dense ones, but I kinda feel like I have been
for awhile.”
“Yeah, too many trees in the forest and all.”
“Hmm, no, no trees.”
“It’s an expression.”
“Oh, I guess the only expressions I know come with an expiration date and
fangs.”
“Not to blame. I know quite a few puns about peeping in windows.”
“Speaking of jobs, we’re having a Scooby meeting. Gotta figure out the Glory
sitch. I gotta take her down somehow.”
“Yeah, Logan and I are going to talk to Duncan soon. You know, figure out
how he took everything, and ask him if he can keep an eye on Celeste.”
“Tell him to make sure she doesn’t try to turn you into a rat. It’s not fun.”
“I’ll take your word for it since I assume the story behind that is
interesting. Anyway, thanks and anything you need, just holler.”
“Oh, I will. Same here. I’m just glad we got put back in our proper places
in time to take care of all this stuff.”
“Me too. But now we got more contacts. Always a plus in my biz.”
“Allies works for me. The fight goes on, but I guess we could stand to work
together every once in a while.”
“Every once in a while,” Veronica agreed.
“See ya then.”
“Bye, Buffy.”
They hung up the phone and went to deal with their individual wars, knowing
there was help if needed.
The End
Chapter Ten:
Veronica stood next to Spike’s car and watched them fit Ethan into the back seat. She didn’t know what they were going to do with him, but she didn’t really care. Her friends all waited by their cars for her to say goodbye to the people she’d been staying with for the past few weeks.
“Thanks a lot. I’m really grateful to be returned to my own body and all.”
“You were a real trooper,” Willow said fondly. “Come see us anytime, you
know. We get bored of each other real quick.”
“I don’t think you have time to get bored,” Veronica remarked.
She could say it with confidence thinking of the different number of
vampires, demons, spells and other odd things she’d encountered in the short time
she’d been in Sunnydale.
“Well, bored might be the wrong word,” Willow agreed. “But come and see us
anyway.” She gave Veronica a hug and stepped back.
“Yes, please visit,” Giles agreed. “I’m sure Buffy would be glad for a
chance to become more acquainted with you. I know I would.”
“Thanks, Giles. Keep these crazy kids in line.”
“Of course.” He smiled and got into the back seat with Ethan, keeping a
watchful eye on him.
Willow hopped into the front seat and only Spike was left outside. He
smirked at Veronica.
“The one who’s gotta be kept in line is Scottie over there, Private Eye. Boy’s got a hunger in his eyes.”
“Mind your own beeswax,” Veronica teased. “You got a girl at home to worry
about.”
“Maybe.” Spike was obviously not as convinced. “Anyways, you keep
practicing those moves, pet. They may not come as easy in your own bod, but they’ll
help you out somewhere along the road. I can come teach you more perhaps.”
“I’m sure Logan will insist on being in the room. My dad too.”
Spike shook his head.
“Take it from someone a little bit older than you. And by a little, I mean
at least one hundred and fifty years, appreciate it, ducks. Goes by too bloody
quick.”
“You are going soft, I do declare.”
“Watch it or I’ll have to do something violent,” he warned her. “Keep in
touch there, yeah?”
“You too.”
Spike got into the car and Veronica grinned as the sound of the Clash came
hurtling out of the old car’s speakers, causing Giles to exclaim loudly. They sped
out of the parking lot and she joined the people she’d been missing.
“So, like, magic’s real. Weird, huh?”
“Uh, you have no idea,” Wallace said.
He and Mac had been on the fringe of this whole affair and now that the whole
thing had been proved to them irrevocably, they seemed a little shell shocked.
“You guys rock,” Veronica told the two of them. “You knew I wasn’t me. I
think I’m going to take a card from the Slayer Handbook and keep you around as
helpmates.”
“How about friends, dorkwad?” Mac suggested mildly and started to get into
Wallace’s car.
Veronica stopped and hugged her and then hugged Wallace.
“You guys wanna come over tomorrow? I got stories, like, up the kazoo.”
“Sounds fun. Though I got more questions up my kazoo than anything else,”
Wallace answered.
Veronica smiled. She was glad to be home. Wallace and Mac left and the
other three got into Logan’s Xterra and he took the Mars family home.
“You wanna come in for a minute?” she asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Want is definitely a word I’d use, but I think you and your dad could use
some quality time. I do claim you before Wallace and Mac, however.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed and kissed him firmly before getting out of
the car. “I missed you.”
He smiled at her and gave a four fingered wave to Keith. She closed the door
and he watched them walk into their complex.
“I missed you more.”
Veronica turned to smile at him and he waved again before driving off.
Veronica fell onto the couch as she and her dad entered their apartment.
“Now feed me like a good parental,” she demanded. “I missed the Mars family
staples of frozen food extravaganzas while Tara was busy cooking me that horrid, home
cooked, from scratch, actual food stuff.”
“Veronica,” Keith said as he plopped down on the couch beside her, “if you
ever mess with black magic again, you’re grounded until the age of thirty-five.”
“Pardone?” she said indignantly. “Like I messed with something I would have
scoffed at the existence of.”
“I know, kiddo,” he returned, putting his hand on her hair. “Just don’t disappear, for any reason, any reason at all. I’m no good without you here, bossing me around, undermining my orders, folding my socks.”
“Well, it’s not like you know how,” Veronica retorted. She gripped Keith’s
hand tightly. “I’m not going anywhere. I didn’t like being gone, without you, or my
own body.”
“Wanna get a shower? I promise Buffy showered regularly, but there is hot water.”
“I would like to get acquainted with myself again.” Veronica jumped up and
headed toward her room. “I expect food when I get out.” Her voice floated back to
Keith. “Ah, room, room of my own.” It got louder. “I totally expect a pony for my
‘welcome back to your body’ present.”
***
Buffy straightened up from her mother’s bed. Joyce had fallen asleep and Buffy was anxious to see her friends. Letting Dawn sleep as well, she rose and headed downstairs.
“So this is what you spend your time doing when I’m not here?” she laughingly
questioned of Tara, Anya and Xander, who sat on the couch, not even speaking.
“Buffy!” Xander cried and jumped to his feet, giving her a huge hug.
She returned it gladly and hugged Anya and Tara who stood up to greet her.
“We were meditating,” Anya explained. “Tara explains it as very useful, but
I don’t think Xander quite got the hang of it.”
“It’s the whole emptying your mind part,” he explained. “Either I’m already
empty or there’s no room to get to the exit sign.”
“Fill me in on everything,” Buffy demanded and they sat down again.
But there was speaking this time, much speech and laughter. Buffy remember
how much she loved her life, even the parts that irritated the life out of her, like
Dawn and Anya. They talked for a long time. It almost felt like a post-apocalypse
party, except there hadn’t been an apocalypse. Some of their important members were
missing as well.
They showed up as the night wore out sans Ethan.
“What’d you do with him?” Buffy asked, disappointed. She’d wanted to kick
his ass or at least stop him from running away.
“I have some friends from home who are managing him,” Giles assured her.
“They are not like the Initiative who just lock up the dangerous. These people will
try and rehabilitate him.”
“That’s sucky,” Buffy muttered.
But she received Giles’ and Willow’s hugs with grace. Spike hung in the
background, as if not really hoping to be noticed.
“Come join the party,” Buffy said and the late comers joined them. Spike
turned, probably to check on Dawn and then go, but Buffy stopped him. “Spike, sit
down. You were a part of this too.”
“Yeah, yeah, guess I was.”
To everyone's surprise, Xander made room for him, albeit reluctantly.
Buffy was shocked at his reception with the Scoobies. Veronica’s stay must
have made an impact because Willow even remembered to warm him up a cup of blood when
she went in to get refreshments. She could see that he had a long way to go before
really being accepted, but she thought there might at least be a chance. Spike
actually looked confused about the whole thing. She could guess at what he was
thinking. He probably didn't even know if that was what he wanted. Vampires were
confusing no matter if they had souls or chips or anything else.
“They’re asleep,” Buffy whispered as Willow finally nodded off, her face
covered by a wave of red hair as gravity forced it toward the floor.
Spike smiled.
“Typical humans. Get out of it when the best time’s around.”
“You know,” Buffy began, “I’m pretty anxious to give this body a test run. I
need to get used to it again. You feel up to a little patrolling?”
“Always up for violence,” he reminded her and rose.
“Probably why we work so well together,” she commented idly.
She left a note, wanting to reassure anyone who suddenly woke up that she was
okay.
They headed toward the Restfield Cemetery. Spike seemed to know without
asking exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. It was exhilarating
to be back in what was a perfect partnership whether she’d ever been willing to admit
it or not.
They didn’t talk. Buffy had never realized how much she appreciated the way
that though there were times when she couldn’t get Spike to shut up, in the times it
counted, he wouldn’t say a word to her.
“Thanks,” she said as they rested against a mausoleum for a moment. “Thank
you for looking out for everyone while I was gone.”
“Yeah, no sweat, not much else to do.”
“Don’t make it like it was nothing. I know how hard it is to go against your
instincts. And it’s not the chip. The chip doesn’t make you do that.”
“You’re making me sound all soft, Slayer,” Spike complained. “My rep doesn’t
need that.”
“But maybe you do. Maybe you need to know you can be that. That others
believe you can be.”
“What are you blithering about? You and your lot, for all your knowing me,
don’t know half of what I know.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“How the hell does it not?”
Buffy sat down on the ground. She was wondering where her new found patience
was coming from. The pre-Veronica-ized Buffy would have punched him in the nose and
gone home. Maybe being around Logan had helped her realize all men were annoying and
not just Spike. She wasn’t quite sure.
“Spike, listen to me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”
“Well, me too. I do think sometimes. Don’t always go in cock-eyed, no plan,
change the plan-“ Spike broke off mid-sentence as Buffy stood up and kissed him
firmly on the mouth.
She smiled slightly as she pulled back and his absolutely stunned face stared
back at her.
“You wanna know what that was for?”
“Slightly, yeah. Be nice.”
“For being different than when we met. You have changed whether you or I
want to admit it. That proves something to me that I didn’t think was possible.”
“What’s that, luv?”
“Vampires have feelings too.”
“Bloody elementary epiphany that one,” Spike muttered. “Can I kiss you back?”
“You got a reason?”
“Do I need one?”
“Yeah. No horny vampire kisses unless there’s something behind it.”
“I love you.”
It came out fast and forced, but Buffy didn’t mind.
“I’m not saying I love you,” she said softly. “But I want to start. I want
someone in my life who cares about me. I don’t want to feel alone. And I’m not just
picking you because you’re the only one who’s there. It’s because you chose to be
there.”
Spike’s face went through several different expressions before it settled
into wonder.
“Then you’re saying…?”
“You and me, saving the world, together.”
“Done.” Spike wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him and
his lips met hers, sealing their promise. “How the whelp is going to take it!” Spike
exalted.
Buffy swatted his arm.
“You’ll be nice and I’ll be firm and he’ll get over it. Now kiss me.”
Spike complied. She had a feeling he would be doing a lot of that.
***
“The beach, huh? Guess it’s better than a cemetery.”
“Cemeteries are actually kinda fun. Morbid maybe, but truthful nonetheless.”
“Seeing as how I wasn’t the Slayer for the past few weeks I’ll let you handle
the decision making on this one.”
Veronica slipped her hand into Logan’s and they made their way down to the
waterfront.
“So, tell me about how things have been around here. How many girls did you
have to say no to?”
“Oh, you know, like five. But I was too busy fending off Weevil’s advances
to worry about the girls much.”
He felt her automatically stiffen and wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Here
was the part where the glitter of their reunion was washed away by the tide of
awkwardness surrounding Neptune and his place in it.
“So, what happened?”
“Nothing. Buffy and I fought them off. Girl can move well for not having
her powers.”
“That’s it? Nothing else? No fires or property buying?”
Logan stopped and looked Veronica in the eye.
“No.” He sat down on the beach. She sighed and sat down next to him. “I
promise I was an exemplary citizen while you were gone.”
“That’s good.”
“But surprising, right? I mean, you figured without you here to guard dog
me, I’d self-implode or something. Might have even hoped I’d do it while you weren’t
here to feel guilty.”
“That’s not fair,” she said quietly.
“Isn’t it?” He turned to look at her. “I mean, I’m innocent here, Veronica,
but I gotta play nice. Someone does something to you and revenge is to be expected.
But not for Logan. No, when he does it, it’s dangerous and not something you should
be expected to put up with.”
Veronica paused and really seemed to think about that for a moment. It
probably hadn’t really occurred to her that way before.
“Revenge is one thing,” she said finally. “Bringing a town down is another.”
“The town is bringing itself down and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Apparently you started to try. My dad told me that you called the cops last
time instead of trying to do something to get even. I’m glad.”
“You all impressed at my virtues now?”
“Don’t be like that. Don’t play the martyr.”
“Guess I do have past sins to make up for.”
“You know I was thinking about breaking up with you.”
Logan stayed very still.
“Oh.”
“But then I got some new perspective.”
“Care to let me in on the info?”
Veronica nodded and turned to face him.
“You have a say in this. I kept thinking about how I was going to deal with
the problem of you and your toadies. Funny how it never occurred to me to just come
to you and ask you to stop or tell you how I felt about it.”
“Not funny. Veronica.”
“Yeah. So, I decided to be un-Veronica. Here I am, being un-Veronica.
Logan, I don’t want you to go after Weevil or the PCHers. I want you to try and move
on. It scares me that you’re going to go down a path I can’t follow, that you’ll get
hurt, that someone else will get hurt. I don’t think it will lead to anything good.
I can’t be a part of it.”
“Was that so hard?” he queried.
“Yeah, so don’t make light of it. What do you say?”
“Hmmm.” Logan blew out a big breath. “You know, my life has never been easy
but I’ve never had anyone to go to about it. I got used to dealing with it on my
own. I don’t always have the best ideas on that front. You’re the best thing that
ever happened to me.” He ducked his head. “Buffy told me I was pushing you away
with my misbehavior. I think she was right, but I gotta say, you never let me get
close enough to trust you with my inner problems. If you can’t trust me, I can’t
trust you; then I get blamed and have my heart broken and wind up wasted with some
floozy you’ll feel irrationally jealous of and yell at me for even though you broke
up with me.”
“Whoa. No one’s broken up and that’s quite a tale you’re concocting there,
partner.”
“Probably accurate though.”
“Not today.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Today I want to trust
you. Today I want you to move on. Today I love you.”
“And tomorrow?”
“The same.”
Logan lifted her head and kissed her slowly. She returned his gesture.
“This isn’t a snap decision, Mars. Can’t just make the past go away.”
“But we can work on it. You can work, right? I mean, you’ve never had to,
and according to Spike you’re fundamentally different, but-“
Logan pushed her and she fell back, laughing.
“Never met a girl who could drive me so batty.”
“Never met such a jackass guy.”
“Whom you apparently love.”
“I get loved back. Works out.”
He took her hand and pulled her up and they continued their walk on the beach.
“Before I gotta share you, let’s get all that reunion stuff out of the way.”
“It’s not over yet you know, Logan. Neptune’s still a powder keg.”
“Then I’m glad to be dating a savvy, sassy detective who will keep me safe.”
“Hey, I’m the clean up, not the prevention crew.”
“You’ll work it out.”
“I will, for you, just as a favor. Now catch me.”
Veronica took off running and Logan let her get a head start. She would get
wet and tossed into the ocean soon enough.
***
Buffy picked up the phone and dialed a number she’d memorized over the past couple of weeks.
“Hello?”
“Veronica, it’s Buffy.”
“Hey there. Settled back into life?”
“Like I never left. How about you?”
“Thanks for the notes. They helped.”
“I have a confession.”
“Spill.”
“Mac did it.”
Veronica laughed.
“Yeah, it’s her handwriting.”
“You are a detective.”
“You know I figured something else out too. Wanna hear?”
“All ears. Not literally, because you know that’s possible here.”
“That sounds nasty. I hear someone decided to give a vamp a chance.”
“Someone did. Did he tell you?”
“Yeah, pretty hopped up about it too.”
“He seems to think you had something to do with it, so thank you for my part.”
“No sweat. Besides, apparently I have you to thank for a renewed change in
my own guy.”
“He was on his way. I just gave him a little perspective. Girl perspective.”
“It’s appreciated. Though, I guess both of them are to thank for giving us
some new perspective.”
“You wouldn’t think we’d be the dense ones, but I kinda feel like I have been
for awhile.”
“Yeah, too many trees in the forest and all.”
“Hmm, no, no trees.”
“It’s an expression.”
“Oh, I guess the only expressions I know come with an expiration date and
fangs.”
“Not to blame. I know quite a few puns about peeping in windows.”
“Speaking of jobs, we’re having a Scooby meeting. Gotta figure out the Glory
sitch. I gotta take her down somehow.”
“Yeah, Logan and I are going to talk to Duncan soon. You know, figure out
how he took everything, and ask him if he can keep an eye on Celeste.”
“Tell him to make sure she doesn’t try to turn you into a rat. It’s not fun.”
“I’ll take your word for it since I assume the story behind that is
interesting. Anyway, thanks and anything you need, just holler.”
“Oh, I will. Same here. I’m just glad we got put back in our proper places
in time to take care of all this stuff.”
“Me too. But now we got more contacts. Always a plus in my biz.”
“Allies works for me. The fight goes on, but I guess we could stand to work
together every once in a while.”
“Every once in a while,” Veronica agreed.
“See ya then.”
“Bye, Buffy.”
They hung up the phone and went to deal with their individual wars, knowing
there was help if needed.
The End