Set of 4 drabbles for open_on_sunday's challenge #82 - Shakespeare

[darkhavens]

Author: darkhavens
Title: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Pairing: S/X
Rating: PG-13 (erring on the side of caution)
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.

A set of four drabbles, quotes acting as titles of sorts. (I'm not a Shakespeare fan, so I garnered inspiration from the quotes themselves, not the work from whence they came.)


~~~~~


And since you know you cannot see yourself,
so well as by reflection, I, your glass,
will modestly discover to yourself,
that of yourself which you yet know not of.
                    Julius Caesar, Act 1 Scene 2

Xander leaned across and planted a swift kiss on a mouth open in shock, pulling back before he got lost in the feel of satin soft skin against his lips.

"You have no idea what I see when I look at you. You think I see a cold, harsh, punk who doesn't give a damn? No. I see the beauty in you, the caring in you. I see the loneliness, the love, the need to have someone to call your own, someone who'll call you theirs in turn. I want to be that someone, Spike. Let me be that someone..."


~~~~~


I have immortal longings in me.
                    "Antony and Cleopatra", Act 5 scene 2

It was a conversation Xander could only imagine having in the dark, curled beneath the bedclothes with his lover in his arms. He'd thought long and hard about what to say if Spike came out and asked. He never thought he'd be the one to voice forbidden words.

"It's been on my mind since Jesse died. Since Angel proved a vampire could be more than death and fangs, I've wondered... And then there was you and your love for Dru. And now there's us, and the choice is easy. Make me yours, Spike. Let me love you forever. Turn me."


~~~~~


The sands are number'd that make up my life.
                    Henry VI, Part 3, Act 1, Scene 4

...so I decided to write you instead. I'm sending everything to you, G-Man, (and I'm not apologising for that, either) because I know you'll be there for my girls to cry on when they learn why I won't be around any more. Spike didn't talk me into anything, I swear. I asked him, and the truth is, he turned me down at first. He said I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I learned a lot from those books you never believed I actually read. He understands now.

So...

This is the last will and testament of..."


~~~~~


To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
                    Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5

One hundred years and never a night apart. Two halves made whole, two hearts unbeating, one soul shared between them both. They lived well in the darkness, kept each other safe from harm. They watched as all they'd known slowly turned to dust and faded memories, but never once regretted what they'd done, though tears were spilt. They honoured long gone friends and watched their progeny grow up, so sure the bedtime stories were all make-believe and jest. They made their presence felt wherever demons roamed the earth. They revelled in the violence and the blood.

Their love was true.


~~~~~

Comments

Part 27...the last

[tgray.livejournal.com]

They buried Xander ten days later.

~*~

They enjoyed the time they had for one entire week once Xander came home from the hospital. It wasn’t enough, but it never is when you know what’s coming. They laughed together and held each other while they cried, spending every moment as if it was their last. Each time Xander closed his eyes, Spike felt the panic, knowing there wasn’t much time left.

Spike was there, holding his hand, his lips pressed against Xander’s forehead when he fell asleep for the last time. “I’m tired, Spike. Just need to rest for a bit,” the last words Spike heard from his lover.


********

“Miss you, Xan.”

Spike sat in the grass, his legs stretched out in front of him, Xander’s ring spinning mindlessly between his fingers. He read the writing on the stone for the thousandth time in three years. Alexander Lavelle Harris. Friend. Lover. Husband.

“Seems it’s supposed to get easier, least that’s what everyone tells me.” He brushed the dust from the top of the granite with one hand, still clutching the ring tight inside the other. “I guess it is, when I can stop thinking about you for one bloody second.”

A slight gust of wind shook through the trees, causing Spike to shiver, his duster long gone, along with most of the reminders. Their memories were packed in boxes, stored away until one day, when Spike could open them up and see Xander’s face without the stabbing heartache ripping threw him. A time that came closer with each passing day.


“You were right, pet. As always…” Spike smiled tenderly. “You said I’d go on. Never thought I’d be able to do it without you.” He paused, tracing the name etched on the gravestone with his finger. “A lot of things have happened, though. Dawn’s married, baby on the way... Doesn’t seem possible, does it? Willow’s engaged. And Buffy, well… nothing much changes there.”

He gripped the ring tighter.

“But I’m not here for small talk this time, pet. Have to tell you, so you’ll know… so it’ll feel right.” He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “See… I met someone. Took me a long time, and now… I’m still not sure, but…” Spike had known it would be hard, forgoing the tissue in his back pocket, instead wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “He’s a lot like you. Guess that’s why I found him. Never the same though, Xan. Never be anyone like you. Cause we’re forever, right? Me and you.”

More tears, full force, too many to stop. “Anyway, thought you’d wanna know. I’m gonna try, luv. I remembered, so I’m gonna try.”

Spike glanced down, looking at Xander’s ring and then slid his own from his finger for the first time in eleven years. He held them together in his fist for a long time, staring at the ground where Xander’s body lay underneath him, until the sun set around him and his tears finally subsided. He stood up, brushed his jeans off and slipped the gold bands into his pocket. “It’s time, pet.” With reluctance, he pulled them out and placed the two bands of gold on top of the stone, held his head up and walked away.


The end.

Re: Part 27...the last

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Oh gods, now I'm crying buckets.

::glomps onto you::

Honey, that was a wonderful gift, and I'll treasure it always, even though you did get me all soggy and sniffly several times over. *smoooooooooooooooooooooch*

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Re: Part 27...the last

[tgray.livejournal.com]

I cried too! How pathetic is that? Sitting there at 3:00 in the morning, writing... with tears streaming down your face. What a picture.

I wasn't sure where this was going to go when I started, but this is what we got. Thank you for reading it.

Re: Part 27...the last

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Aw, honey, I've been there. ^^^pets^^^

Thank you for reading it.

Thank you for writing it! And posting it anonymously was wonderfully intriguing.
*smooch*