In Harms way (1/?) (was Re: Unconventional Faith Shipping, An Overview)

["Eric Bailey" <ebailey140@xxxxxxx>]

--- In buffyloveswillow@xxxxxxxxxxx, sbooth@a... wrote:
> On Fri, 7 Jul 2000 20:41:39 EDT, you wrote:
>
> >Maybe. I don't know. Recently, I was encouraging a
Willow/Harmony ship, so
> >we'll see what happens...
> >
> >Willow: "You're evil..."
>
> I agree with Willow! Look what you made me go and do!

I'm such a bad influence :)

Liked it.

E

> Title : In Harms Way (1/?)
> Author : Kathryn Merteuil
> Disclaimer : Joss owns the characters and the places. The
> story's my fault.
> Rating PG-13
> Authors Note : This story hit me after reading E's
> "Unconventional Faith Shipping, An Overview".
> Authors Other Note : I could really do with a collaborator on
> this one if I'm goign to continue it. Any volunteers?
> Yet Another Authors Note : Last night by sister accused me of
> being obsessed with writing Buffy femslash. I'm still trying to
> work out why that's a problem. :-)
>
>
>
> Willow awoke , even through the thick curtains she could see the
> reflection of the early morning sun. She raised her head a little
> and could see the glowing red digits of the radio alarm clock
> past the blonde to her right, 07:15. She turned to her left and
> the other blonde. 'Who would have thought it' she pondered and
> cast her mind back to how it had all started.
> It had been late evening, a little over a week after the 'primal
> slayer' dreams. Tara had decided not to return to her parents
> home for the summer and Giles had offered his spare room as soon
> as he heard that she was looking for accomodation. The rest of
> the gang had left after helping move the last of Taras belongings
> from campus. Willow and Tara had been discussing the Spike
> situation whilst Giles finished off clearing the debris left by
> his young proteges, they had offered to help but Giles had
> insisted that Willow help Tara settle in.
> "So, even though he saved us from the demons in the end, I don't
> think we can really trust Spike"
> "Well uh what do you think we can do? Stake him?" Tara replied
> diffidently.
> Willow thought for a moment "No, I don't think Buffy could do
> that. And, well we know him and.. OK yes he makes a big show of
> being evil and he has killed people but I really don't believe
> that he's that bad. Maybe there's still some good left?"
> "Perhaps⬦" Tara became lost in thought for a moment then
suddenly
> her face brightened as an idea hit her "Maybe if we restored his
> soul? It might seem cruel but at least he'd not be a danger. From
> what you and Buffy have told me Angel seems to have come to terms
> with it and we'd all be there to help him through."
> "I'm not sure we could. When I restored Angels soul it took a lot
> out of me, I was weak for days afterwards. Anyway we'd need an
> Orb of Thesulah, I don't know where I could get one from."
> "Uh, well, I've been reading up on the spell and I think the two
> of us together could do it. And I think we don't actually need an
> orb, we could channel the soul through ourselves."
> Willows watch beeped discreetly "I promised Mom I'd be home for
> half seven, she wants to do a big family dinner. I think it's
> something to do with this paper she's working on about 'The
> Disintegration of the Nuclear Family in Contemporary America'."
> with a resigned smile, "Promise me you won't try anything!"
> "Oh, OK" Tara kissed her girlfriend gently and walked her to the
> front door. "Bye" she whispered.
> "Bye" Willow returned the kiss then called out more loudly "Bye
> Giles, see you tomorrow."
> "Goodbye Willow" Giles called from the kitchen "Be careful."
> As Willow stepped out of the door she suddenly turned around and
> placed a firm kiss on Taras lips before skipping away into the
> diminishing light. Tara began to walk back to her room.
> Giles stepped out of the kitchen "Would you like a cup of tea?
> Willow said you like Camomile and Honey."
> "Thank thank you Mr G-Giles"
> Giles smiled at Tara comfortingly as he returned to the kitchen
> to put the kettle on. He had been a little unsure at first but he
> felt that Willow had made a good choice, not an easy choice but
> it was clear that the two of them were strong together.
>
> ===============================
> A few days later Willow had been walking home after dark having
> first walked Tara to Giles' following a fun night at the Bronze.
> The normal summer lull had been enhanced by the massacre of the
> undead in the Initiative 2 weeks ago. Buffy had sounded almost
> Faith like in her complaints that she needed some action. Still
> Willow carried a stake just in case. As she rounded a corner a
> shape leapt from the towards her. She was just about to plunge
> her stake home when she realised that it was Spike. "Spike! What
> on earth are you doing?"
> "I need money for blood and smokes."
> "So you've turned to petty mugging? Isn't that⬦ well.. a bit
> petty?" Willow enjoyed turning some verbal barbs back on Spike
> who had caused her more than a little pain recently.
> "Well it works! Well usually" Spike said as Willow noticed that
> his eyes seemed a little bloodshot.
> "What happened with your eyes?" she asked.
> "Damn woman, had pepper spray! Took me 2 hours before I could see
> clearly again. Look I really need some blood"
> Willow sighed even with all the pain and trouble Spike had caused
> her kind heart wouldn't let her see him suffer. She reached into
> her pocket and pulled out a ten "That's all I've got, it should
> keep you going for a few days"
> Spike took the money with a smile, as he turned away Willow
> clearly heard him say "The old puppy dog act, gets em every
> time!".
> Willow fumed silently and continued home muttering curses.
> The following day she told Tara about the encounter.
> "I can't believe that he did that. Or that I fell for it."
> "It's just the way you are, you're kind and thoughtful and I love
> you for it. Unfortunately Spike took advantage." Tara hugged
> Willow "You can't let him get to you."
> Willow smiled and returned the hug.
> "I did research that spell, the soul restoration one." Tara
> continued "If we wanted to we should be able to cast it
> together."
> "I couldn't use it for revenge" Willow replied.
> "Not revenge, goddess no. It would stop Spike from being able to
> pull tricks like that again though."
> "I'll think about it"
> ===========================
> For the following weeks Willow considered the spell Tara had
> suggested. Spike had tried to pull his 'Puppy dog act' again but
> she had resisted. A few days later she heard a report of a woman
> being attacked and her purse snatched by a man with short blond
> hair wearing a leather jacket who had running holding his head as
> if in pain. It appeared that the need for blood had driven Spike
> to the point where he could bear the implant induced pain long
> enough to snatch the money he needed. Resolved she went to Tara.
> "Tara, I think we should do the spell. We should restore Spikes
> soul."
> "I'll get the ingredients. Mr Giles is out, he said he'd be at
> the Expresso pump and not to go there unless it was the
> apocalypse." Tara said then continued "He took his guitar with
> him."
> She quickly assembled everything they needed and they soon were
> holding hands with the dolcite crystal between them to focus
> their energies. Tara began to chant and Willow picked it up on
> the second repitition. She recognised most of the words from when
> she had restored Angels soul so long ago but noticed some
> differences. willow thought about Spike and wondered what he
> would be like with a soul. Would he brood like Angel? How would a
> soul fit in after so long an absence from his body? she
> considered what had happened over the past year. How her own
> abilities had moved on. How she had met Tara and chosen her over
> Oz. How she had discovered that of the three terms she had used
> to describe her vampire self only evil and skanky were yet to be
> found to be true about her. Her mind returned to Spike and how he
> had returned after a long absence running from his failed
> relationship with Drussilla only to land up with Harmony of all
> people!
> Suddenly she felt a force move through her, far more intensely
> than the time in the hospital with the orb. it felt different as
> well as stronger but Willow could quite put her finger on it.
> Together Willow and Tara collapsed spent from the power they had
> just expelled.
> In a crypt on the cemetery just off the UC Sunnydale campus a
> blonde vampire writhed in bed and kicked off the covers before
> falling to the floor and screaming. "What the⬦.
Arrgggghhhhhhhhh"
> shouted Harmony as her soul was forcibly returned to her earthly
> form. She fell silent for a moment but as her memories of a year
> as a vampire returned she screamed and ran to a mirror. As the
> truth hit her and she realised that she didn't have a reflection
> she screamed all the louder.
>
> --
> Stephen Booth, Data Integration Specialist & Spoiler Slut
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