Title: Transition (Story 2) Series: A NEW LIFE Author: MarieC Email: mariecynthia2003@yahoo.com Feedback: Please. Be gentle: this is my first fic Archive: www.the-crypt.net http://home.att.net/~lubakmetyk/crypt.htm#marieC Pairing: Spike/Angel Spoilers: Spike is chipped; Angel is Spike's sire; No Fred or Connor; Buffy did not die Rating: R Summary: Spike is bitten by a demon in Sunnydale and has turned into a female vampire. Angel takes her to LA after she is raped. Warning: Transgender fic, mentions of rape Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Joss Whedon, ME, WB, UPN, etc. **Please read the fic "Changes" before this story** Lyrics "Goodbye To You" by Michelle Branch Label: Maverick; Distributor: WB Many thanks to Ghostsforge for beta help. 9/9 It was an early evening at the Hyperion. Angel, Wesley, Cordelia, and Gunn congregated in the lobby. They were discussing a plan to take Spike out of the hotel for the night. She had been there nearly two months. She continued to train and research but she had not ventured outside the building. Upstairs, Spike was uncomfortable with the silence, so she decided to find Cordelia and ask her to watch a movie. As she descended the stairs, she noticed the four were dressed up. "Where are you guys going?" "WE are going to Caritas, Lorne's bar." Angel walked towards his Childe. "Come on, Spike." Cordelia encouraged her vampire friend. "Let's go get you dressed; it'll be fun!" "No, really, I'm okay. Have fun." Spike started to back away. Angel placed his hands gently on her arms. "Spike, Lorne's place is a safe haven for Demons. There is no violence allowed. No one can hurt you there. We will all be there." He looked at his friends. "Angel..." Spike eyes revealed despair and fear. She started to shake and pant. "Spike, honey, you have to go outside. It's not healthy." Angel slowly placed a hand on her cheek and wiped away her tears. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." "I-It's a Demon bar?" Spike searched Angel's brown eyes for reassurance as her breathing slowed. "Yes." The blonde vampire nodded and followed Cordelia upstairs. They returned thirty minutes later. Spike looked amazing in black jeans, a black fitted top, and black sandals that gave her a little height. Angel could not keep his eyes off her as she walked down the stairs. He had to suppress a small chuckle as Spike tripped a bit in her shoes. "Bloody hell, Cordy! I'll never be able to walk in these blasted things!" Spike laughed as she and Cordelia walked into the lobby. Angel walked behind Spike as the group walked towards the door. He heard her gasp as they stepped outside. Angel gave her a reassuring squeeze of the hand before reaching the car. Spike sat in front seat next to Angel. Cordelia was seated beside her and Gunn and Wes were in the back. Spike's breast occasionally grazed Angel's arm and this innocent touch drove the dark vampire crazy. He was sure Spike could smell his arousal. If she did, she ignored it. Angel could sense the younger vampire's nerves as they pulled into the parking lot. As they exited the car, Spike stayed close to her Sire. As if by reflex only, she grabbed his hand with her tiny one. Angel was pleased that he could make her feel safer. As they descended the stairs, Lorne immediately recognised his friends and waltzed towards them. "Well, if it isn't the infamous Fang Gang themselves! Oh and here's the cute little addition. How are you Blondie-bear?" "Fine." Spike responded quietly as she stood behind Angel. "Well, I reserved the finest table in the house!" Lorne motioned for them to follow him. As they walked towards the table, Spike's eyes wandered around the room. He could sense Demons in club. On the stage, under the lights, was a Texidor Demon singing a horrible rendition of the theme song to 'Titanic'. "A Demon karaoke bar?" Spike turned to Cordelia and asked. "Yep! It's a lot of fun! You should hear Angel sing." She grinned. The five friends sat at the centre table with a perfect view of the stage. They ordered drinks and settled into a nice night of bad singing and conversation. Later, Lorne came up to the table. "Well, Blondie-bear, ready to belt out a song? Even our little Angel-cakes has graced the stage. Up for the challenge?" "No, thanks," she answered shyly and returned to her Cosmopolitan. She could not believe she was drinking such a girly concoction. But, she liked it. "Go on Spike!" Wesley said. "Come on!" Gunn encouraged. "It'll be fun, Spike!" Cordelia added. Angel kept quiet. He turned to her and said quietly. "You don't have to." Angel did not want to hold any secrets from her. He knew how she felt about magic and spells so he informed her, "If you sing, Lorne will be able to read you." Spike immediately got up from the table and headed for the exit. Angel gently grabbed her arm as caught up with her. "Honey, maybe we will be able to find something out about your change. What it means..." "Is that why you brought me here?" Spike, for a moment, felt trapped and betrayed. "That's not the only reason. I knew this would be the one place you could feel safe outside the hotel. No one can hurt you here. Lorne is a good Demon. He has helped us countless times. Trust him." "I don't like anyone in my head, Angel. Not after the chip..." Spike's voice was desperate as her head hung low. "I'll take you home right now, if that's what you want. Okay?" Spike did not know why she should trust her Sire. But, after gazing in his powerful eyes, she felt that he was telling the truth and she would not get hurt. She walked towards the stage and Lorne directed her to the playbook. After a few minutes, Lorne took the stage. "Ladies and gentle creatures. Coming to the stage in her first performance is the gorgeous vampire known as Spike! Please give her a warm Caritas welcome!" Spike slowly walked to the microphone. Her nerves were running amok. The brilliant lights obscured the faces in the crowd. As her eyes adjusted, she focused on Angel's beautiful face. She cleared her throat and grasped the microphone so hard that her knuckles were white. Angel and Cordelia expected a rock or punk tune, after all that's the music Spike listened to before. Spike spoke quietly, "Um, this is a song called 'Goodbye to You'. 'Of all the things I believed in...' No one knew what to expect when she started to sing. Her voice was angelic. The crowd was mesmerised from the start. Any chatter that was occurring stopped as all eyes fell upon the magnificent presence on the Caritas stage. 'I just want to get it over with Tears form behind my eyes, but I do not cry Counting the days that pass me by' 'I've been searching deep down in my soul Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old Feels like I'm starting all over again The last three years were just pretend. And I said...' Spike's eyes were closed and her head bowed as she sang. Her hips swayed to the beat of the music. 'Goodbye to you Goodbye to everything that I knew You were the one I loved The one thing that I tried to hold onto' As she gained confidence on the stage, she looked up to face the crowd. 'I still get lost in your eyes And it seems that I can't live a day without you Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away To a place where I am blinded by the light, but it's not right!' Angel sat at the table, his eyes transfixed upon his Childe. 'Goodbye to you Goodbye to everything that I knew You were the one I loved The one thing that I tried to hold onto' The crowd faded into the background. The only vision Spike saw was the face of her Sire. The person she loved. But, sometimes love is not always enough. 'It hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time I want what's yours and I want what's mine' Spike's beautiful blue eyes stared directly into her sire's dark eyes. 'I want you, but I'm not giving in this time!' Angel's undead heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces. 'Goodbye to you Goodbye to everything that I knew You were the one I loved The one thing that I tried to hold onto! The one thing that I tried to hold onto! And when the stars fall I will lie awake You're my shooting star.' Tears fell from the blonde vampire's eyes as she released the microphone. As if awakening from a trance, she suddenly felt self- conscious on the stage. She looked at the crowd and immediately ran off the stage and located the exit at the back of the club. Cordelia, Gunn, and Wesley sat at the table and exchanged looks as they tried to read the face of the dark vampire. No one spoke. Lorne walked up to the table and spoke, "Wow, Angel-cakes! You're little Childe made me dizzy!" Suddenly, Angel stood up. "Where's Spike?" His voice was strong and full of authority as he scanned the room. "Guys, find her. I need to talk to Lorne." It was not a request. The three humans immediately departed. "Well, Sweetie!" Lorne laughed nervously. "Channelling a bit of Angelus, eh?" His hand shook while sipping his apple green martini. "Lorne." Angel hissed. "What did you see?" "Shouldn't we wait for the blonde one?" "Lorne! What. Did. You. See?" "Okay, okay!" Lorne said. "Your little one is a very complex creature, as you know. The PTB have great plans for her. She's like you, Angel: on a road of redemption." "Is she going to get her soul back?" Angel eyes filled with confusion. "Back? Why Angel-bear, Spike never lost it completely. It's been dormant for years held captive by the Demon. But, since the chip, things have changed." "Spike was always more human that Demon." Angel added quietly as he processed the information. "She must redeem herself for her acts, as you do, Angel." "What are the Powers planning?" "Who knows? I just report what they want me to see." "And her gender change?" "The Powers have a plan, Pumpkin pie! Trust it!" Lorne then smiled and returned to his patrons. Angel stood there dumbfounded by his revelations. As Angel walked back to the table, he noticed that the group was back and Spike was with them. He breathed a sigh of relief. Spike could not look at Angel as he returned. Angel gently pulled her aside. "What happened Spike? Why did you run off? It was a beautiful song. I understand...I really do..." his smile warmed her. The younger vampire looked up at her Sire and saw caring and understanding. She returned the smile and walked out to the car with the group to drive home. * TBC...