The Princess Bride
by Whedonist
Chapter 6
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Disclaimer: Why bother when you know what's gonna be said.
A/N So this is it, the final chapter. I had a fantastic time writing this up and I'm hoping you guys enjoyed in the read. Thanx to all!
Chapter 6
Angel struggled to regain his balance and stay upright. He took hold of the hilt of the knife with his right hand and cried out as he pulled the weapon out. His left hand covered the weeping hole. Darla advanced on Angel sword in hand. Angel saw the attack coming and even in his weakened state he was only able to parry the thrust of Darla's sword and have it sink high into his left shoulder. He didn't feel the wound just the fire burning in the pit of his stomach.
Darla stepped back and removed the sword. She lunged again only to find that her sword was now imbedded high in Angel's right arm. She stepped back a moment more to regain her composure. The Irishman didn't even seem to feel the wounds that were now bleeding through his shirt. Angel slowly crept to his full height and struggled forward. His arm lashed out before Darla registered the attack. She stepped back in time knocking into a table.
"Hello, my name is Angelus Liam, you killed my father; prepare to die." The mantra was whispered, but the power of his words registered in Darla's ears. Angel pushed himself fully on his own two feet and said a little bit louder this time, "Hello, my name is Angelus Liam, you killed my father; prepare to die."
Angel lunged forward in a fierce attack on the countess. He forced Darla further back in to the room. The countess was barley able to keep up with the thrusts and shoves of the man she thought she could easily beat. Angel collapsed against a table right before a thrust would have taken her.
He struggled to remain on his feet and again he said, "Hello, my name is Angelus Liam, you killed my father; prepare to die." He stood, "Hello, my name is Angelus Liam, you killed my father; prepare to die."
"Quit saying that!" Darla screamed.
Angel drove forward and landed his sword high in the left shoulder; he pulled back and thrust again mirroring the same wound pattern he had. The mark was high in the countess's right arm.
Yelling for all he was worth, Angel advanced, "HELLO! MY NAME IS ANGELUS LIAM, YOU KILLED MY FATHER; PREPARE TO DIE!"
"No," Darla pleaded.
Angel glared, "Offer me money." Angel twisted his wrist and slashed the countess across the right cheek.
"Yes." Darla was being backed towards the banquet table.
"Power too. Promise me that." Angel twisted his wrist and slashed the countess across the left cheek creating parallel marks.
"All that I have and more please?" She begged.
"Offer me anything that I ask for."
"Anything you want." Her back was now pressed firmly against the table and Angel stopped. She saw the look flicker across his face and thought that maybe he would see reason.
Angel let the 20 years of anger flow though to this one moment. He roared, "I WANT MY FATHER BACK YOU BITCH!"
Before she knew what happened, Darla looked down and saw the sword that she had made sticking from her chest into her still beating heart. The moment slowed as everything registered for the two. They locked eyes and then Angel withdrew the sword as Darla pitched forward dead.
Angel looked down at the still bleeding corpse and let the smile stretch his face. It was wide and carefree. It was the smile of a man satisfied, light, and untroubled. He turned heel and went off in search of his friends.
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Willow was still lying there appearing to be unable to move. She had caught Buffy up with her tale and tried to reassure the blonde that everything was going to work out just fine.
"Will, how are you going to forgive me?"
"What hideous sin have you committed lately?" The redhead teased.
Buffy didn't take it so lightly, "I got married. I got married to Spike! It all happened so fast."
Willow just smiled, "It never happened."
"Uh? Willow, there was a priest, and rings and the word man and wife! How can you say it didn't happen!"
"It never happened." Willow asserted.
"But it did. I was there!"
"Did you say I do?"
Buffy thought a moment and shook her head no, "We ah, sorta skipped that part."
"Well then there you go. If you didn't say it, then you didn't do it." Willow released her Buffy only smile and then turned her head to the doorway, "Wouldn't you agree, Your Highness?"
Spike stood in the doorway and took in the sight of the redheaded bint that was causing him so much trouble. He sighed, "A technicality that will be remedied shortly. But first things first: to the death!"
Calmly, Willow said, "No." She waited a moment and then added, "To the pain."
This stopped Spike's advancement, "I don't think I'm familiar with that."
"I'll explain," Willow's voice grew louder but remained calm, "And I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you wart hog faced buffoon."
"That maybe the first time in my life anyone had dared insult me."
"It won't be the last. To the pain, highness, means that the first thing you lose will be your feet, below the ankles, then your hands at the wrists, next your nose."
Spike tightened his grip on his sword and grew bored, "And then my tongue, I suppose. I killed you too quickly last time, a mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight."
"I wasn't finished. The next thing you loose will be your left eye, followed by your right."
Spike moved forward, "And then my ears, I understand. Let's get on with it."
Willow roared out now, her anger at having this man put her love through what he did, "Wrong! You keep your ears and I'll tell you why."
Buffy noticed the same look of fear cross Spike's features and couldn't contain her tongue any longer, "You keep your ears so that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish, every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, 'Dear God, what is that thing?' will echo in your perfect tears. I've waited some time for this Spike. I told you once you are beneath me. Never forget it."
Willow smiled at Buffy and picked up where she left off, "That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever."
Spike swallowed the bile rising in his throat. "I think you're bluffing." The look the redhead had in her eyes told him otherwise though.
"It's possible, pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. Then again, perhaps, I have the strength after all. So your choice: to the pain or I skin you alive you sniveling bag of putrescent cowering piece of swamp slime" Willow swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood effortlessly raising the sword in her hand. Resolve was clearly written in her features as she yelled at the blue eyed prince, "Drop your sword!"
Spike's decision was made quickly; he dropped the weapon and stood waiting on further instructions.
"Have a seat." Willow motioned to the chair at the end of the bed. "Buffy, tie him up. Make it as tight as you like."
Buffy moved to comply and couldn't contain the grin on her face. She smirked up at the prince as she tightened the ropes binding him to the chair. As she straightened, Angel came rushing in the door. He was still wounded, but they were not fatal.
Concern was clearly etched in his features, "Where's Xander?"
Willow shrugged, "I thought he was with you?"
"No."
"In that case," Willow swayed and caught herself on one of the bed posts.
Angel motioned to Buffy, "Help her."
Buffy moved and placed a steadying arm around Willow. She kissed the pirate's temple and let Willow rest her weight on her.
Spike smiled from his bound position, "I knew it! I knew you were bluffing!"
Angel looked over at the prince and scowled, "Shall I dispatch him for you?"
Willow appeared to give the matter some thought, "Thank you, but no. Whatever happens to us, I want him to live a long life, alone and ashamed of his cowardice. He's really not good enough to die."
"Angel! Angel! Where are you?" Xander's voice called out from the window. The three made their way over to the opening and peered down. Xander was standing there with four white horses saddled and ready to go. The giant looked up and smiled a lopsided smile.
"Ah there you are Angel. I saw the prince's stables and there they were four white horses. And I thought there are four of us, if we ever find the lady, hello lady, so I took them with me in case we bumped into each other." He stopped and smiled wider, "I guess we just did."
"Xander you did something right."
"Don't worry Angel; I won't let it go to my head." Xander held out his arms and waited.
Willow gave Buffy a small kiss and then let her girl jump out the window. She seemed to float down into Xander's outstretched arms.
Angel turned to Willow, "You know it's very strange, I have been in the revenge business so long, now what to do with the rest of my life?"
Willow smiled, "Have you ever considered piracy? You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts."
Buffy looked up once she was situated to see Willow's feet hanging over the edge of the window sill before she leapt down and on to a saddle. Angel was next and he landed gracefully as well. The four nodded to each other and took off in to the rising sun.
They rode to freedom and as dawn arose Willow and Buffy knew they were safe. A wave of love swept over them and they reached for each other...
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Giles stopped reading and closed the book.
Tara and Rupert both let the protests be known, "Hey, hey! What happened?"
"No, it's just kissing again and some mushy stuff at the end you don't want to hear it." Giles made to get up and knew they were going to whine before they started.
"Pappap, you can't just read us a story and expect us not to hear the rest of it." Rupert let out.
"Yeah, what's with that? I want to hear." Tara chimed in.
"We," Rupert looked to his sister for confirmation, "we don't mind so much. Please finish the story."
"Okay," Giles settled back in for the remainder of the book. He slowly opened the pages and picked up where he left off...
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The girls were on horse back, the sun was rising in the East and they reached for each other instinctually. Since the invention of the kiss, there have been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. The one shared between the blonde and the redhead left them all behind.
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Giles closed the book and said softly, "The End." He checked his watch and noticed that it was just past 9pm. "That's enough for one day kids. I think you ought to ready yourself for bed."
They both smiled and leapt in to Giles's lap. They hugged him and said okay. Giles readied himself to leave and bade farewell to his grandchildren and charges.
"Pappap," Rupert rubbed at his eyes and yawned, "Will you come back tomorrow, maybe bring the book or another story?"
"Oh," Tara said sleepily, "that's be so cool."
"I think that can be arranged. Till tomorrow children." Giles turned, shut the light out and closed the door. He head downstairs to find his slayer and witch. "They are completely knackered." He removed his glasses and began rubbing them when neither girl would break from the embrace he walked in on.
Willow was the first to respond, "So are you coming back tomorrow?"
"Perhaps." Giles smiled and grabbed his coat, "What are on your agenda's for tomorrow?"
"Well," Buffy drawled, "If they are better, which I think they might be, maybe all of us can go to the lake, for a few hours at least."
"Splendid, if they are feeling up to it." Giles opened the door and walked out.
Buffy watched as his car disappeared down the street. The kids were sound asleep. Willow was in the living room watching TV and all was right in the world of Buffy and Willow Summers. She sauntered into the living room and took the remote from her lover.
The blonde let a sensual smile cross her features, "Willow, go upstairs, I've something to show you."
Willow smirked at her lover, "As you wish." The redhead got up and was followed by the grinning blonde up the stairs to their room.
The next day found the entire gang at the lake. It was a decent day out and Rupert and Tara were feeling much better. The spots from their illness had nearly cleared up; it appeared that both children had inherited Buffy's slayer immune system. The kids went bounding down to their family and tackled Xander first.
In unison they talked, "Uncle Xander, Uncle Xander, you missed it yesterday, it was so cool!"
Xander hunched down and took both kids in his arms, "Whadda I miss?"
"Grandpa Giles read us a story and you were a giant, Momma was a princess." Rupert started in.
"Yeah and Mommy was pirate. Uncle Angel was," Tara tried to find words to say what he was, "He was in the revenge business. And, and Mommy saved Momma from marrying some evil prince named Spike!"
"It was so cool. I mean aside from the kissing, but even then it was neat." Rupert beamed.
Xander tussled the golden locks of his nephew and sent a smirk to the aging watcher. "I was a giant huh? Was I at least cool?"
Tara nodded enthusiastically, "The coolest, you and Uncle Angel helped Mommy save Momma and you carried Mommy around when she couldn't do it herself."
Xander nodded and then steered the kids towards his daughter who was currently playing in the sand. "Why don't you two go play with your cousin Jessica. I'm sure she'd love to hear all about it."
Buffy came up beside Xander and gave him a hug, "So I'm assuming they told you all about the book Giles read to them yesterday?"
"Yep, princess eh?"
Buffy blushed, "Well, yeah, Wills got to be the pirate which was totally unfair. I mean come on; I would totally have made a better pirate."
Willow saddled up to the two and wrapped Xander in a hug and then let her arm snake around Buffy's waist, "You aren't complaining about not getting to be the pirate again are you?"
Buffy nodded ashamed.
"Sweetie, you can't tell me it wasn't a nice twist. How many times have you went and saved me? Hmmm? I know you're not one for the damseling, but if someone were to save you, who would you want?"
Buffy turned her full attention to the redhead. She took in the features of her lover and smiled. It had been a long wacky road to get her to where she was and Willow had done it all with her. She let a kiss sear the redhead's lips and pulled back, "You, Wills. You only."
"Darn tootin'" Willow let an idea form in her head, she whispered in Buffy's ear, "Hey you think maybe we can send the kids with Xand tonight and well, you, me and some costumes could make for some fun times?"
Buffy burned red at Willow's suggestion and only allowed her self to register the spike of arousal at the thought momentarily. She nodded her head up and down and nibbled the witch's ear lobe.
She hurried after Xander who was chasing the three kids around the beach. "Xander," she called out, "you're taking Rupert and Tara tonight!"
Willow laughed out loud when she heard Buffy's demand. She shook her head and let her mind think of tonight. Yep life was crazy and love made you do the wacky, she thought, but hey it's not like it was a bad thing.