FIC: Royalty Redux (Chapter 11)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Royalty Redux
Author: Cilia
Archives: List archivers go right ahead.
Notes: The rewrite of the classic B/W story Royalty, the story that set
the stage for the epic Two Worlds story and made any of the characters
that are still around and kicking in Prophecy?s Twilight. 
Relative to the show, this takes place after the events of Graduation,
so those are still in continuity while, but I have taken some liberties
and this is very much an alternate universe story.
Summary: Buffy finds herself in San Francisco looking for Willow, but
the young witch has gone missing, both of them struggle with their
emerging affection for each other and new enemies. Along for the ride
are Spike, Giles, Anya and Xander, every single one of them with a
mission of their own.

 


Chapter 11: Inner Fires - Elisabeth Anne Summers

 
Buffy?s body ached, but she forced herself to stand upright as Spike
spun around at the sound of her voice.
?Last time I checked,? she said. Well Spike seems to have things under
control she thought.
?You should be in bed,? Spike stated running up to support her.
?No can do and you called be Buffy,? she said with a weak smile.
?Well circumstances,? Spike muttered and looked up at Luna.
?Sorry, Elisabeth, Luna, Luna, Elisabeth,? Spike said as he steered
Buffy into an empty room.
?Luna would you be so kind as to tell the council to start without me??
he asked.
?Of course regent prince,? Luna said with a nod and left.
She seems nice, Buffy thought.
?So you?re a prince now?? she asked.
?Only until Daniel gets back, Buffy why are you here and where are
Xander and June?? Spike asked?
?June is fixing dinner and Xander well?," Buffy said with a small smile.
?There you are!? Xander exclaimed as he limped through the door
supporting himself on his staff.
?He kind of got in the way,? Buffy finished.
?She wanted to run off and find Willow,? Xander explained as he allowed
himself to fall onto a sofa. 
I don?t need their help, Buffy thought.
?Well I?m still going to,? she said firmly
?Look at yourself Slayer. You can barely stand and what do you plan to
do when you find her?? Spike demanded.            
?Tell her that I forgive her,? Buffy said, tears welling up again. 
I do, no matter of hard I try I just can?t hate her, she thought.
?You what?? Xander asked, but got waved down by Spike.
?Elisabeth look at me,? he said, but she didn?t look. ?Look at me god
damn it,? he said a little too loud and Buffy looked up. ?I know she
hurt you and I know that you love her. But I beg you if not as your
friend then as your ally. To think about what you?re about to do?? he
pleaded.
?I?? Damn it why did he have to become Mr. Sensitive-know-it-all all of
sudden, Buffy thought.
?You don?t know do you?? Spike asked in his softest voice.
?Buffy loves Willow that?s old news,? Xander said frustrated, stroking
his forehead checking for blood. 
?Why you?? Buffy said as she pushed passed Spike. Xander just looked up
at her with calm eyes.
?What? It?s pretty freaking obvious that you do. You actually think I?m
that naïve, that I wouldn?t notice something like that?? Xander asked
and Buffy?s face fell. They knew, they all knew.
?Face it Buffy, your friends grew up,? Xander stated as he stood up.
?He?s right Elisabeth, I mean look at him,? Spike said and turned his
gaze towards Xander, where he was folding his staff together.
?Why don?t you go somewhere and think,? Spike suggested. ?Get your head
together, because right now you?re not thinking straight. I mean you
just beat up one of your friends for what reason?? he asked.
?I guess you?ve got a point,? Buffy said wiping away the tears.
?Of course I do. Now I have to get back to the meeting, but I?m not
leaving you alone,? Spike said with a reassuring smile and turned to
Xander. ?Xander keep an eye on her. Take her wherever she wants to go,?
Spike said and threw a pair of keys and a money-clip to Xander. ?Take
the Jaguar outside. Just keep an eye on her,?
?Spike you really don?t..,? Buffy began.
?Like I said, I?m not going to leave you alone to wallow. That?s soul
boy?s style not yours? Spike said firmly. ?Now go and get cleaned up
and Xander I?m counting on you,? Spike said and walked out of the room.
?Wow!? Xander exclaimed.
?Help me back to my room?? Buffy asked as she reached out her hands.
Repressing a sigh Xander got up and heaved Buffy to her feet and
supported her back to her room.
 
I really wished I had time to help her, but I must keep the clans
together. Well Xander is a grown man. He?ll do fine. Can?t believe I
just said that. I?m going soft. Spike thought as he marched into the
conference hall.
 
June entered Buffy?s room only to find young Xander sitting in one of
the chairs and no sight of Buffy.
?Where is Elisabeth?? June asked as she placed a tray on the table.
?Taking a shower,? Xander said looking up from an Anne Rice novel.
?I?ll just lay out some clean clothes for her then,? June said and went
to the armory.
?She wears those?? Xander asked with a raised eyebrow as June laid a
suit and coat on the bed. The old housemaid just smiled.
 
I never knew. Buffy thought as the water hit her. Everybody grew up.
Xander held out for almost ten minutes in a no holding back fight. What
do I do now? I mean Xander won?t let me out his sight, Spike is all
bossy and Giles is somewhere beating the pulp out off the undead
population looking for Daniel. She stepped out of the shower and noticed
the cross on the counter. No I couldn?t, why should I, then again it?s
not like I have a lot of choice. I can?t talk to Xander about this.
 
Buffy stuck her head out of the bathroom door and look around. Seeing
Xander slumped in a chair reading, she came up with a plan.
?Xander you mind getting the car ready?? she asked and Xander just
nodded and stepped outside carefully closing the door behind him.
Now first get dressed, she thought and looked down at the suit, it
wasn?t the standard black one she?d grown used to, instead June had laid
out a blue one. 
Change is good she thought as she dressed, when she pulled on the jacket
her eyes drifted to the crystal tear on the nightstand.
She carefully picked it up and looked into it. The night when Willow had
given it to her came back to her. She gripped the tear as a real one
ran down her cheek. She shut her eyes and stuffed it into her pocket.
Then she pulled a suitcase from underneath the bed.
?Always be prepared,? she muttered as she drew out an old fashioned
stake covered with carvings, she?d taken it the night Willow had saved
her and a slim sword. 
?Cut it out,? she scolded herself as more pictures floated into her
mind.
?Take me to a church,? she said to Xander as she slid into the Jaguar.
?A church?? Xander asked.
?Yes Xander a church and please don?t ask why,? Buffy said pleadingly.
?I won?t,? Xander said as the car moved down the driveway.
After a silent drive they pulled up outside an old church. Saints looked
down from their perches and above gargoyles looked out over the city.
Above the door something was written in Latin and a circular stoned
window rested above the door.
?Wait here,? Buffy ordered.
?Buffy??? Xander began.
?I?ll be back, I promise,? she said and slipped out of the car. Xander
sighed and picked up the book.
 
She pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The church was empty, but there
were candles seemingly everywhere. She walked down the aisle as her
shadow danced on the walls and columns, the eyes of the saints on the
statues and paintings seemingly to following her. She came to a stop on
the steps leading up the altar. Here goes nothing. She thought as she
fell to her knees.
?I know I haven?t talked much to you before, but I just?? she whispered
and looked up at the crucifix. ??I mean I fight for the world all the
time and I just need? Well I need to get some things off my chest,? she
said with a small smile. ?You must think I?m the biggest hypocrite right
now? I mean you being the last one I turn to, but I?m afraid? truly
afraid right now? I mean I just found out that I?m in love with my best
friend? but you probably think that?s wrong too, I mean I?m not stupid I
know the church has some mixed feelings about?? Buffy paused and then
went on. ?? about gays?,? there I admitted it. She thought to herself.
?I know it?s asking a lot but could you please look out for my friends,
just keep them safe. I know they don?t need me as much as they once did.
But would you please just keep them safe for all the times I?ve saved
your creation. I?d think you owe me that much?? Buffy stopped as she
felt a hand on her shoulder. 
 
To Be Continued?