Disclaimer: once again I own nothing! Nothing!
The little blonde girl stood quietly behind her parents. She was only eight but she still knew that this was a solemn and serious moment.
"Henry!" Lord Fairfax greeted with a smile. "So nice of you to come. We've read over your offer and have decided to accept. Your oldest daughter Elizabeth will marry our eldest son William." He turned to look at a sullen fifteen year old behind him. "William, this is Elizabeth."
The two looked at each other awkwardly. Elizabeth- or Buffy as her family called her- was not really sure what this meant. William, who knew what this meant, looked at them all in disgust. She was a child.
"Well we are all very excited. Joyce and I had thought that her eighteenth birthday…"
"Ten years? Perfect." Lord Fairfax agreed. "Let's go to the solarium to arrange all the details. You two kids can start getting acquainted." And with that the adults left.
"You're too tall." Buffy said after a long and awkward silence.
"Yeah, well, You're eight. What do you know?" William said angrily.
"Not like it's my fault. I don't wanna marry you." She glared at him defiantly
"Well I sure as hell don't want to marry some child who still carries a doll." He said and pointedly looked at the stuffed pig in her arms.
Buffy's eyes narrowed further. "I'm not a child you stupid jerk!" She said and kicked him in the shin. He yelped in pain and hopped on one foot sticking out her tongue at him and walking out of the room into the garden.
"What did they bloody get me into?" William moaned as he rubbed his shin.
Nine and a half years later…
Buffy sat at her dresser and groaned. For the past nine years she had only had to endure a single visit to see her future husband. But now, six months before their marriage- or the start of her torture by the ultimate evil as she liked to call it- her parents were shipping her off to the Fairfax estate. The only consolations were that Willow-her best friend and maid- would also be going and her sister Dawn would join her as soon as she returned from the continent.
The past eight meetings with William had gone more or less like the first. They would insult each other and she would usually end up kicking him in the shin or punching him in the nose and then go and walk in the garden or hide in the library. Even when she would go with high hopes that this time they would get along, William always found a way to dash her hope. Buffy shuddered. She was not going to think of that now.
There had been rumors that he had fallen in love with someone named Drusilla (Buffy had been hopeful that the engagement would be broken) but Drusilla had suddenly married William's best friend, Sir Liam Angelus. When Buffy had asked about the marriage it had resulted in one of their worst fights. And the most recent:
One year ago
"So…I hear your friend got married."
"So?"
"Did you go?"
"NO. Sod off."
"Oooookkkkkaaaayyy. I thought that you were friends."
"Shut. Up. You. Bint."
"Don't call me that you pretencious asshole."
"Asshole?"
"You heard me! I'm just trying to make conversation! We're going to have to spend the rest of our lives together."
He got very quiet and walked dangerously close to her and lowered his head to her ear.
"We may be forced to live in the same house but we don't have to be in the same room." William ran his hand down her arm and smirked at her. "I just have to stand you long enough to produce an heir and then never touch you again."
"What makes you think that I'll let you touch me at all?" she hissed at him angrily.
He grabbed her hair and tilted her head back so she was looking him in the eye. "You'll be my wife and I won't be asking." He said and kissed her harshly.
Buffy was shocked so it took her a moment to react. She firmly kneed him in the groin and pushed him to the ground. Standing over him with her hands on her hips she looked down at him with rage flashing from her eyes.
"I'd like to see you try." Buffy said stonily and punched him in the jaw before turning and walking out. William glared at her from the floor.
"Yeah, well, you've got stupid hair!" He yelled to her back. Then he winced in pain.
Buffy sighed at the memory. Stupid jerk. She just hoped that she'd gotten her point across and he didn't get too grabby with her. She began to replay the scene of punching William and a smile spread across her face.
"Buffy?" Willow's quiet voice interrupted her happy thoughts.
"Yeah Willow?"
"I've come to tell you your bags have all been loaded and it's time to make the journey to the Fairfax estate."
Buffy sighed and looked sorrowfully at her friend. "I hate this so much."
Willow nodded her head sadly. "Don't worry Buffy. You'll get to hit William soon. That always cheers you up."
They smiled at each other and walked to the gloomy looking coach that would soon take Elizabeth from her beloved home to her worst nightmare.
After two days of travel…
The clip clop of the horses walking left Elizabeth feeling a dull monotony that feared would be the tenor of her future life. Willow looked over at her and smiled ruefully as the manor house came into view across the moor.
"Well there it is. The Fairfax manor." Buffy sighed.
"The manor always looks so depressing." Buffy said as she looked at the large dark house. It overlooked a lake and was surrounded by gardens but the house itself was dark and foreboding. Willow shuddered in agreement.
"Yeah. But maybe once you're mistress you could make it more cheery? And they do say it's a lot nicer in the spring."
"I guess. But I've only been here in the winter. Like now. I bet William did that on purpose." Buffy scowled at the mention of her intended.
"Well…maybe he'll fall in the lake?" Willow said smiling.
Buffy laughed. "Or maybe an organ will fall on him!" The both began laughing and thinking up more and more outrageous ways to get out of the marriage.
"Oh! I got it! A vampire could bite him out by the stables…" Willow said through her giggles. They looked at each other for a moment and burst out laughing so hard that they were almost crying as they finally pulled up to the house where William, his father, and younger brother Daniel were waiting for them.
**She looks so pretty when she's laughing and happy** William thought as he saw the merriment surrounding the two of them in the carriage. Then she looked over at him and scowled. He felt a pang in his heart but quickly pushed it aside. He frowned at her as she and her maid approached.
"Hello Elizabeth my dear." Lord Fairfax greeted. Buffy smiled and curtsied. He was a nice man- even though he was one of the ones forcing her to marry, bleh, William.
"Hello Lord Fairfax. I hope that you are feeling well today." She answered politely. William snorted and she shot him a glare. He merely smirked back at her. Lord Fairfax shifted on his feet nervously.
"Well, why don't we all go into the parlor? William…please escort Elizabeth." He shot his son a look that brooked no argument. William sighed and grabbed Buffy's arm roughly. She promptly yanked it out of his grip.
"You don't have to touch me to escort me." She hissed at him as they all began walking.
"You know you really are an icy bitch." He said to her so his father wouldn't hear.
"I hate you." She muttered back.
"Yeah well. The feeling's mutual." He answered. Boy, his life just got better and better, he thought sarcastically.
The next few weeks passed differently for Buffy and William, even though they were forced to do almost everything together. They would meet for meals and usually sit together in the parlor after tea and in the music room after dinner.
Buffy was getting more and more irritated with William as the days went on. She could feel him watching her and it just gave her a weird feeling. She would promptly glare at him. They continued to snap at each other until finally Lord Fairfax had sent them both to bed. Willow was beginning to become tired of Buffy's complaints about him.
"I mean how can one man be soooo irritating and-and how does he always know just what to say to piss me off?"
"He must be truly evil." Willow answered offhandedly.
"He must really be. I would start to go with that whole vampire theory we had but I saw him looking at himself in the mirror. Vain arrogant pig." She added under her breath. Finally Willow had had enough.
"Look Buffy. It could be a lot worse. I mean he's not that old, he has all his hair, and he's not fat. Actually he is pretty attractive. You will get to be mistress of a large estate. I don't see what the problem is really."
Buffy looked at her friend sadly. Sure Willow was beautiful, kind, and intelligent, but she was still a servant. She would have to work all throughout her life and never have a chance to relax and enjoy things like Buffy did. "I'm sorry Willow. It's just that well, I don't love him." Buffy hung her head and sat down on the window seat in her room. Willow walked over and sat down next to her and took Buffy's hand in her own.
"We seldom get to do what makes up happy in this life. But don't try to make yourself unhappy on purpose Buffy. There just isn't enough time."
Buffy looked at her best friend who had always helped her with her hair and make up and then watched holding her cape while Buffy would dance at all the balls and be admired. It was really unfair. Just because her father was rich…and Willow's had not been.
"You're right Willow. I have been focused on the negatives. As Lady Fairfax I'm sure I can use my means to do good thing." She looked at her maid thoughtfully. "Help those close to me…even if I do have to marry the more irritating man on the planet."
They smiled at each other and that night Buffy fell into an easy sleep thinking of ways to help Willow have a happier life.
William on the other hand was fighting against something entirely different. Ever since he had kissed her last year- even in that mocking manner- he hadn't been able to think of anything else. Buffy was constantly on his mind and in his dreams. He always told her that he loved her in his dreams. But she never said it back. He felt himself longing with every fiber of his being to hear her say those words to him.
He watched her during their time together. He would-of course- insult her and humiliate her as well, but he found his reaction to her anger and embarrassment different than in the past encounters. Before he would get a gleeful evil feeling. But now he would feel longing. Longing to take her in arms and crush his lips to hers and feel her moving beneath him, around him.
It's just lust. He kept trying to tell himself. You love Dru- stupid heartless bitch she is, but you will always love her. He kept telling himself. His brother Daniel noticed the slight change in William's attitude and his increased broodiness. He decided to confront his brother about it.
"William. So I noticed you've been awfully broody ever since a certain future wife showed up." David said and William scoffed at him.
"Broody? More like contained fury."
"Nah. I think that you're starting to fall for her."
"Are you bloody crazy? We've hated each other for years." William said half-heartedly. Daniel smiled at him.
"Right. You hate her. Is that why you watch her every move and you have this look like you want to ravage her."
"RAVAGE? BUFFY?" William sputtered. Internally he was groaning that he was so transparent. David was merely laughed at his brother.
"What's the big deal Will? I mean falling in love with your wife can only bring you happiness, right?"
"Not if your wife is Buffy." He muttered and then looked up at his brother again. "But I love Dru, Daniel. I mean, I fell in love with her. You can't just unlove someone."
"I know. But were you ever really in love with her? I mean really? You barely knew her. You just made her into this person in your head, giving her all these attributes that you wanted her to have. She wasn't even serious about you…"
"Yes she was!" William yelled defensively.
"No. She wasn't. She just used you to get Sir Liam." William looked at his younger brother with a face full of pain and fury. "Look Will. You can torture your thoughts with her or you can give into what you're starting to feel. Don't let some scheming fortune hunter ruin any chance you have at happiness."
The two brothers sat in silence for a while, William thinking about what Daniel had said admitting that Drusilla had never loved him added a bitterness to his heart. What if no one could ever love him- the real him. He told Dru things he had never told anyone before and she had never even loved him…
"Let's go hunting Daniel. I really need to kill something." William finally said aloud and they went to the stables to get their horses.
The little blonde girl stood quietly behind her parents. She was only eight but she still knew that this was a solemn and serious moment.
"Henry!" Lord Fairfax greeted with a smile. "So nice of you to come. We've read over your offer and have decided to accept. Your oldest daughter Elizabeth will marry our eldest son William." He turned to look at a sullen fifteen year old behind him. "William, this is Elizabeth."
The two looked at each other awkwardly. Elizabeth- or Buffy as her family called her- was not really sure what this meant. William, who knew what this meant, looked at them all in disgust. She was a child.
"Well we are all very excited. Joyce and I had thought that her eighteenth birthday…"
"Ten years? Perfect." Lord Fairfax agreed. "Let's go to the solarium to arrange all the details. You two kids can start getting acquainted." And with that the adults left.
"You're too tall." Buffy said after a long and awkward silence.
"Yeah, well, You're eight. What do you know?" William said angrily.
"Not like it's my fault. I don't wanna marry you." She glared at him defiantly
"Well I sure as hell don't want to marry some child who still carries a doll." He said and pointedly looked at the stuffed pig in her arms.
Buffy's eyes narrowed further. "I'm not a child you stupid jerk!" She said and kicked him in the shin. He yelped in pain and hopped on one foot sticking out her tongue at him and walking out of the room into the garden.
"What did they bloody get me into?" William moaned as he rubbed his shin.
Nine and a half years later…
Buffy sat at her dresser and groaned. For the past nine years she had only had to endure a single visit to see her future husband. But now, six months before their marriage- or the start of her torture by the ultimate evil as she liked to call it- her parents were shipping her off to the Fairfax estate. The only consolations were that Willow-her best friend and maid- would also be going and her sister Dawn would join her as soon as she returned from the continent.
The past eight meetings with William had gone more or less like the first. They would insult each other and she would usually end up kicking him in the shin or punching him in the nose and then go and walk in the garden or hide in the library. Even when she would go with high hopes that this time they would get along, William always found a way to dash her hope. Buffy shuddered. She was not going to think of that now.
There had been rumors that he had fallen in love with someone named Drusilla (Buffy had been hopeful that the engagement would be broken) but Drusilla had suddenly married William's best friend, Sir Liam Angelus. When Buffy had asked about the marriage it had resulted in one of their worst fights. And the most recent:
One year ago
"So…I hear your friend got married."
"So?"
"Did you go?"
"NO. Sod off."
"Oooookkkkkaaaayyy. I thought that you were friends."
"Shut. Up. You. Bint."
"Don't call me that you pretencious asshole."
"Asshole?"
"You heard me! I'm just trying to make conversation! We're going to have to spend the rest of our lives together."
He got very quiet and walked dangerously close to her and lowered his head to her ear.
"We may be forced to live in the same house but we don't have to be in the same room." William ran his hand down her arm and smirked at her. "I just have to stand you long enough to produce an heir and then never touch you again."
"What makes you think that I'll let you touch me at all?" she hissed at him angrily.
He grabbed her hair and tilted her head back so she was looking him in the eye. "You'll be my wife and I won't be asking." He said and kissed her harshly.
Buffy was shocked so it took her a moment to react. She firmly kneed him in the groin and pushed him to the ground. Standing over him with her hands on her hips she looked down at him with rage flashing from her eyes.
"I'd like to see you try." Buffy said stonily and punched him in the jaw before turning and walking out. William glared at her from the floor.
"Yeah, well, you've got stupid hair!" He yelled to her back. Then he winced in pain.
Buffy sighed at the memory. Stupid jerk. She just hoped that she'd gotten her point across and he didn't get too grabby with her. She began to replay the scene of punching William and a smile spread across her face.
"Buffy?" Willow's quiet voice interrupted her happy thoughts.
"Yeah Willow?"
"I've come to tell you your bags have all been loaded and it's time to make the journey to the Fairfax estate."
Buffy sighed and looked sorrowfully at her friend. "I hate this so much."
Willow nodded her head sadly. "Don't worry Buffy. You'll get to hit William soon. That always cheers you up."
They smiled at each other and walked to the gloomy looking coach that would soon take Elizabeth from her beloved home to her worst nightmare.
After two days of travel…
The clip clop of the horses walking left Elizabeth feeling a dull monotony that feared would be the tenor of her future life. Willow looked over at her and smiled ruefully as the manor house came into view across the moor.
"Well there it is. The Fairfax manor." Buffy sighed.
"The manor always looks so depressing." Buffy said as she looked at the large dark house. It overlooked a lake and was surrounded by gardens but the house itself was dark and foreboding. Willow shuddered in agreement.
"Yeah. But maybe once you're mistress you could make it more cheery? And they do say it's a lot nicer in the spring."
"I guess. But I've only been here in the winter. Like now. I bet William did that on purpose." Buffy scowled at the mention of her intended.
"Well…maybe he'll fall in the lake?" Willow said smiling.
Buffy laughed. "Or maybe an organ will fall on him!" The both began laughing and thinking up more and more outrageous ways to get out of the marriage.
"Oh! I got it! A vampire could bite him out by the stables…" Willow said through her giggles. They looked at each other for a moment and burst out laughing so hard that they were almost crying as they finally pulled up to the house where William, his father, and younger brother Daniel were waiting for them.
**She looks so pretty when she's laughing and happy** William thought as he saw the merriment surrounding the two of them in the carriage. Then she looked over at him and scowled. He felt a pang in his heart but quickly pushed it aside. He frowned at her as she and her maid approached.
"Hello Elizabeth my dear." Lord Fairfax greeted. Buffy smiled and curtsied. He was a nice man- even though he was one of the ones forcing her to marry, bleh, William.
"Hello Lord Fairfax. I hope that you are feeling well today." She answered politely. William snorted and she shot him a glare. He merely smirked back at her. Lord Fairfax shifted on his feet nervously.
"Well, why don't we all go into the parlor? William…please escort Elizabeth." He shot his son a look that brooked no argument. William sighed and grabbed Buffy's arm roughly. She promptly yanked it out of his grip.
"You don't have to touch me to escort me." She hissed at him as they all began walking.
"You know you really are an icy bitch." He said to her so his father wouldn't hear.
"I hate you." She muttered back.
"Yeah well. The feeling's mutual." He answered. Boy, his life just got better and better, he thought sarcastically.
The next few weeks passed differently for Buffy and William, even though they were forced to do almost everything together. They would meet for meals and usually sit together in the parlor after tea and in the music room after dinner.
Buffy was getting more and more irritated with William as the days went on. She could feel him watching her and it just gave her a weird feeling. She would promptly glare at him. They continued to snap at each other until finally Lord Fairfax had sent them both to bed. Willow was beginning to become tired of Buffy's complaints about him.
"I mean how can one man be soooo irritating and-and how does he always know just what to say to piss me off?"
"He must be truly evil." Willow answered offhandedly.
"He must really be. I would start to go with that whole vampire theory we had but I saw him looking at himself in the mirror. Vain arrogant pig." She added under her breath. Finally Willow had had enough.
"Look Buffy. It could be a lot worse. I mean he's not that old, he has all his hair, and he's not fat. Actually he is pretty attractive. You will get to be mistress of a large estate. I don't see what the problem is really."
Buffy looked at her friend sadly. Sure Willow was beautiful, kind, and intelligent, but she was still a servant. She would have to work all throughout her life and never have a chance to relax and enjoy things like Buffy did. "I'm sorry Willow. It's just that well, I don't love him." Buffy hung her head and sat down on the window seat in her room. Willow walked over and sat down next to her and took Buffy's hand in her own.
"We seldom get to do what makes up happy in this life. But don't try to make yourself unhappy on purpose Buffy. There just isn't enough time."
Buffy looked at her best friend who had always helped her with her hair and make up and then watched holding her cape while Buffy would dance at all the balls and be admired. It was really unfair. Just because her father was rich…and Willow's had not been.
"You're right Willow. I have been focused on the negatives. As Lady Fairfax I'm sure I can use my means to do good thing." She looked at her maid thoughtfully. "Help those close to me…even if I do have to marry the more irritating man on the planet."
They smiled at each other and that night Buffy fell into an easy sleep thinking of ways to help Willow have a happier life.
William on the other hand was fighting against something entirely different. Ever since he had kissed her last year- even in that mocking manner- he hadn't been able to think of anything else. Buffy was constantly on his mind and in his dreams. He always told her that he loved her in his dreams. But she never said it back. He felt himself longing with every fiber of his being to hear her say those words to him.
He watched her during their time together. He would-of course- insult her and humiliate her as well, but he found his reaction to her anger and embarrassment different than in the past encounters. Before he would get a gleeful evil feeling. But now he would feel longing. Longing to take her in arms and crush his lips to hers and feel her moving beneath him, around him.
It's just lust. He kept trying to tell himself. You love Dru- stupid heartless bitch she is, but you will always love her. He kept telling himself. His brother Daniel noticed the slight change in William's attitude and his increased broodiness. He decided to confront his brother about it.
"William. So I noticed you've been awfully broody ever since a certain future wife showed up." David said and William scoffed at him.
"Broody? More like contained fury."
"Nah. I think that you're starting to fall for her."
"Are you bloody crazy? We've hated each other for years." William said half-heartedly. Daniel smiled at him.
"Right. You hate her. Is that why you watch her every move and you have this look like you want to ravage her."
"RAVAGE? BUFFY?" William sputtered. Internally he was groaning that he was so transparent. David was merely laughed at his brother.
"What's the big deal Will? I mean falling in love with your wife can only bring you happiness, right?"
"Not if your wife is Buffy." He muttered and then looked up at his brother again. "But I love Dru, Daniel. I mean, I fell in love with her. You can't just unlove someone."
"I know. But were you ever really in love with her? I mean really? You barely knew her. You just made her into this person in your head, giving her all these attributes that you wanted her to have. She wasn't even serious about you…"
"Yes she was!" William yelled defensively.
"No. She wasn't. She just used you to get Sir Liam." William looked at his younger brother with a face full of pain and fury. "Look Will. You can torture your thoughts with her or you can give into what you're starting to feel. Don't let some scheming fortune hunter ruin any chance you have at happiness."
The two brothers sat in silence for a while, William thinking about what Daniel had said admitting that Drusilla had never loved him added a bitterness to his heart. What if no one could ever love him- the real him. He told Dru things he had never told anyone before and she had never even loved him…
"Let's go hunting Daniel. I really need to kill something." William finally said aloud and they went to the stables to get their horses.