Subject: [BA_Gutter] Dream Once More Part 9
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 19:08:53 -0000
From: "Tracy" <teaclaybourne@yahoo.com>

Dream Once More  9

Author T, Claybourne
Disclaimer,  Fox ME, Joss and the others they do not endorse this but
it's only for entertainment so please no suing guys.

Spoiler of Angel up to Destiny

Buffy comes to LA but it may be too late Spike is with some one else,
and Angel he is not the same as she remembers.

NC-17 eventually but mostly less

Feed  Back-  Like an elephant at the zoo, and peanuts, I always
perform so much better. So, yes please!!!!!

Part 9

Wes had stayed with her.  Emma had quit crying eventually and was
silent.  She packed some things.  Wes watched as she picked up
Spike's sweater and threw it in her backpack.  Turning she looked at
him. "Wes, I gave up my room at the dorm, could you take me to a
motel or...."

"Emma, aren't you being hasty, maybe once..."

"Once he knows SHE is back in the same city he'll just get over her?
I knew it was too good to be true.  It seemed too good, I know
better.  I told him he could take it back anytime; besides, what do I
have to offer?  She was the only slayer for so long and he loved her
then, even without his soul.  He never really talked about it but  I
knew.  I always thought he was attracted to me because of my slayer
stuff and that I reminded him of her, but turns out we are completely
different.  She is so small and petite, so beautiful and...and me, I'm
bigger. One good thing, I'll be able to pick up more hours at WH, if
you can use me."

"No Emma,"  Wes shook his head "I mean about your leaving, moving
out."

"No, he'll need space.  I mean think about it Wes, thinking you'll
never see someone you loved so much you died for them, just starting
to move on and poof they are back in your life and seem happy about
it too.  I did see that kiss.  Not an 'oh how are you old friend glad
your back from the dead' type of kiss."

"Yes, you are right, I can completely understand.  Emma, you can stay
at my place until you find your own; I'll do anything I can for you."

Emma hugged him.  She and Wes had touched more tonight than in the
months of working.  Wes just felt for her, not that Spike was a prize
of any sort but Emma did care for him and he had watched her
happiness grow the months she and Spike had grown closer.

He carried her bag to the car as Emma left Spike a note.

* * * *

Emma never called back even though Spike had left five more messages.
Spike left the minute after sunset.  Buffy had a late study group
meeting and had told him she wouldn't be back until seven.  Seemed
ages ago, not just yesterday evening, when he had thought he was
happy.  Now Buffy- well, it was all so confusing.  And Angel, they
had just started acting decent to one another, why had the wanker not
told him?  Selfish bastard.  Wes, he knew too; all of them probably,
once again leave Spike out of the loop.  Never really a Scooby and
not a part of Team Angel either.  And Emma, why had he not thought of
her or her feelings?  It was all so confusing.  He loved her, right?
But maybe this love of his for Buffy was too much to let his love for
Emma exist.  Emma deserved more anyway.    Arriving at the hotel, he
ran up to their room.  Emma was always so self-assured; she would
help, she would understand, she would...Not be there.  There was a
note, ~~she knew it was different and she let him go.  A clean break
was best for her so please don't look her up at work.~~  All he
wanted to do now was get a bottle of something and finish it, forget
all these emotions.  If he didn't have the damn soul a nice nip of
blood from a warm body would be perfect solace.  He should have gone
to Europe when he had the chance; then there would have been no Emma
or Angel or anyone but him and maybe Buffy.  Spike picked up a bottle
and headed up Mulholland Drive.  Climbing the Hollywood sign, he
looked out over the city.

Spike sat there drinking until he felt the dawn near.  Heading back
to the hotel, he walked quietly into his rooms, not wanting to wake
Emma.  He had forgotten she was gone.  Opening another bottle, he
finished half and finally passed out.

* *

Buffy was still amazed at Spike's reappearance.  Being with him last
night made all those feelings come back.  And Angel, what the hell
was up with him.  She knew he and Spike didn't get along but she
never thought Angel would hurt her over it.  What she felt might not
be love but she had said she wasn't ready to love anyone yet.  You
didn't fight off an armageddon or two, see one another die and not
have something between you.   She gave little thought to Emma until
she had her History book out.  Then Emma's statement "my boy friend
had a let's say special friend named Buffy" came to her.  It was
obvious now that Emma had slayer powers and that they, Emma and
Spike, slayed together.  Well, she was most likely wrong about him
being her boyfriend; that really wasn't Spike's style.  After all,
hadn't he sworn he would always love her ?

******

Wes got up early the next day as was his habit.  He showered and
dressed quietly so as not to wake his guest on the couch.  Tip toeing
out to the kitchen he saw the lights on.  There was Emma, a mug of
coffee in her hand.  "Morning, coffee is ready, and I have the kettle
warmed up in case you prefer tea."

"You're up early, it's only five thirty."

"Yeah, couldn't sleep much. Are you going to work?  Could you use me
today?  I need to keep occupied and my two Phys Ed classes don't do
that.  Well, at least not mentally."

"I always need you."

Emma looked away briefly, the statement hitting her heart.  "Good,
don't feel like running into Buffy on campus today anyways.  Besides,
if I'm there at the office I'll have an opportunity to beat Angel to
a bloody pulp."

Chuckling, "I have a feeling you aren't the only one feeling that way
today.  You may have to fight for the honor."

"I'm the one with the security badge and if you think Spike will be
there, no, he has the slayer project to think of and probably won't
come to the office now after last night until Angel calls and tells
him to."

"Know him well?"

Looking away, she grimaced.  "Too well."

* *

She had brought plenty of office clothes but today she wore black
slacks instead of the skirt or dress that was her usual office attire
and a tank top and her short suede jacket on top.    Not wasting any
time after getting in, she stormed past Harmony's desk, vacant until
eight, and into Angel's office.

"Did we have an appointment Emma?"

He looked up to see her eyes narrowed and very cold.

"No, not really.  Angel, what do you know about me?"

"You are 18, a history major in your junior year at UCLA, interning
in our firm, training with Spike.  You are an only child who was
raised by your recently deceased grandparents and..."

"Know anything Wes didn't tell you?"

"You're a slayer."

"And...?"

"Sorry, honestly that's all I have."

"I lost my parents at three, I had a few boyfriends but the one I was
with the longest died just last summer on a trip to Israel,
terrorists.  My life has not exactly been a 'tra la la walk in the
park'.  I never had a childhood because I was always ahead of the
others my age educationally."

"That..."

"I had a few little things that kept me going.  My love of history
and the budding one for languages and someone who loved me, even
though I am quite the freak.  I mean please, slayer, 18, too smart,
older than the others my age, not exactly a normal girl."

"Emma, I am busy, is there a point to this?"

"Funny you should mention point."  From the back of her jeans she
pulled a stake.

Angel stood, and suddenly Gunn walked in behind her. Whipping around,
she kept both Gunn and Angel in her sight.

"Ah Emma, not sure you got the memo but staking the boss is grounds
for dismissal." Grinned Gunn.

"Gunn, shut up!  You and your law-stuffed head are still a fake.
Just like Angel here."

"Not getting you, girl."

"Angel, powerful champion for good running evil demon-representing
law firm, you connected to the big guys in, what, another dimension
or time wanting an apocolypse?  Please, you forgot what it was like.
Remember your sister, and how you wanted to kill Angel too?"

Gunn's face dropped.  Emma had hit him below the belt; how did she
know?  Then he remembered Fred talking about Emma quite a bit; they
must be closer than he had thought.  What the hell was this all about
anyway?  Gunn pulled back to hit her but she whipped around with a
roundhouse kick and her strength threw him to the other wall,
knocking him out.  Angel rushed her but she continued the kick around
and connected with his chin, throwing him on his desk.  "You knew,
you knew and if you had shared, been honest, well..."

She shoved the stake through his chest and heart.  The shock and pain
on his face told her she hit her mark.  Pulling back, Angel couldn't
believe he was still staring at her; he should be dust.

Holding the stake up, she showed him.  "Plastic, just wanted to show
you what happened to my heart last night when Spike ran into Buffy.
I'll get my things, just let me say goodbye to Wes and Fred please?"

"No."

She gave him an incredulous look.  "I know you can have me escorted
out, of course there will be some spilled blood in the process but
you will probably enjoy that."

"No, I mean you're not fired, you don't have to go."

He was holding his chest in obvious pain. Blood seeped through his
white dress shirt.

"Look, Angel, I know I went too far; it's just..."

"You felt betrayed, and now you are losing him."

"I never had him, she always did.  She has you too. That's why there
was no share and tell from you."

Angel looked down at his shoes.

"Come on then, let's take you down to Fred; she's got medical types
working down there.  One is bound to know how to take the sting out
of that."

Angel let her help him.  "Angel, sorry to rub salt in the wound but
before you wouldn't have let that happen.  You, I heard stories and
although Spike is a good teacher I didn't really think I would be
able to do any real damage."

"Yeah ,well, it's really, really early." He grinned. "Besides, I
never thought sweet Emma would pull something like that."

"New perspectives, you said."

"Sometimes I am too smart for my own good."

* * * *

Emma told Fred what happened.  Fred, although shocked, was torn
between her concern for Angel and her new friend's obvious
heartbreak. Fred was silent for a moment.  Ever since Spike had
gotten here Angel seemed different. Not his nice loving self, or
maybe it was the place, but suddenly she was mad and looked coldly at
Angel.  " I think you got exactly what you deserve, you know the
history and you decided to keep ..."

"Ok, Fred, got- ha- the point- ha, I've been a very bad vampire.
Guess I was selfish, wanting to-"

Wesley walked in then.  "Keep her to yourself?  Did it never occur to
you that Emma was attending the same university as Buffy?  Or that
Buffy may still patrol from time to time.  I knew it was hush-hush
but I thought that was for Buffy to keep anonymity.  Angel, do you
even know what happened?  I saw everything.  You'll be lucky if this
doesn't drive them together."

Fred glanced Emma's direction with that comment.  "Em, you alright?"

"Sure, nothing time won't cure, that and a transfer to Oxford for the
end of spring then summer semester.  Bet you can help with that,
Angel."

At least he looked embarrassed. 

TBC