Another Past

7/28/2019 Another Past

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CH. 1

Darkness fell over Sunnydale long before Buffy laid her head against her pillow. Patrolhad taken longer than anticipated and she had missed her date with Riley. She called and

explained, he took it well although he was still upset that she hadn't let him patrol with

her. Truth was, she wasn't in the mood. She wanted to be alone. She fell asleep soon aftershe laid down.

* * * * *

Buffy woke up, rubbing her eyes and looked around. She blinked a few times and shook

her head. "Still asleep," she muttered.

"Miss?" a voice called above her, "Miss?" Buffy opened her eyes again and found a girlabout her age standing over her.

"Um, don't mean to be rude, but who are you and what are you doing in my room?" Buffy

asked groggily as she slowly came to. "Celia, Miss and begging your pardon, Miss, this ismy master's house. I was sent up by Mrs. Angelus to make sure you were okay," the girl,

Celia replied. Buffy was suddenly very much awake even though she still felt like shewas in a dream.

"Mrs. Angelus?" she sputtered, looking around the room that was not her own.

"Aye, Miss. Milady, she found you last night. Stranded in the middle of the road," the girlanswered, giving her a strange look. "In the middle of the road?" Buffy sputtered again.

"Aye, mumblin' somethin' about finding your angels, Miss," Celia supplied. Buffy still

felt unbelievably lost when Celia spoke again,

"The doctor was here last night after the Misses brought you in. He thinks you probably

hit your head. You've been asleep for over a day." Buffy looked out a window to see that

it was early morning.

"Okay, so I know where I am sorta, but I'm afraid to ask . .. when am I?" she whispered to

herself.

"Miss?"

"Uh, I'm okay, but I guess I did hit my head. What year is it?" Buffy replied. The girl

looked at her strangely.

"The year of our Lord, 1753," the girl answered. Buffy took the information in with a

deep breath. She knew exactly where she was. Galway, Ireland, 1753. Angel's home. Her

forehead creased as she sat perplexed at the thought of being there. She was roused out ofher daze as a loud crash came from downstairs.

"That'll be Master Liam," the girl said nervously, "I must go . . . tend to him." Shescurried off out of the room. Buffy stood feeling a little woozy. She grabbed onto the bedpost to keep her balance. "This is too freaky," she muttered as she noticed what she was

wearing. A long white nightgown with ruffles and lace. There was a soft knock at the

door. "Uh, come in." The door opened and an older woman moved gracefully through theframe. She had rich brown hair, pulled up into a bun at the nape of her neck. Her gown

was a soft blue that swished when she moved. She had eyes like Angel's. Rather Angel

had her eyes. Buffy knew immediately that this was his mother.


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minutes later she was literally being sewn into the dress. Celia had the strings to the back

of the dress and was pulling them as hard as she could. After she was done lacing her up,

Buffy let out a strangled laugh.

"How do you breathe in this thing?" she muttered as Celia looked at her again strangely.

Buffy looked at herself in the mirror above the vanity and grimaced at the sight of her

hair. Looking down she saw some brushes and hair pins. "This will do, I guess." Shepicked up the brush and ran it through her hair and then picked up a few of the pins and

tried to pull up the front. Celia came to help her and pulled the front back and secured it.

The rest of her hair was falling down her back in the loose waves that she'd worn the daybefore. In 2000. She shook her head again; this was wigging her out.

"The family is waiting for you, Miss, breakfast," Celia said as she put the brush down.

"Oh, right, breakfast. Lead the way," Buffy replied. The girl looked at her again. She

moved quickly through the door and led Buffy down the stairs. Soon she was faced with

entering the doorway to where the family was waiting for her. A tingle went up her spineand as she walked through the doorframe, he was sitting there at the table. Angel.

Author's Note 2: This part introduces Liam/Angel. I tried to stay as true to him aspossible and watching The Prodigal again last night I remembered that his family didhave some money so I tried to be true to their situation. I tried to get the fact that he was

bitter towards his father, but also full of life and love towards others. The scene where he

wipes his sister's tears is evidence of that. He is a gentle person where needed. Not the

complete drunk. Though that is in there. And we know he was a flirt, like the barmaidsaid in the ep last night. Just remember that is Buffy were really to invade his life when

she did, things would change. And that's what I was working on.

CH. 2

Liam sat at the table. His head was pounding from his night at the pub the night before.

He felt like beating his head against the wall. Maybe then the pain would subside. Hegroaned slightly. He could feel eyes upon him and knew that his sister was watching him

intently. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs as a slight tingle went up his spine.

He looked up as the footsteps reached the doorway and his eyes met a pair of sparklinggreen eyes that a part of him, somewhere, knew.

"Morning," she greeted unsteadily. She was watching him.

"Do I have something on my face, Miss, ah . . . ?" he asked, a slight smile creeping on hisface. He didn't mind having such a beautiful girl watching him.

"Buffy, and no. You, ah, look like someone I know," she answered, a smile appearing onher face.

"Lucky man to know such a beautiful girl," he replied. Buffy stood aghast. She'd neverknown Angel to flirt like that. Considering this was Liam, it helped a little.

"Ah . . . thank you," she blushed. She didn't know why. She always knew that Angel

thought she was beautiful even if he seldom said the words.

"Liam!" his mother scolded, "Let the poor girl sit down! She's been asleep for near a day

and you just sit there?"

"Aye," he looked slightly ashamed, but the twinkle that Buffy saw in his eye said


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otherwise. She raised her eyebrows at him. He moved around the table and pulled out her

chair.

"Thank you," she replied, sitting down. And they ate in silence.

* * * * *

"Buffy, dear, this material would bring out your eyes so," Mire said, pulling out a richgreen silk. They were out having dresses made for her. She didn't know how long she'd

be there, but she thought she might as well be prepared.

"I really don't want to be a bother," Buffy said for the millionth time since she got there.

"Dear, you are no such thing! You will stay with us for as long as you need to and you

will need clothing. Now, I think we should have a dress made in this green and in the softblue and the navy," she replied.

"If that's what you think I'll need," Buffy answered. The older woman looked at Buffy,

raising an eyebrow at her. "Where I used to live, we didn't wear dresses like this." Thewoman nodded as Buffy couldn't help but think that she didn't know how to be an

eighteenth century girl. She sighed and shook her head as she followed to the carriage.* * * * *

Buffy felt extremely elegant and extremely awkward at the same time as she exited the

carriage. She wore less clothing during the day in 2000 than they did at night. She didn'tknow how they managed everything, probably because they had never known any

different.

She stood outside of the Angelus' carriage just looking at the front door of the house.

"Buffy?" his voice asked. Coming out of her daze, she turned to see An . . . Liam

watching her.

"Hmm?" she replied.

"You seemed very far away," he stated, watching her intently.

"It's just that everything is very different here. Where I'm from everything is different. It'sa little unsettling," she answered.

"Aye. How different?" Liam asked, taking her arm and escorting her into the house. Buffy

was thrown by the contact, by the electricity dancing through their touch.

"Um, well, we didn't have houses like this and I never wore dresses like this," she tried to

explain without sounding just what she was, from another time.

"Sounds very interesting. I'd like to go there sometime," he replied, smiling at her. She

couldn't get over how much he had smiled while she was there. It was the same half-

smile that he had always given her, but the eyes were what struck her each time. Thespark that was in them as he smiled was there instead of the constant agony. No matter if

Angel was smiling or not, the pain was always behind the chocolate pools she loved so

much.

"That would be nice," she returned. Silently knowing that he would.

CH. 3

He found her wandering around the stream that ran behind his home. She was walking


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and appeared to be deep in thought. As he approached her, the sun caught and glinted on

her blond hair. His breath caught as he looked at what had to be the most beautiful

creature in the world.

"Hello," he said softly as he got closer. She looked up, a little startled. "Hey," she replied.

"Was there something you were looking for?" he asked.

"No. Just enjoying the scenery. It's not like this at home, either. It's very beautiful," she

answered.

"I thought it always a little boring," he sighed, looking around at the familiarity of it all.

For a moment he wished that he was seeing it through her eyes, knowing that it wasn't the

world that he knew, but something new and exciting, something different.

"Really? Why?" she asked, curiosity filling her eyes. Angel had always gotten a far away

look at the mention of Ireland, like he wished he could go home, but the blood on his

hands forbade it.

"It's not very exciting," he shrugged.

"That's why it's so nice," Buffy replied, "It's calm and quiet. There's nothing here to callme away, to take it away from me. I like the quiet."

"Is it very loud where you are from?" he asked, walking along side her.

"Sometimes. Sometimes it's like everything is screaming in my head and it's all I can doto ignore it," she answered truthfully.

"Now that sounds exciting," he grinned.

"Hardly. People are constantly telling me what I should and shouldn't do. Giving me

advice in all directions that I don't necessarily want. It's like everyone is pushing me to

the Buffy they want me to be. None of them ever think about the Buffy I want to be," she

sighed.

"And who is that Buffy?" He felt open with her, like she knew his soul and yet he'd only

known her for two days.

"Sometimes I'm not sure. But that doesn't mean that they should all be telling me who it

is because I don't know. I want to find out myself," she answered, telling him things that

the him she knew already knew these things. He seemed to always know them.

"I understand," he answered, looking at her. She noticed the anger that filled his eyes as

he spoke. "My father wants me to be him. Another Caoln Angelus. It doesn't matter what

I do, he'll always be disappointed in me."

"You don't have to be. You don't have to be him," she said softly, watching him.

"Things really are different where you come from," he said bitterly. His bitterness wasnot directed at her, but at his life. Buffy watched him as he steeled himself again from his

father, the anger in his eyes not leaving, but hidden in the depths. They continued

walking, but in silence.

* * * * *

Buffy woke the next morning to find a purple wild flower on her armoire, a note attached

to it in his handwriting, "Walk with you again today? Liam." She grinned.


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* * * * *

The two met each day for their walk. Sometimes they walked in silence, others theychatted casually. Buffy describing a little of her life without giving away too much, Liam

telling her about his childhood. They never discussed his father or how torn she felt

sometimes after that first day.

"Your friend is named after a tree?" Liam teased after she told him about Willow.

"No! Well, actually I don't know, but don't be rude," she replied, playfully whacking him

on the arm.

"You should ask her," he answered. Buffy laughed. As they got closer to the pond that

was at the end of the stream and the usual end of their walk, Buffy got a mischievous grin

on her face.

"Race ya," she said. He looked at her, raising his eyebrows. She was out of the ordinary,

that he had learned in the three weeks that she had been there. He had never met a girllike her.

"It wouldn't be fair to you," he replied, smirking."I'm going to win," she stated as she took off towards the small lake, heavy dress and all.Grinning, he followed her and began running. And she did win.

"I let you win. I'm a gentleman," he said, out of breath as she taunted him.

"Ha! You let me win, yeah right! I won, fair and square," she retorted. He nodded

innocently, but the look in his eyes said differently. She whacked his arm again. She

looked away at the lake, eyeing the glassiness of the water. Suddenly she sat down andbegan removing her shoes and then she hitched up the long dress and started wading in

the cool water.

"What are you doing?" Liam asked, eyeing her.

"It was hot," she said simply. "You gonna join me?" He quirked an eyebrow and then

relented.

"You are the most interesting girl I have ever known," he told her as he removed his

shoes and socks. She laughed.

"I know," she answered, remembering what he, Angel, had told her that Halloween whenshe had been turned into a noble woman. He grinned at her as he approached her.

"Now, I wonder what kind of world it is that you live in where ladies talk to strange men

without being properly introduced and run races in their dresses and wade in the water,"he said as he got closer. Buffy smiled at him.

"One very different than this one," she informed him. She could smell him, he was soclose. She could feel his touch on her face even though he wasn't touching her. Theelectricity that was dancing between them was almost unbearable for both.

"Aye," he whispered, brushing a loose piece of hair from her face. She closed her eyesand leaned her face into his palm. He cupped her chin, lifting her lips to meet his own.

The kiss was somewhere in between the gentle kisses Angel had always given her, always

treating her like she was a piece of precious crystal, afraid to break her and the harsh kiss


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that Angelus had given her after she first found out about his lost soul, it was fierce and

hungry yet delicate and soft. And she was as hungry for him. His lips felt the same, they

tasted the same and Buffy felt as though her soul was finally free. It had found it's otherhalf, the part it had been screaming for the last year.

They broke apart, Buffy smiling shyly and Liam grinning. "That was nice," she

whispered.

"Just nice?" he asked back. She blushed slightly.

"No, much, much better," she answered, pulling his neck down and kissing him again.

CH. 4

Stolen kisses and secret rendezvous filled the next week. They'd meet in the meadow bythe stream and hold hands, enjoying each other's company. Buffy had never been happier

and each day she would swear that the anger in his eyes would fade a little more. And

each time she kissed him, his eyes would twinkle and then she'd want to kiss him againso that he'd smile again. She loved his smile.

"You know, it's a good thing that you don't know how to get home," he told her one dayas they walked along the edge of the lake.

"And why is that?" she asked.

"Because I don't think I could let you go," he answered. Buffy smiled in answer,squeezing his hand. She was smiling, but inside, her heart was breaking. She'd have to go

back sometime and she didn't know when and she didn't know how. She'd end up

breaking his heart because she'd probably go back the same way she came, in her sleep

and suddenly in a different world. She'd be gone and he wouldn't ever see her again asLiam.

As he held her hand an incredible sense of foreboding came over her. Something was

going to happen. With him, with her, with the world. It was almost reminiscent of herseventeenth birthday.

* * * * *

She fell asleep with her head laying on his stomach. Her blond hair was fanned out

around her as it shined in the sunlight. They had met earlier in the day and had their usual

walk. He had laid down in the grass and she had laid her head on his stomach. Helaughed and then she laughed as her head bounced. Then they laughed again. Buffy

couldn't get enough of his laugh. It was rich and hearty, full of life. Just like him.

He took her hand off his chest and kissed it, caressing it with his own. Her hands weredeceiving, they were small and soft, the skin tender, but also worn and hard. They were

strong, like she'd been working all her life. They were just like her. He'd told her he'dnever met anyone like her, it was true. She was all the things her hands were. Soft andsmooth, filled with beauty, but strong and hard, her being was incredible.

"Whatcha doing?" her voice came, breaking his thoughts.

"Looking at your hands," he answered. She looked at him strangely.

"Because they're so interesting," she retorted.

"They are. They're just like you," he replied, eyeing her, still laying on his stomach.


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"Really. Tell me about them," she said.

"Well, they're soft and beautiful, like you," she rolled off of him and laid on her stomachparallel to him, he still hand her hand, "and there's this scar on your finger. Like the scars

in your eyes. Something happened to you, they became scarred." He was talking absently

now, looking at her hand and Buffy watched in awe at how well he knew her in this time,

in any time. If anything, this was a testimony of their being one, their souls being one.

He turned to her to see tears brimming in her eyes. He looked at her with worry as if

something he said had frightened her. "No, no, I'm fine. That was just, wow," she said,wiping the tears. He smiled gently at her and lifted her chin so he could meet her lips. She

kissed him hungrily back.

As she broke away, she looked up at him a little shyly. "I think we should probably headback. Everyone will wonder," she said quietly.

He looked around noticing the setting sun and nodded. He stood, giving her his hand and

helping her up.

"Okay," he kissed her one last time and took her hand back in his, walking back to the

house.

* * * * *

She watched the stars from her bedroom, feeling lonely. She looked in awe as a shooting

star raced across the sky. The feeling of foreboding was still there, that something wasgoing to happen, but as she stood there she made a decision. If something was going to

happen, it was going to happen while she was happy. She closed the window and moved

to the door. 'Carpe Diem' Willow had told her when she had seized the moment withAngel, she needed to be in his arms one last time even if it was only the same soul.

She moved quietly through the hall, grateful for her slayer abilities to be stealthy. She

stood in front of his door, waiting breathlessly. Moving forward, she opened it slowly andfound him sitting, watching the fire intently. He looked up as she entered.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised and glad to see her.

"I got lonely," she whispered as she moved to him. He stood to meet her and she kissed

him. Pulling him down closer to him, she breathed him in. Memorizing every detail of the

way his lips tasted and felt.

"Buffy . . . ," he broke the kiss as she looked at him, "I love you." And he did, he had

never felt this way about anyone. And he doubted he would ever feel that way again. She

grinned and kissed him again.

"I love you, too," she whispered. She deepened their kiss and he tangled his fingers in her

hair. She pulled away and took his hand, pulling him to the bed. He spoke and the wordswere so familiar, Buffy almost felt her heart break.

"Buffy . . . Maybe we shouldn't." She looked at him, knowing what would happen in the

future with them, knowing that this was the only chance she had.

"Don't. Just kiss me," she answered, echoing her future. And he did.

CH 5

Buffy woke up in Angel's arms, rather Liam's. They were the same soul, that she knew,


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but almost two different men. Two different men that she loved. One full of life and love,

living each day fuller than one could possibly imagine and the other, the brooding

vampire with a soul that she fell in love with first.

She knew what today was even if things had changed in his life since she got there. He

still went to the pub occasionally, but not as much Tonight he was supposed to go to the

tavern, get drunk, and meet a beautiful woman in an alley who would change his world.He was supposed to be sired tonight and she finally knew why she was here. To stop it.

To stop the deaths of hundreds of innocent people at his hand. She didn't know if she

could do it though.

"Hey," he smiled groggily as he woke up. She smiled back and snuggled deeper into his

arms.

"Hey," she whispered before kissing him softly. The smile went from her face as she

remembered what she had been thinking about before he woke up.

"What's wrong, love?" he asked gently.

"I have to tell you something," she said.

"Anything," he answered.

"You may not believe me," she said hesitantly.

"I'd believe anything you tell me," he replied, reassuringly.

"I love you," she whispered, "My name is Buffy Summers, but I'm not from anywhere in

Ireland. Or Europe for that matter. I'm from America. California to be exact and even

though I never paid attention in history, I'm pretty sure there isn't a California yet. And Iwas born in 1981."

"Love, how can you have been born in 1981 when it's 1753?" he asked.

"I'm from the future, Liam. There are vampires and demons and one girl in all the worldwho stops them, the vampire slayer. I'm the vampire slayer in the future. You're in the

future that I'm from, but you're Angel and you're a vampire," she whispered as tears

threatened to spill over.

"A vampire?" he asked.

"Yes. You have a soul, the only vampire to ever have a soul, and you're good. Right now,or then I guess, you live in L.A. You fight demons and save souls. You left me a year

ago," the tears were flowing freely now.

"Honey, did you hit your head again?" he teased.

"Liam, I'm serious," she cried and as he looked into his eyes, he knew she was.

"Why do you suppose you're here, now?" he asked gently.

"To stop you from becoming a vampire," she replied as he wiped her tears, "So you will

be free."

"Free from what, love?"

"Guilt. The horror and bloodshed. You're the only vampire to ever have a soul, Angel, er

Liam, and you've only had it for a hundred years. You're 245 years old in my time. Youtold me once, 'You have no idea what it's like to have done the things I've done and to


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care.' I'm here to stop it," she answered.

"And if you stop it?"

"You'll live as a man. You'll die as a man. You won't do anything that Angelus, your

demon, does. And you won't meet me," the last part was barely audible.

"And when do you have to stop it by?""Tonight," she choked, "tonight." He tightened his arms around her and held her as she

cried and tears spilled down his own cheeks. She'd be leaving after she stopped it fromhappening.

"What if I don't want it to be stopped?" he asked hurriedly.

"Liam, I have to. I have to. And you have to promise me that you won't try to stop mefrom stopping it. And that you won't go to the pub tonight. Stay home, promise me. You

have to promise me," she begged.

"I promise," he whispered, kissing her hair gently.

* * * * *

She was waiting in the alley. Darla was supposed to be there any minute, but that wasn'twhat she was thinking about. As soon as it was over she'd being home to a new home that

didn't include anything of Angel.

"Hey! Powers That Be or whoever! You listening?" she cried softly figuring they were the

ones responsible for her being there even if she wasn't exactly sure of how, "You're taking

him away from me! This is how much I love him! How much I'll always love him! And I

want one thing from you. After everything you've done to me, I think it's fair. I want mymemories. Of everything that happened with Angel in my past and everything that

happened with Liam here. I want at least those if I can't have him." She was crying again.

"Done," a voice whispered from all around her.

"Dear me, this alley was supposed to be deserted," a seductive voice said from behind

her. Buffy turned and faced Darla.

"Darla," Buffy's voice was cold, "Mr. Pointy." She lifted the stake in her hand.

"My, my, a slayer? But the slayer is in Paris. Who might you be?" Darla laughed.

"Let's just say that I'm someone you'll never get to meet," Buffy sneered. She leapt at

Darla. She knew she had an advantage without the heavy gown. Liam had given her a

pair of his pants. They were long enough to be pants on her and she'd had to use amakeshift belt, but it was better than the heavy gown. Still Darla moved nimbly in the

gown.

She had shifted into her vamp face. "Well, won't it be fun when I kill you?" she growled.

"Could you vamps please get some new threats? I really am getting tired of that one,"

Buffy quipped as she dodged a punch from Darla. She grabbed the arm that came after

her and flipped her to the ground.

Buffy straddled her and looked into her eyes. "This is for Angel." She rammed the staked

into her heart and she was gone.

"Buffy?" a voice asked from behind her. His voice. She turned, tears running down her


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"How am I going to explain this one?" Buffy laughed after they broke apart, "No one

knows you in this time."

"Very carefully," he laughed, "Or not at all. You met me and we're dating. Then we fall in

love and live happily ever after."

"Sounds like a plan," she giggled. She took his hand in hers, "Come on. I've got friendswho need to meet you." They walked away hand in hand, loving each other no matter

what past they had come from or what future lay ahead of them.

The End

Well, there you have it. Maybe I can get a fluffy sequel out of this, but that's only if you

want it . . . Let me know what you thought of this!

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Another Past