A Love As Strong As Death
Author: enigmaticblue
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Everyone knows that not all these characters are mine, and I'm not making money off the ones that are. So there.
Archive: Anywhere that already has my stuff. Anywhere else, ask and it shall be given to you.
Summary: Set after the end of Cast Me Not Away and its follow up stories. This sequel is longer and darker than the intervening short stories. It deals with family, children, immortality, life and death, and making amends. We will also be jumping around in time a bit, so look sharp.
A/N: I debated for a long time before writing this one, although the idea was there before I even finished CMNA. Some of you will believe that I have ruined the previous stories, which is fine. All I ask is that if you're unhappy with where this goes that you'll go back, re-read Cast Me Not Away through Silver Bells, and then you can flame me if you'd like. I'll calmly pull out the fire-extinguisher and ignore you, but that's alright. The themes have been there; I just hadn't quite managed to elaborate on them yet. (Oh, and before anyone screams Nika, Wesley, Spike and Buffy will survive. More than that I won't promise.)
Chapter 24: March 2017
Sam didn't let go of Hannah's hand until her embracing Connor and Dawn forced him to. This was the first time he'd faced her family since they had been attacked, and he wondered how Wesley was going to react to his presence. He really liked Wesley and Nika, and he hated to think that they would think less of him.
"This must be Sam," Dawn said, smiling at him. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise," he replied, flushing slightly as he realized that Hannah must have told them about him.
Connor raised an eyebrow. "So are you treating Hannah right? Because if you aren't..."
Hannah glared at him. "Connor, stop teasing. I can take care of myself."
"You know I have to check on my favorite Slayer," Connor replied, not noticing that Buffy was standing behind him.
"Your favorite Slayer, huh?" Buffy asked, winking at Hannah. "I thought that was me."
As Connor tried to get himself out of that pickle, Hannah tugged Sam away. "Come on, Buffy will keep him busy for a while."
"Ah, Sam, there you are," Wesley called out. "I wanted to speak to you."
Sam froze, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Don't worry so much," Wesley assured him. "You're not in any trouble. Hannah, Nika could use your help in the kitchen." Hannah looked at her boyfriend, shrugging helplessly before she headed off to find Nika. Wesley led the young man back to his office, and then waved him towards the couch. "Have a seat."
"Is this about the other night?" Sam asked.
Wesley nodded. "It is. I assume you haven't told anyone what happened."
He shook his head. "Spike and Buffy told my parents that Hannah fell off her bike, and that I had helped to get her to the hospital. I figured that was a pretty good story."
"Then you aren't planning on telling anyone what really happened."
"Who would believe me?" Sam asked incredulously.
Wesley nodded. "And yet you had no trouble believing."
Sam was silent for a long time. "Did Hannah tell you how we met?"
"She said you were in a few of her classes," Wesley replied. "I take it there was more to it than that."
"Last year, before I got my growth spurt, the football players thought it was fun to shove me into my locker on a regular basis," Sam replied. "One day, Hannah grabbed Reuel and shoved him in a locker instead. No offense, but a girl who can do that isn't normal." A goofy grin spread over his face. "She's extraordinary."
Wesley had to fight to keep from laughing at the boy. Young love was interesting to watch in action. "I do apologize that Hannah placed you in danger Friday," the Watcher said, watching carefully for his reaction.
"It wasn't Hannah's fault!" Sam said quickly. "I wanted to go along. I just—I'm sorry I ran off. I mean, I know she wanted me to, and Spike and Buffy said it was the right thing, but—"
"You did exactly the right thing," Wesley said, quick to reassure him. "Without your quick assistance, things could have turned out much worse." He took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you would like to know more."
Sam stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"You do not have to be a part of this world, Sam," Wesley said quietly. "You can certainly be Hannah's boyfriend without knowing or doing anymore than you already do. In fact, you could go about your life, forgetting all about what Hannah showed you."
"Or?"
"Or you could choose to learn all you can and help us on a different level," Wesley replied.
Sam shook his head. "But there's nothing special about me. I'm just a guy."
Wesley gave him a gentle smile. "Just as there is nothing special about me. The Watcher's Council, the people whose duty it is to look after Slayers, has utilized the talents of very ordinary people for quite some time now. We have found, in fact, that they are often more than they seem." He stood, indicating that the interview was over. "You don't have to make a decision today, but I wanted to let you know that you have that option."
Sam stood as well, meeting Wesley's gaze with a directness that the Watcher respected. "This is Hannah," the young man said quietly. "I'll do anything I can to help her. Even if—" He stopped, looking away for a moment. "Even if we're not always together, I think that I'll always love her. And I think—I think this is important."
"This is very important," Wesley agreed, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We'll talk more later, Sam. If you want to be a part of this, there will be a place for you."
That was something Sam had always dreamed of.
~~~~~
"Spill," Dawn commanded, finding Hannah in the kitchen.
"What?" she asked innocently.
Dawn stared at her. "Hannah, you didn't tell me he was that cute!"
Hannah grinned, her eyes softening. "Yeah, he really is, isn't he?"
"You're in love!" Dawn exclaimed, sounding like a teenager again herself.
The younger girl shrugged. "Maybe." When every eye in the kitchen turned towards her, she flushed bright red. "Okay, so I am. Who wouldn't be?"
Buffy grinned as she walked through the doors. "Has he asked you to prom yet?"
"Sort of," Hannah replied. "I said that if we were still going out at prom, I'd go with him, and he's talked about buying tickets."
"You'll need a dress," Nika said. "We'd probably better start looking soon."
Buffy nodded. "That's probably a good idea. You'll want to take your time finding something. Senior prom is a big deal."
Hannah fiddled with a napkin she was supposed to be folding. "I don't know. I mean, dresses are expensive, and—"
"Don't even think about it."
Hannah blinked. "But patrol—"
"That's why there are two Slayers," Buffy said easily. "Not to mention Spike and Angel. Between the three of us, we should be able to handle anything that comes up that weekend, leaving you free for a couple of days to be a normal high school senior."
Buffy had long since gotten over her jealousy. Besides, she wouldn't give up what she had now for the whole world, even though there had been a lot of pain over the course of the journey.
"There'll be other things to get done too," Nika chimed in. "Your hair and nails, of course. Those appointments should be made soon."
Hannah was beginning to look a little overwhelmed. "Really? I mean, thank you, but—"
"Don't fight it," Dawn suggested, a touch of nostalgia in her voice. "I remember my senior prom." She suddenly laughed. "Buffy went on a killing spree, just to make sure there weren't going to be vampires crashing the dance."
"Well, there were hellhounds at mine," Buffy said, then started recounting the whole story, Hannah shaking her head.
That tale led to another from Nika, about a dance she'd gone to as a teen in Wales, and then Enid told the story of the time she'd gone on a date with three men—all on the same evening.
Hannah laughed as she listened and felt once again that she'd come home.
~~~~~
The table was piled high with food, as was fairly typical of
this sort of gathering. Dawn and Connor were planning on spending the next day
at the Hyperion, catching up with Angel and Cordelia, who hadn't been able to
make it to dinner. Xander and
Hannah and Sam had been afforded the honor of sitting at the adult's table, while Meg and the twins ate in the kitchen. Carwen had been fed earlier, and the other children were looking after her, leaving the adults to eat in peace.
Once everyone's plates were filled, Dawn looked over at Spike. "Okay, you said you were going to announce the big news at dinner."
"I did, didn't I?" Spike replied with a smug smile.
Wesley hid a laugh. Spike was sounding more and more like himself. It was nice to hear him joking around again after the gloom of the last few months.
"Stop teasing, sweetie," Buffy said, although there was an answering sparkle in her own eyes.
He shrugged, his attitude one of complete insouciance. "Should you tell them, or shall I?"
"You're enjoying this too much," Dawn exclaimed. "Come on, Spike! We've been dying all day."
"What's this about big news?" Hannah asked. "You guys aren't pregnant or something, are you?"
Every eye turned, and she flushed. "Never mind."
Spike lifted an eyebrow. "You completely ruined the drumroll, pet."
"Sorry," Hannah said quickly, turning an even deeper shade of red. "It was just a guess."
"It was a good one," Buffy said, her tone a shade rueful. Although, she thought it probably served Spike right for drawing out the suspense so painfully.
Spike sighed. "Yes, Buffy's pregnant. Looks like we'll be havin' another kid in, what?" He looked over at her.
Buffy shrugged. "I'd guess another seven or eight months. We'll know more once we hear what the doctor has to say. I've got an appointment on Wednesday."
There was a general round of congratulations, plus some good-natured teasing surrounding the fact that both Dawn and Buffy were pregnant at the same time. "Although," Dawn said, "I'd like to point out that I'm due in just a few months."
The news just added to the already-celebratory feel of the evening, although Hannah leaned over to whisper another quick apology to Spike. "Forget it, Sweet," Spike said with a wry grin. "Serves me right for not just spillin' the news."
"I'm really sorry," she said again, although the seriousness of her tone indicated that she wasn't talking about inadvertantly ruining his surprise.
"This about the other night?" he murmured, amidst the general conversation. At her nod, Spike sighed. "Don't be. I s'pose I'm sorry too. I should have been a little quicker about getting back into our usual routine. If I had been, you wouldn't have been put in that position."
"It's not your fault," Hannah said, worried that he was taking an a load of guilt he didn't need. "I shouldn't have been out there without backup, not when I knew that the Kraechers were around."
"True enough," Spike allowed. "Tell you what. From here on out, we'll both try not to do anything stupid, yeah?"
Hannah grinned and nodded, and Spike gave her pony-tail an affectionate tug. "You were right about one thing, you know," he added.
She gave him an inquiring look. "What's that?"
"Reckon I have managed to save a couple of Slayers," Spike replied. "And it does count for a lot."
~~~~~
It was late by the time everyone went home. Wesley had watched from the window as Sam had bid Hannah a lingering goodbye. He had been somewhat reassured by their still-tentative embrace. Even though he liked Sam, the thought of his Slayer going much further than good night kisses on the front porch wasn't a happy thought.
Hannah's face when she came inside, however, flushed and happy and somehow both older and younger—it made his heart ache in a special way. She would be eighteen soon, and technically his and Nika's guardianship would be over at that time. More than that, she was growing up, and though Hannah would always be his Slayer, she was no longer a child.
Wesley had never imagined that the Watcher-Slayer relationship could be like this. He thought that it probably never would have been had he stayed with Buffy or Faith. He'd been too near their own ages at the time to have the truly paternal relationship that Giles and Buffy shared, or that he now shared with Hannah. It was deeper and richer than he'd ever imagined.
It was probably a richer relationship than his father had known.
Wesley sighed, wishing that Roger Wyndam-Pryce hadn't come to mind. It had been five years since he'd last spoken to the man, although his mother still called every once in a while. Nika still sent pictures of the children every year, and again at Christmas, but that was the extent of their contact with one another. There were days he wished it could have been different, but it wasn't possible.
The boys had been four when Roger had approached him, asking when he was planning on enrolling them in the Watcher's Academy. Wesley's reply, that he wasn't planning on doing anything of the sort, had brought Roger up short. There had been the long speech about family honor and duty and the fact that there had been a Wyndam-Pryce on the Council for generations upon generations.
Wesley had calmly replied that they would not go to the Academy, but that they would be given an opportunity to decide whether or not they wanted to be Watchers. If they so chose, he had already worked things out with Giles for their training. When asked why not the Academy, Wesley had said, "Because I refuse to send my children away for seven years of their lives, Father. I want to see them grow up."
"You're a fool," was the response. "A sentimental fool. Mark my words, Wesley, those boys of yours will turn into soft-headed idiots."
"I very much doubt it," Wesley had said. "Their mother would never allow it."
Instead of hearing the wry humor in Wesley's voice, Roger had said, "You are no son of mine to neglect your duties to your family. I will see that a place is saved for David and William—"
"It's Dafydd, Father," Wesley had replied coldly, "and please do not bother. I won't be changing my mind."
He'd hung up the phone then, knowing that arguments were useless. Wesley had not spoken to him since, and his father had not tried to call. It was just as well. He had his own family, not to mention the support of the Council. Tradition was taking a backseat to utility these days, and Wesley was certain that either or both of the boys—or Carwen, for that matter—would be well enough trained, should they choose that path.
His children were going to have a choice; he'd promised himself and Nika that much.
"Gloomy thoughts, my love?"
"Not gloomy, just remembering," Wesley replied, putting his arm around Nika's shoulders as she snuggled up to him.
She smiled, seeing their reflections in the window. "You were watching Hannah."
"I wanted to be sure Sam got off alright."
Nika chuckled. "Cariad, I know you better than that."
Wesley smiled in response. "Yes, you do. I like that boy, Danika."
"You talked with him tonight?"
"Yes, and he wanted to help." Wesley laughed. "He's a bit too eager, actually, but I imagine that has as much to do with his age as his relationship with Hannah."
"Quite possibly," Nika replied. "He's a good kid." She was silent for a moment. "When did you want to discuss matters with Hannah?"
"I'm not sure," Wesley admitted. "We could do it on her birthday, I suppose, or possibly before. I'm not sure she realizes the significance of the date, other than in Slayer terms."
Nika wrinkled her nose. "She knows that the Council doesn't subscribe to such barbaric rituals any longer."
"Yes, but the tests this summer are designed to do essentially the same thing, without the risk." Wesley shook his head. "It's a good thing Giles managed to do away with that, because they would have had to conduct the Cruciamentum over my dead body."
Nika lifted an eyebrow. "They would not have gotten that far," she said. "Because Nain and I would have cursed the lot of them." The lines on her forehead deepened as she frowned. "I would suggest speaking to Hannah before her birthday, however. Just in case there's any doubt in her mind."
Wesley nodded. "Of course. That might be best." He bent his head, catching her lips in a heated kiss, the passion no less strong now than it had been more than a decade before.
They were both breathing hard when he pulled back, and Nika took his hand, tugging him back towards the bedroom. "Let's go."
"We need to talk about that note from Davey's teacher," Wesley reminded her, although he definitely had other things on his mind.
Nika gave him an incredulous look. "Are you mad? After that kiss? We can talk in the morning. Or sometime tomorrow afternoon, if Nain could be persuaded to take Carwen out for the day."
Wesley grinned, a hungry expression in his eyes. "Oh, I'm sure she'd be happy to help."
Their conversation that night required no words.