milliways_bar | (no subject)

Val's eyes twinkle. "Awesome. I was just thumbing though my handy bartending guide and found that. Thought you might like it. So, what's making my brother so excited?"

"Took a trip."

He probably doesn't have to fill in the blanks for her to get it.

"Ohh." She grins. "I told you that you weren't dead." She sticks her tongue out at him.

That stops him... but only for a moment.

"Shit, Val. If this is dead, bring it on."

Yeah, bring all of it on: the food, the drink, the company, the warmth, the fire, the lake. If this is dead, it sure as shit ain't hell.

Her eyes twinkle. "You know, I am amused at the people who are dead and here. I think this would be a pretty awesome afterlife. Heck, I'm enjoying it as my first life. I think I'll echo your sentiments. Bring it on, baby!"

"You know, I didn't even try the door. I just rested against it and the knob turned. I wasn't thinking about it or anything. And the best part is that Beth went through it with me."

He shrugs. "I don't pretend to know how it happened or why it happened now or any of that shit, Val. All I know is it did. Just the two of us, just like a private getaway. And then it led us back here."

Spike isn't sure if he'll ever try the door again, but it doesn't matter; it worked once. And it was a hell of a gift.

Val chuckles. "The bar does odd things like that soemtimes. I can't tell you why it opened for me once, or why it let me go back to my world when it did." her eyes twinkle. "That's so awesome, Spike. I'm so happy for you that you had that time with Beth." Her face seems a bit pensive. "I wonder if something like that happend to Luke. I haven't seen him since before I got stuck back on Earth."

"That's a long time." He frowns for a moment.

When he looks at Val again, he can practically see the thoughts working their way through her brain. "Hey. That posse offer is still good. Want me to help you look for him?"

The fact that he's never even met the guy doesn't bother him in the least. If he wants to track someone down, he'll track them down.

Val sighs. "I'm going to give him a few more days. It's possible that he's still sick, or avoidingme for some other reason." Her eyes seem a bit sad. "I just... well, miss him."

Of course she does.

"Hey. He'll be back."

Hope is the best he has to offer at the moment. Could be all bullshit: he has no idea.

But he does know he's pretty damn fiercely protective of the people he loves. He'll do whatever it takes to see Val happy.

She smiles, a half smile, a smile which hints at deep and secret longing. "I hope so. He means a lot to me. I don't know what I'd do if he had just knowingly left."

"That happened to me once, a long time ago."

He takes a sip of the green drink that tastes like the seasons topped with sugar.

"But I think about it less and less as time goes by."

Val sighs. "Yeah." Her eyes look hurt for a moment. "I just want to know. I want to find him, and see what's going on. It's possible that it's just a misunderstanding."

"I felt the same way." He shrugs; they're telling parallel stories now. But it's Val's turn. Enough reminiscing over the sad shit that can't be changed because it's from so long ago.

"When you see him you'll find out. It's a big universe. I mean... I don't think anyone even noticed that Beth and I were gone. It's easy to hide here, but it's easier to hide out there. He probably has his reasons, but if he doesn't... I'll be the first in line to kick his ass when he does get back."

So there.