Forced into LoveChapter Two
As morning arrives, Buffy slowly opens her eyes. The cabin air is stifling hot. She feels her stomach doing flips and she moans. Liam jars awake and sits up quickly. He climbs over her prone form. Grabbing the cloth, he dunks it in the tepid water and strokes it over her face and neck. Buffy whimpers softly. Liam hammers on the adjoining wall. Liam: It will be okay. Why don’t we try going outside. He lifts her into his arms and walks barefoot out the door and to the deck. The sun blazes off in the horizon. Liam: Looks like the weather is getting warmer. Buffy: Uh huh. Liam: Maybe it won’t last long. Buffy: No more boats for me. Liam: No more boats. Willow scurries up. Liam: Sit with her while I get my boots. Willow: Of course Master Liam. Liam strides purposefully toward his cabin. He stops in the passage as he sees Hank exit his room. Hank: Where is Buffy? Liam: Outside, but it’s too warm. Hank: I know. We’re nearing home. It should be like this the rest of the journey. Liam: How many days? Hank: Four, maybe five. Liam: How is the water supply? She has to stay cool. Hank: It’s okay. We still have plenty from the rain storm. I’ll ask one of the cooks to make periodic deliveries until we dock. Liam: Thank you. Now excuse me while I find my boots. Liam strides off quickly.
Later Buffy sits staring out over the water. Willow: Can I get you anything? Buffy: Land. Willow: If I could I would. Buffy: I know you would. Liam walks up and sits down beside Buffy. He ducks under her parasol and smiles. Liam: Here. He hands her a fresh wet cloth and a cup of water. Buffy: Thank you. Willow takes the cup as Buffy soothes the cloth over her neck. Buffy: Your mother is right. Liam: My mother? Buffy: Yes. You are an Angel. Liam: No I’m not. She has just called me that since I was little. She prefers my second name to my first. Buffy: Your name is Liam Angel? Liam: Actually Liam Angelus O‘Connor. Buffy: Oh. Angelus. It is different. Liam: Are we teasing? So what pray tell is your name, Buffy? He smirks at her. Buffy: Okay my first name is unique but after that pure tradition. Liam: And that would be? Buffy: Oh, my complete name is Buffy Anne Summers. She gets a slight nudge in the side from Willow. Buffy glances at her confused. Willow gives a slight nod toward Liam. Buffy: What? I spoke the truth. Liam: I think she is trying to remind you of your recent name change. Buffy turns back to look at him in horror. Buffy: Oh I am sorry, sir. I meant no offense. Liam: No offense taken. It is quite natural to forget. Buffy: You are again quite kind. Liam: Not a term many have used for me. Buffy: Well then they do not know the Angel we know. Liam looks out over the water hiding a feeling of trepidation. Buffy looks at him curiously. Liam: It should only be a few more days and you be will home. Buffy quickly realizes it means he will also be free of her and playing nursemaid. Buffy: It will be wonderful. They all stare back out over the water in silence.
Three days later. The sun is low in the horizon as Hank walks up to the two ladies on the deck. Hank: Where’s Liam? Buffy: I am not sure. Hank: Well the lookout just spotted the coastline. We should be hitting port right after daybreak. Buffy: Tomorrow? Hank: Yes. We will be home in the morning. Buffy: Thank you. Hank: Well please inform Liam. I need to speak to him about what we need to do once we arrive. Buffy: Yes, sir. Hank walks back off. Buffy: Home. No more boat. Willow: We will all be glad to be on land again. Buffy: You are right. Buffy’s thoughts move to Liam. Buffy: I would like to go to the cabin. We need to share the news. Willow assist her to her feet. Buffy: I hate being so weak and dependent. Willow: You will get your strength back soon. You will see. The ladies walk into the passage and stop outside Buffy’s door. Buffy: I can attend myself. Willow: If you are sure. Buffy: Yes. Go wash up. They will be bringing your evening meal soon. Willow: I will be right next door. Buffy: I know. As Willow walks away, Buffy turns the knob and steps into the cabin. She stops and gasps at the sight before her. All she sees is a wall of masculine human flesh. She takes in the bare back and the odd black drawing on the shoulder. His shirt is still tucked into his pants but hangs to his knees. He turns at the noise and she sees the glint of metal in his hand. He hurriedly reaches for his shirt and slips it on. Liam: I thought you were on deck. He walks over quickly buttoning his shirt. He looks down into her flushed face. Liam: Buffy? Buffy: Sorry, I should have well knocked. I didn’t mean to well disturb……….. Liam: It’s okay. I was just shaving. I can not abide a beard. Buffy: Oh, I never even thought. My father never shaves on the ship. He actually attends the barber when home. Liam: I prefer to attend myself. Buffy: Oh. Let me step out so you can continue. He reaches out and takes her arm gently. Liam: I am finished. You do not need to run away. Do you need something? Buffy shakes her head slowly and he releases her. Buffy: My father says we will be in port by morning. Liam: That is wonderful. So only one more night. Buffy: Yes, one more. Liam: You will feel better then. Buffy: Yes. Liam: So what can I get you? Buffy: Nothing. I am just going to lie down. Liam: Let me help you. He guides her to the bunk and she lays down. He places a fresh damp cloth on her clammy skin. He pulls up the chair Buffy: You do not have to sit with me. My father wants to speak with you. Liam: I will stay until you fall asleep. Buffy nods and closes her eyes. He gently strokes her with the cloth until she seems to relax. He dips the cloth in the water once more and places it on her neck before stepping out. Hearing the door close, Buffy opens her eyes and stares at the wooden panel. A melancholy expression shadows her face. Liam strides down the passage and onto the deck. He stands with his hands on the rail and looks out over the water before moving on to find Hank.
Next morning. Buffy’s eyes open and she looks down at the strange weight on her side and arm. Draped over her is the white clad arm of the man behind her. She looks at the long tan finger as they rest on the mattress. She can faintly feel the soft puffs of air hitting the back of her neck. She freezes at the close proximity of his body. She wants to dart from the bed but fears any fast movement will send her delicate stomach into spasms. She attempts to extract her arm from under his without waking him. He instinctively pulls her closer. She turns her head to look into his serene face. His nose twitches as her stray hairs brush against it. Buffy tries to relax and ignore her racing heart. She wants free, but if she wakes him then she will have to face him and his reaction. She again tries to maneuver free. A sudden rocking of the ship sends her stomach spinning and her need to free herself heightens. She attempts a deep cleansing breath. Buffy (w): Angel. He does not react. Buffy (w): Angel. She begins feeling waves of nausea as the ship sways. Buffy: Angel. Angel, I need to get up. His eyes open and he sees her white face in front of him. He moves quickly to guide her into a sitting position and reaches for the familiar basin. Liam: Here you go. As she clings to the cool porcelain, he retrieves her cloth and wets it. He lays it across the back of her before knocking on the adjoining wall. Willow enters almost immediately already dressed. Willow: Good morning. She kneels in front of Buffy. Willow: We just passed the channel and are nearing the port. Liam: Already? Willow: Yes. Captain Summers woke me over an hour ago. I was just about to awaken you. Liam begins pulling on his boots and running his hand through his tousled hair. He quickly reties the scrap of cloth securing it back. Liam: I will be back. He opens the door and leaves. Willow: Do you need anything? Buffy: Just help me dress. Willow: Of course, ma‘am. An hour later, Buffy stands attired in a dark blue gown. Her chest aches from the now unfamiliar feel of her stays. Willow: Can I get you anything else? Buffy: No. I just want to go home. There is a knock on the door and Willow opens it to reveal Liam. He glances in. Liam: We are docking. If you are ready, I will escort you both. Buffy: Thank you. He walks forward and presents his arm. She clasps it gently and he guides her out the door. Willow follows close behind. As they approach the gangplank, Buffy looks out over her town. Buffy: I made it. Liam looks at her with concern. Liam: You feared you wouldn’t? Buffy: Everyday. Liam frowns as they begin down the walk. Liam: Be careful. They descend to the dock and Buffy sighs loudly. Hank walks up. Hank: I have a buggy waiting on the street. Would you escort the ladies home? When you return I can show you around. Liam: Of course. Hank turns to Buffy. Hank: We will be home in time for the evening meal. Buffy: And our trunks? Hank: I can not spare anyone now but we will bring them when we come home. Buffy: Okay. She looks up at Liam. Liam: Ready? Buffy: Have been for weeks. The trio move to the buggy and he assists them inside and sits opposite them. The driver takes off toward the house. Buffy sighs and watches the larger waterfront businesses give way to the smaller ones and then they enter the bustling intersection. Liam takes in the various activity. Buffy: We are on Front Street. That is Market Street. Liam nods his head. Buffy: Our house is near the end of Front Street. Father has to be close to the water. Quiet descends upon the trio as they move slowly on. The buggy stops in front of a house with aged cedar clapboards. Buffy: This is it. Liam drops to the ground and turns to assist the ladies down. He holds out his arm and Buffy places her hand on it. He walks her to the door. Liam pulls from his pocket the key Hank gave him. He releases the lock and opens the door. The musty smell streams out. Willow: This place needs a definite airing . Buffy: That it does. Liam follows them in and glances around. Willow quickly pulls back the curtains and shoves the front window open. Liam takes in the large living room and watches as Buffy lowers her self to the settee against one wall. He moves to assist Willow with the other windows. He glances through the archway to a small dining area and beyond to a spacious kitchen. Liam watches Willow open the back door of the kitchen and he looks out at the river beyond. Liam: That’s not the ocean. Willow: No that is the river. The mouth is just up that ways. Liam: Which river? Willow: Most folks call it the Cape Fear. Many boats have been lost out there. Liam look once more before turning to Willow. Liam: I better get back to the docks. Will you both be okay? Willow: Yes, sir. Liam turns and walks back into the living room and turns to look at Buffy. Liam: Do you need my help? Buffy: No, thank you. Liam: I will see you later. Buffy: Yes. He steps outside and disappears. Willow walks in and looks at her. Willow: Would you like to lie down? Buffy: No. All I want is a bath. A hot bath. |