|
|
Buffy saw the lock on the door of the Bronze—broken—and rushed in as quickly as she could, Angel right behind her. She saw toppled tables before she saw them.
Brian. And a vampire—a half-vampire—who looked so like Angel that it took her breath away. But Angel was beside her. And, as she watched helplessly, she realized that the vampire Brian was fighting looked nothing like Angel after all. He looked like Angelus.
Eythan’s eyes moved past Brian, and saw them. Not black eyes—green. Bright green, and glowing with malice. He smiled as he saw them.
“Hello Father, I’m so glad you could make the party. And Buffy dearest—or should I call you mother? You almost could be you know. I’m so glad you weren’t too late to see your little human lover die. The first one, anyway,” Eythan said, sounding like Angelus as well. Buffy steeled herself, not letting herself look at Brian, or at Angel beside her. She had killed Angelus before and she could certainly kill this abomination that had never had a human soul at all. Not a real one, anyway.
As it turned out though, she didn’t need to. Because, as Eythan was watching Buffy, Brian was getting a stake. And before Eythan could realize what happened, Brian had plunged that stake into his chest. And then those horrible green eyes were gone, along with the rest of him, vanished into dust. Brian stood alone, in the center of the room, swaying. And then as if the world was in slow motion, he crumpled to the ground. Buffy gave a little cry and ran to him, sinking to her knees beside him.
He had a long cut across his cheek, and he showed the signs of many other bruises and contusions. But what was really horrible—what was, Buffy knew suddenly—going to kill him, were the slashes—though perhaps they went to deep to be called that—across his chest and abdomen. One went into his lung, or so Buffy thought. He was beginning to cough and choke, and blood was welling into his mouth.
“It’s all right,” Buffy lied. “You’ll be all right. Don’t try and talk.” He shook his head though, his heart in his eyes and moved his mouth. He coughed and began to choke and Buffy propped him upright so the blood in his mouth wouldn’t kill him. Tears were pouring down her cheeks.
“Did it . . . for you. I . . . love—” He stopped, his body wracked as he coughed up blood all over Buffy. He fingered her shirt when he stopped, an apologetic look in his eyes. Buffy shook her head, almost smiling through her sobs.
“Clothes don’t matter THAT much to me! Why does everyone always think that? I love you! Brian! I love you!” Buffy cried.
“—you. Love you,” Brian said, choking again. His eyes started to drift closed and Buffy cried out, holding him up.
“No! Brian! I love you! You can’t die! It was supposed to be me! Brian!” He fought to get his eyes open, but they weren’t looking at her. They were looking beyond her, to someone who stood behind her. Angel.
“Take . . . care of . . . her,” Brian managed. Angel nodded.
“I will. Don’t worry, I will,” he promised. Brian looked back to Buffy.
“Good . . . bye. Love . . . you,” he whispered, his eyes closing again. And then he was gone, just like that. His blue eyes were vacant and he was gone. Buffy lowered him slowly to the ground and closed his eyes gently.
“It should have been me,” she said softly, and then closed her eyes and leaned over the man she loved, her hot tears falling on his motionless body.
Behind her Angel turned and walked away, knowing her choice was made.
“Angel! What happened?” Willow demanded, looking like she desperately wanted to be able to jump out of her chair. Cordelia, Xander and Giles did, though Cordelia immediately went white and clutched at her stomach.
“Brian killed Eythan. He turned to look at us when we came in and Brian killed him. But it was too late. Eythan must have had a knife or something . . . he punctured one of Brian’s lungs. He’s dead,” Angel said, his manner anguished though it was his rival that had been killed. Willow made a little sound and Cordelia clung to Xander.
“Buffy?” Xander asked.
“She’s with him,” Angel said, his voice emotionless.
“Go to her,” Willow said suddenly. Angel looked at her in suprise.
“She loved him. She’s mourning him now. She doesn’t want me around,” he protested. Willow shook her head.
“That’s what none of you understand about Buffy! Yes, she loved him, and yes, she’s mourning him, and she needs time to mourn him. I’m not saying she’s just going to leap into your arms and decide, ‘well, at least I have one left,’ but she’s not going to live in mourning forever. She loves you too, Angel. She always has and she always will. But she moved on from you, don’t you see? It took five years, but she fell in love with Brian when she thought you were dead. Well, I doubt it will take five years, since she’s already in love with you, and Brian didn’t show up for five years anyway, but she will need someone else. You. She needs comforting, just like anyone would. Not comforting of a loverish nature at first, but someone to hold her. And someday, she’ll need more than that. She’ll need love. Your love. So go to her Angel. Now. Before it’s too late and she thinks you ran away forever.” Everyone in the room looked at Willow with wonder and she just shrugged.
“I’ve known her for eleven years,” she said in explanation. Angel nodded suddenly.
“Thank you,” he said, and turned to go back and find her. Before he got anywhere though, Cordelia made a sound of pain and suprise.
“What is it?” Xander asked. “Are you all right?” Cordelia sat down abruptly and clutched at her enlarge stomach.
“No,” she said very firmly. “I am most definitely NOT all right! I am in labor you idiot!” It was Xander’s turn to go very white.
“W-w-what do we d-do?” he stammered.
“I would suggest getting me to the hospital! Like, now?” Cordelia suggested, then muttered, “bright, much!” sarcastically.
“Oh-oh right! Can you walk?” he asked. Cordelia glared.
“Of course I can walk! I’m starting labor—not dying! A little help would be appreciated though,” she pointed out. Xander leaped forward to help her up and support her as another contraction seized her.
“Willow?” Cordelia asked.
“I’ll meet you there,” Willow said, smiling. She couldn’t ride in their rented car, but the hospital wasn’t very far and she could get there pretty quickly.
“I’ll come,” Giles said. “I . . . I don’t think there’s anything else for me to do here.” He stood up and rather awkwardly helped Cordelia along, though she smiled at him thankfully.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Angel said. “I have to . . . well, hopefully we’ll be there in a minute.”
“Tell Buffy that if she doesn’t get her badly dressed butt down there I will kick her ass—once I can get up again—Slayer or no Slayer!” Cordelia exclaimed. Angel half-smiled.
“I’ll tell her,” he said, and was off again, leaving Cordelia scolding her very confused husband.
Buffy felt empty. Totally and completely empty. They were both gone. Brian—saving her even when she didn’t need saving. Except maybe she had. Because maybe the only reason he had killed Eythan was because he wasn’t her. Or Angel. Who had left. He had just—gone. He had promised Brian to take care of her. And then he had left. Except Buffy was too empty to call out to him to stay.
It was for her he had done this. He had said so. It was her fault he had died. Brian . . . he had never been meant for this life. He had been too bright, too much a creature of the day. But perhaps that was why he had been able to triumph in the end. He had thought it was fun . . . fun. And he had made it fun. Even the last five years when Buffy was often too exhausted to walk, always on guard, alert for vampires that could appear at any time. He had been there, had taken half the responsibility. Had made her laugh, and turned it all into a game. And now he was gone. Dead. Just like Angel.
Buffy looked up at the sound of the door. And there he was. But he was dead . . . no, he was alive now. She’d forgotten for a moment. He had left, that was it. He had walked away. But now he was back, and he was human. She remembered that too. He was human. And he loved her. She could see it in his eyes. He loved her.
“I’m sorry Buffy. I’m so sorry,” he said quietly. His voice was sincere. He was sorry. Brian had been a good man and Buffy had loved him. For Angel, that was enough. He was sorry he was gone.
“I know. I loved him,” Buffy said, standing up slowly, walking towards Angel. Angel nodded, his eyes never leaving her face. “I love you,” she said. He nodded again, and then she was in his arms, crying.
“He’s gone! He’s gone! He died trying to protect me! ME! I was supposed to protect him! I’m the Slayer after all, that’s what I do! But he—he was never normal. He wouldn’t let me. He thought I needed protecting! And he died because of me!” Buffy sobbed.
“It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. He loved you, and he made a conscious choice, knowing the consequences. You didn’t make him. He loved you, and he knew you loved him. It’s not your fault,” Angel murmured into her hair, stroking it, just holding her. That was all she needed now. That was enough for both of them.
When Buffy stopped crying Angel told her about Cordelia.
“I told you!” Cordelia said to Xander, grinning triumphantly, before looking down at the perfect, tiny little human in her arms.
“Have you named her yet?” Willow asked. They had all crowded into the small hospital room to see Cordelia and the new baby. Buffy sat near the bed, in clean clothes from her apartment, and Angel stood right behind her, his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. Willow sat next to her, Giles stood by the door, and Xander was on the other side of the bed, hovering. Cordelia nodded, glancing up at Xander, then looked over at Buffy.
“We thought we’d name her Briana. If that’s all right with you,” the new mother said, blinking away what looked suspiciously like tears. Buffy gasped, suprised and touched. She reached up to wipe away sudden tears and felt Angel’s hand tighten on her shoulder.
“All right?” Buffy asked. “Of course. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“He was our friend too,” Xander said, serious for once.
“We’ll all miss him,” Willow whispered. Buffy turned and squeezed her best friend’s hand, then glanced back at Angel.
“I know,” she said. “Thank you all. He would really like to know he had a namesake Cordelia. And such a pretty one.” She leaned over to look at the tiny baby, who opened her blue eyes obligingly. “Hey little one. Briana. You got some pretty kooky parents. If you ever need to get out a little aggression, you know where to come. You know, get away from your dad and stake a few vamps. I’ll be here for you,” Buffy said. Cordelia’s arms tightened protectively around her baby. Buffy laughed. “Just kidding,” she told the baby. Briana’s huge blue eyes widened and she made an indignant sound. “Okay, okay, but don’t let your parents blame me when you decide it’s fun!”
Buffy leaned back and took one of Angel’s hands. She was crying again, only she hadn’t realized it. Not sobs this time, just a few, quiet tears. Gone. Brian was gone. But he had saved the world in the process. And he had saved Buffy. And she would never forget him, no matter what happened.