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Return to You by Thianna
 
17 - My Name
 
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Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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Chapter 17 - My Name

Buffy leaned down in front of a fairly large tombstone. She placed a bouquet of blood red roses in front of it. She stood up and then moved beside the man with her, grasping his left hand with her right.

William Pratt
1852 - 1911
Beloved Son, Cousin and Uncle
Inspired Poet and Artist
May he be eternally with those he loved


"This all feels surreal, pet."

"You're telling me? I bet you did it so that you could gloat and say you died twice like me."

"Please don't bring that up. That was 147 days of pain."

Buffy smiled, feeling lucky to have been loved so dearly. It had taken her a while to cope with life after coming back the second time. But she was living now, this world was not hell. This world was far from hell, especially with her love beside her. "Did Arianna say anything about your condition?"

"You make it sound like a disease, love. She said I'll most probably remain a demon, that it's part of who I am, who I always was. So I guess I get the best of both worlds. Vampire fangs and the other perks without any unpleasant side effects."

"And how are you dealing with who you are today?"

"Trying to psychoanalyze me, pet?"

"And what if I am?"

"Coping. It's strange. Before, it felt like there was two of me, now I can't really tell the difference. I guess I have you to thank for that. But I'm happy ... very happy. ... I think I'll continue being a Watcher. I don't want to be away from Emily and I believe I made a promise to protect a certain Slayer."

"So Mr. Pratt, how do I call you?"

"Do you have to be so formal?" he said pulling her into his arms and attacking her lips playfully. "Thought we threw formality out the window last night, my little minx." He heard her giggling mixed with a soft moan as he leaned in for a more passionate kiss, enjoying the feel of her lips on him, of her body pressed closely to his. It was liberating somehow. He let one hand explore her body, ignoring the thought in his mind that this was slightly inappropriate. But the thought was nagging at him so he opened one eye and moved to hide their embrace behind a large tree. He broke the kiss reluctantly but only so he could stare down at her eyes, the eyes that had haunted him for so many years, scores even. He wanted more, knew that he would never ever tire of watching her, of loving her. He dipped his head down again to capture her lips, this time his movements being more suggestive as he conveyed to her his need to be with her.

Feeling that things might get embarrassingly out of hand, Buffy gently pulled away from him. She smiled, never really knowing that she could ever be this happy. "You're trying to distract me." she proclaimed.

"That was kind of the point, love." he said with a chuckle as he leaned in for another kiss.

Buffy playfully put one finger up against his lips and giggled. "You ain't getting away from my question that easily."

With slight resignation, he tilted his head and thought about that for a minute. Spike didn't seem appropriate anymore. That was the name of a vampire that took anything and everything from the world for over a century. Collin was the name of a boy who wanted to be free. But he found himself chasing the memory of a monster and wanting to capture the heart of a lady. He was both. He looked at the tombstone again, chuckling to himself at the irony of it all. He had hated that part of him for the length of his unlife. One deadly kiss from a woman, gave him freedom and brought him to the one thing he thought he would never earn. He found love in its purest form -- no attachments, no requirements. But deep down, he loathed himself and saw himself unfit to bear such love. So he went and searched for his soul. With his soul, he saw the sins he had committed and with his actions, he strove to redeem himself, fulfilling a prophecy that he thought was meant for another. But he did it. He was granted his reward. But he didn't want his life back. He only wanted the love of the woman who made him feel.

His words on paper, have spoken that despite his dreams, he lived life as best as he could. The only thing missing was his Lady of Summer. So he searched for her, through years, through lives an abomination indeed for a demon to seek the love of a Slayer. And here he was, his lady by his side, his demon content, his soul still troubled, but now living.

"Call me by my middle name, love. I think I can live with it now."

"Middle name? I don't think you ever told me."

"I'll give you a hint. I wear his face."

Buffy's lips curled into a smirk at the realization of what is was. She cursed herself silently at not figuring it out sooner. It was ironic, or maybe prophetic that his parents named him such. "I love you, Collin William Pratt. ... My love ... My William!"

"And I love you, my sweet angel, my Slayer, my Buffy, my Lady of Summer."


The End

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A/N: That's it! The confusion fest is over. Please leave reviews I can take it. Thanks for reading!


 
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