What They Deserve Epilogue
Finally I bring everyone the end of What They Deserve. I hope you all enjoy.
Epilogue
Wheel of Fortune
Author: UncagedMuse a.k.a. raemcn
Pairing: S/B
Rating: NC17
Timeline: Post NFA and then back to season 5 of BTVS
Summary: Everyone finally gets what they deserve.
Warning: Lots of Fluff!
Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to Joss Whedon.
A/N: I have finally finished the fluff! I want to give a huge thanks with kisses to my beta, Spikeslovebite, and to all of the wonderful reviewers.
The impromptu engagement party in Joyce’s living room was now in full swing. She couldn’t help the small laugh as she watched Anya holding tightly to Rupert’s arm and beaming whenever one of the guests congratulated them. Who knew the blunt young woman would be the perfect match for the uptight older man? But then, Joyce herself had been witness to the second coming of Ripper and knew what lay beneath his surface. They were a perfect match.
Buffy had phoned her at the gallery earlier that day with the news of Giles and Anya’s announcement. Joyce was overjoyed with the news and went straight to work putting this little get together in order.
The older woman smiled to herself as she took in the love and laughter of her friends, family, and the newer faces mingling and just generally enjoying each other. The past eight months had brought so many changes for all of them and Joyce couldn’t help but take a quiet moment in the midst of the revelry to give thanks that she was still among them.
It had been touch and go for a while after the surgery to remove her tumor. Her eldest daughter had forcefully insisted to her and the doctors that she be checked weekly for the possibility of an aneurism. If it hadn’t been for Buffy’s persistence, the doctor had informed Joyce, it was quiet possible she would have died from the aneurism that had been found close to the point of rupturing.
“Hey, Mom, what’re you doing over here in a corner by yourself? Is everything okay?” Dawn asked, a slight frown forming. The youngest Summers girl still worried something could take her mother from her.
“I’m fine, pumpkinbelly. I was thinking how wonderful everything is,” Joyce answered, running her hand over her youngest daughter’s hair in a comforting gesture.
“Mom,” Dawn whined, stretching the word out much longer than its short, three letters should allow. “Do you really have to call me that with everyone here?”
“You will always be my little pumpkinbelly, Dawn,” her mother replied, latching on to the key’s sensitive sides and tickling just before she caught a glimpse of Buffy’s annoyed expression from across the room. Removing her fingers, she grasped Dawn’s hand and whispered, “I think we might need to go rescue Andrew before your sister becomes violent.”
If Buffy had to hear one more ‘Tale of a Carpenter’ story from Andrew she was so going to scream. Maybe even rip out his vocal cords. How Xander put up with such an annoyance confused her to no end, but she couldn’t fault him for his choice. They seemed to make each other very happy and wasn’t that the point? It was the reason she’d made the wish to D’Hoffryn in the first place, so of course she couldn’t rip out Andrews vocal cords no matter how much she longed to. Instead, she tried to paste on a bright smile, even if the eye twitching gave away her to anyone who noticed.
Spike couldn’t stop his amused smirk when he looked toward his Slayer. He knew he should go over and intervene, but after numerous times of being stuck with the little boy while Buffy, Willow, and Xander did their special friendship bonding, he wanted some payback. Instead, he turned back to Clem and listened as the jovial demon explained why puffed Cheetos were so much better than the original for movie watching.
As Joyce and Dawn reached Buffy’s side, the doorbell rang, giving the eldest Summers woman an excuse to get her daughter away from Andrew.
“Buffy, could you get the door for me?” she asked.
“Sure, Mom. No prob,” Buffy responded with a look of utter relief. Bounding over to the front door, she flung it open with a flourish bestowing a genuine grin on the latest guest.
D’Hoffryn greeted her with a bowed head when Buffy opened the front door. “Good evening, Slayer. It is pleasant to see you again, and on such an auspicious occasion. Although, I doubt it will be as profitable to me as was our earlier meeting. It is nice to see you in such high spirits.”
“No, I doubt anything will ever be as helpful as our transaction. Thank you for that, by the way. Come in and greet the happy couple. Oh, and you can leave that package on the dining room table.” The young woman pointed to the small pile of gifts.
“Before we go into the other room Ms. Summers, may I have a word?” the Lord of Arashmahar asked.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I thought you might like to know what has transpired in the upper realms due to our arrangement.” D’Hoffryn smiled maliciously. “The Powers that Be for Balance have been taken to task by the Creator. He was quite unhappy with the way they have handled the earthly plane and decided to punish them by sending them into the void. He has placed a new council in their place, but the interesting part of this is that two of that new council is a slayer and her vampire mate. The things that have taken place recently should not happen again. The old guard was never meant to be heartless as they had become.”
“Wow…That’s just…Wow. I mean, I didn’t think we meant anything more to them than weapons in their war. That’s what I was told by them anyway.” Buffy was shocked almost speechless until she noticed the evil sneer of laughter on the old demon’s face. “So what did you get out of all of this? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the malevolent pleasure spilling from you.”
“Ah yes, I did get more out of our bargain than I had planned. I received vengeance upon my betrayers you see,” D’Hoffryn informed her.
“Not really with the seeing here. Could you clear it up a bit?” she asked.
“Well, it would seem that not only did Halfrek plot against my Anyanka to have her lose her power center, but she also colluded against me with the Powers for Balance. They all wanted me removed from my position as Lord of Arashmahar because, as they put it, I had become too sentimental when it came to Anyanka and I might be unable to perform my duties as head of the vengeance demons. Halfrek of course wanted my position,” he told her.
Buffy couldn’t help the laughter that she was trying to hide. D’Hoffryn too sentimental? That was hilarious. He might love Anya, but nothing stood in the way of vengeance.
“So what have you done with Halfrek?” Buffy snorted.
“I did nothing, she just suddenly vanished and a messenger appeared in her place. She was sent to the void with the rest,” he smirked viciously.
The blonde couldn’t help it. She burst into rancorous laughter, clutching her sides.
“You’re not in here tryin’ to get my girl to make ‘nother soddin’ wish are you, D’Hoffryn?” Spike’s voice sounded from the doorway of the dining room. He’d begun to worry about her when she didn’t return with the newest guest.
“No, merely informing her of the latest news. Although, I think I might have broken her by accident,” the vengeance demon answered with an amused tilt to his head while he watched the vampire rush to the Slayer’s side. “I’m sure she shall tell you as soon as she stops that insane guffawing.”
“Buffy, pet, you okay? He didn’ mojo you into hysterics, did he?” She hadn’t stopped laughing and this close to her Spike could see the tears of mirth as he began rubbing her back. “Come on, luv. You’re starting to scare me.”
“Sorry…sorry, honey. I’m fine,” She snorted trying to get the laughter under control. “D’Hoffryn just told me the funniest news I think I’ve ever heard.”
D’Hoffryn slipped passed the couple whispering to each other and went into the living room with the rest of the party goers. Spying Anya standing with her intended as they spoke to the red-haired witch, he remembered so fondly, and her girlfriend the demon approached.
“Anyanka, you look ravishing my dear and Mr. Giles how nice it is to see you again. Hymen’s greetings to you both and may his salutations be upon you,” D’Hoffryn addressed them and held out his hand to the Watcher.
Taking the Lord of Arashmahar’s hand for a quick shake, Giles replied politely, “Thank you very much. I’m happy you could join us on our happy occasion.”
“Hoffy, I’m so happy you made it,” Anya squealed, diving forward and rapping her arms around the demon.
“I’m very happy to be here and to see you so happy. I’m glad you finally found the right one my dear,” D’Hoffryn kissed her cheek and hugged her, blushing, which turned his face a weird shade of purple. Releasing the daughter of his heart, he turned, remembering the others standing quietly by.
“How rude of me.” He bowed to the two witches. “Miss Rosenberg. Miss McClay it is good to see you both and aren’t the two of you looking lovely this evening,” D’Hoffryn complemented taking each of their hands in turn to bestow a gentlemanly kiss on them.
Xander walked back in from the kitchen and saw Andrew next to Joyce with his eyes wide and mouth agape. Thinking his companion was frightened or worried about the odd looking demon’s presence, he immediately went to sooth his fears.
As he reached the small group, Xander wrapped his arm around his boyfriend and squeezed his shoulder in a comforting gesture. “D’Hoffryn’s a very old friend of Anya’s. He won’t do anything to hurt anyone here. Especially with the Slayer present.”
“Oh, my! Xander, I can’t believe I’m actually in the same room with him! You do know he’s like a god right?” Andrew screeched excitedly and began bouncing on his toes. “I mean, he like controls the world of revenge or something! You have to introduce me! You have to Xanny!”
Xander ignored the hated pet name, and with an indulgent smile, grasped Andrew’s hand in his leading him toward the group across the room. He couldn’t be mad at him forgetting not to use it in front of others when he was so excited.
In the other room Buffy swatted at Spike’s wandering hands as she pulled back from the passionate kiss they had been locked in.
“Uh-uh, mister. That’ll have to wait ‘til later. You know we have a party to get back to,” she admonished, taking said wandering hand in hers and heading back to the festivities.
When they entered the living room Buffy suddenly stopped. The buoyant chatter, laughter, and true joy she witnessed on her friends’ and family’s faces had her heart leaping in her chest.
The wish was so worth it.
The End
Epilogue
Wheel of Fortune
Author: UncagedMuse a.k.a. raemcn
Pairing: S/B
Rating: NC17
Timeline: Post NFA and then back to season 5 of BTVS
Summary: Everyone finally gets what they deserve.
Warning: Lots of Fluff!
Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to Joss Whedon.
A/N: I have finally finished the fluff! I want to give a huge thanks with kisses to my beta, Spikeslovebite, and to all of the wonderful reviewers.
The impromptu engagement party in Joyce’s living room was now in full swing. She couldn’t help the small laugh as she watched Anya holding tightly to Rupert’s arm and beaming whenever one of the guests congratulated them. Who knew the blunt young woman would be the perfect match for the uptight older man? But then, Joyce herself had been witness to the second coming of Ripper and knew what lay beneath his surface. They were a perfect match.
Buffy had phoned her at the gallery earlier that day with the news of Giles and Anya’s announcement. Joyce was overjoyed with the news and went straight to work putting this little get together in order.
The older woman smiled to herself as she took in the love and laughter of her friends, family, and the newer faces mingling and just generally enjoying each other. The past eight months had brought so many changes for all of them and Joyce couldn’t help but take a quiet moment in the midst of the revelry to give thanks that she was still among them.
It had been touch and go for a while after the surgery to remove her tumor. Her eldest daughter had forcefully insisted to her and the doctors that she be checked weekly for the possibility of an aneurism. If it hadn’t been for Buffy’s persistence, the doctor had informed Joyce, it was quiet possible she would have died from the aneurism that had been found close to the point of rupturing.
“Hey, Mom, what’re you doing over here in a corner by yourself? Is everything okay?” Dawn asked, a slight frown forming. The youngest Summers girl still worried something could take her mother from her.
“I’m fine, pumpkinbelly. I was thinking how wonderful everything is,” Joyce answered, running her hand over her youngest daughter’s hair in a comforting gesture.
“Mom,” Dawn whined, stretching the word out much longer than its short, three letters should allow. “Do you really have to call me that with everyone here?”
“You will always be my little pumpkinbelly, Dawn,” her mother replied, latching on to the key’s sensitive sides and tickling just before she caught a glimpse of Buffy’s annoyed expression from across the room. Removing her fingers, she grasped Dawn’s hand and whispered, “I think we might need to go rescue Andrew before your sister becomes violent.”
If Buffy had to hear one more ‘Tale of a Carpenter’ story from Andrew she was so going to scream. Maybe even rip out his vocal cords. How Xander put up with such an annoyance confused her to no end, but she couldn’t fault him for his choice. They seemed to make each other very happy and wasn’t that the point? It was the reason she’d made the wish to D’Hoffryn in the first place, so of course she couldn’t rip out Andrews vocal cords no matter how much she longed to. Instead, she tried to paste on a bright smile, even if the eye twitching gave away her to anyone who noticed.
Spike couldn’t stop his amused smirk when he looked toward his Slayer. He knew he should go over and intervene, but after numerous times of being stuck with the little boy while Buffy, Willow, and Xander did their special friendship bonding, he wanted some payback. Instead, he turned back to Clem and listened as the jovial demon explained why puffed Cheetos were so much better than the original for movie watching.
As Joyce and Dawn reached Buffy’s side, the doorbell rang, giving the eldest Summers woman an excuse to get her daughter away from Andrew.
“Buffy, could you get the door for me?” she asked.
“Sure, Mom. No prob,” Buffy responded with a look of utter relief. Bounding over to the front door, she flung it open with a flourish bestowing a genuine grin on the latest guest.
D’Hoffryn greeted her with a bowed head when Buffy opened the front door. “Good evening, Slayer. It is pleasant to see you again, and on such an auspicious occasion. Although, I doubt it will be as profitable to me as was our earlier meeting. It is nice to see you in such high spirits.”
“No, I doubt anything will ever be as helpful as our transaction. Thank you for that, by the way. Come in and greet the happy couple. Oh, and you can leave that package on the dining room table.” The young woman pointed to the small pile of gifts.
“Before we go into the other room Ms. Summers, may I have a word?” the Lord of Arashmahar asked.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I thought you might like to know what has transpired in the upper realms due to our arrangement.” D’Hoffryn smiled maliciously. “The Powers that Be for Balance have been taken to task by the Creator. He was quite unhappy with the way they have handled the earthly plane and decided to punish them by sending them into the void. He has placed a new council in their place, but the interesting part of this is that two of that new council is a slayer and her vampire mate. The things that have taken place recently should not happen again. The old guard was never meant to be heartless as they had become.”
“Wow…That’s just…Wow. I mean, I didn’t think we meant anything more to them than weapons in their war. That’s what I was told by them anyway.” Buffy was shocked almost speechless until she noticed the evil sneer of laughter on the old demon’s face. “So what did you get out of all of this? Don’t think I haven’t noticed the malevolent pleasure spilling from you.”
“Ah yes, I did get more out of our bargain than I had planned. I received vengeance upon my betrayers you see,” D’Hoffryn informed her.
“Not really with the seeing here. Could you clear it up a bit?” she asked.
“Well, it would seem that not only did Halfrek plot against my Anyanka to have her lose her power center, but she also colluded against me with the Powers for Balance. They all wanted me removed from my position as Lord of Arashmahar because, as they put it, I had become too sentimental when it came to Anyanka and I might be unable to perform my duties as head of the vengeance demons. Halfrek of course wanted my position,” he told her.
Buffy couldn’t help the laughter that she was trying to hide. D’Hoffryn too sentimental? That was hilarious. He might love Anya, but nothing stood in the way of vengeance.
“So what have you done with Halfrek?” Buffy snorted.
“I did nothing, she just suddenly vanished and a messenger appeared in her place. She was sent to the void with the rest,” he smirked viciously.
The blonde couldn’t help it. She burst into rancorous laughter, clutching her sides.
“You’re not in here tryin’ to get my girl to make ‘nother soddin’ wish are you, D’Hoffryn?” Spike’s voice sounded from the doorway of the dining room. He’d begun to worry about her when she didn’t return with the newest guest.
“No, merely informing her of the latest news. Although, I think I might have broken her by accident,” the vengeance demon answered with an amused tilt to his head while he watched the vampire rush to the Slayer’s side. “I’m sure she shall tell you as soon as she stops that insane guffawing.”
“Buffy, pet, you okay? He didn’ mojo you into hysterics, did he?” She hadn’t stopped laughing and this close to her Spike could see the tears of mirth as he began rubbing her back. “Come on, luv. You’re starting to scare me.”
“Sorry…sorry, honey. I’m fine,” She snorted trying to get the laughter under control. “D’Hoffryn just told me the funniest news I think I’ve ever heard.”
D’Hoffryn slipped passed the couple whispering to each other and went into the living room with the rest of the party goers. Spying Anya standing with her intended as they spoke to the red-haired witch, he remembered so fondly, and her girlfriend the demon approached.
“Anyanka, you look ravishing my dear and Mr. Giles how nice it is to see you again. Hymen’s greetings to you both and may his salutations be upon you,” D’Hoffryn addressed them and held out his hand to the Watcher.
Taking the Lord of Arashmahar’s hand for a quick shake, Giles replied politely, “Thank you very much. I’m happy you could join us on our happy occasion.”
“Hoffy, I’m so happy you made it,” Anya squealed, diving forward and rapping her arms around the demon.
“I’m very happy to be here and to see you so happy. I’m glad you finally found the right one my dear,” D’Hoffryn kissed her cheek and hugged her, blushing, which turned his face a weird shade of purple. Releasing the daughter of his heart, he turned, remembering the others standing quietly by.
“How rude of me.” He bowed to the two witches. “Miss Rosenberg. Miss McClay it is good to see you both and aren’t the two of you looking lovely this evening,” D’Hoffryn complemented taking each of their hands in turn to bestow a gentlemanly kiss on them.
Xander walked back in from the kitchen and saw Andrew next to Joyce with his eyes wide and mouth agape. Thinking his companion was frightened or worried about the odd looking demon’s presence, he immediately went to sooth his fears.
As he reached the small group, Xander wrapped his arm around his boyfriend and squeezed his shoulder in a comforting gesture. “D’Hoffryn’s a very old friend of Anya’s. He won’t do anything to hurt anyone here. Especially with the Slayer present.”
“Oh, my! Xander, I can’t believe I’m actually in the same room with him! You do know he’s like a god right?” Andrew screeched excitedly and began bouncing on his toes. “I mean, he like controls the world of revenge or something! You have to introduce me! You have to Xanny!”
Xander ignored the hated pet name, and with an indulgent smile, grasped Andrew’s hand in his leading him toward the group across the room. He couldn’t be mad at him forgetting not to use it in front of others when he was so excited.
In the other room Buffy swatted at Spike’s wandering hands as she pulled back from the passionate kiss they had been locked in.
“Uh-uh, mister. That’ll have to wait ‘til later. You know we have a party to get back to,” she admonished, taking said wandering hand in hers and heading back to the festivities.
When they entered the living room Buffy suddenly stopped. The buoyant chatter, laughter, and true joy she witnessed on her friends’ and family’s faces had her heart leaping in her chest.
The wish was so worth it.
The End