RE: [buffywantswillow] FIC: Episode 2 in T.C.P.S. "I Once Was Los t, But Now I'm Found." (3/8)

[Carol.Clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

I am still laughing, love this

-----Original Message-----
From: Heather & ~~Kimber [mailto:kacoe@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 3:40 PM
To: BuffyLovesWillow; BuffyWantsWillow; WillowSlashFic; SapphicSlayer
Subject: [buffywantswillow] FIC: Episode 2 in T.C.P.S. "I Once Was Lost,
But Now I'm Found." (3/8)


TITLE: Episode 2 in T.C.P.S. "I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found." (3/8)
AUTHORS: Heather (nerdgurrl@xxxxxxxxx) & ~~Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters from the television show Buffy the
Vampire Slayer
belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Any additional characters mentioned
are the
property of the authors and may not be used without permission. This
arrangement of words
in cyberspace is also owned by the authors and may not be displayed, copied,
quoted from
or used without permission. This is a work of fiction done for enjoyment
and the authors
who are in no way receiving monetary compensation for their efforts.
SUMMARY: Episode 2 in Heather and Kimber's "Convergent Paths Series". The
alternate
universe version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
SPOILERS: Season one thru four including all season five speculations.
DISTRIBUTION: None. Lists only.
AUTHORS' NOTES:
Thoughts enclosed in <. . .>
Flashbacks enclosed in ((. . .))
Emphasis is denoted with *. . .*

-----------

Willow was walking home from Amy's house. She and the other witch had been
researching a
spell for the past few hours now and they decided to call it a day. All in
all, they'd
made some good progress and she couldn't wait to tell Giles about what
they'd found.
Granted it wasn't going to be the most pleasant of experiences, but it was
for Buffy.
Anytime she could do anything of use for her best friend, Willow jumped on
it. Buffy had
helped her and saved her life countless times, now it was her turn to give a
little.

Willow stopped dead in her tracks. She was near the kiddy playground where
she and Xander
used to meet for play dates. Normally it would comfort her passing by, but
right at this
moment she detected the faintest whimpers coming from within and was a
little disturbed.
It was almost dark and if there was a child in there hurt or alone. . .she
backtracked to
the entrance and walked past the iron horses. The whimpering was louder
now. . .and there
was some sniffling going on too.

"Who's there?" a rumbling voice asked from the darkness.

Willow furrowed her brow. "Um, hi. Are you okay?" She could tell by the
tone of the
voice that it wasn't a child thankfully.

"I'm fine. Please go away." The voice sounded resigned.

"You don't sound okay. I mean, it sounds like you're crying and that's not
an okay
activity and I was just passing by and I heard you and. . ."

"If you must know. I'm sad."

Willow was perplexed. On one hand, she was compelled to help this person
because he
sounded so sad. On the other hand, he was a complete stranger, and maybe
even a vamp up
to some new tricks to get an early evening snack. "Um, where are you?"

"In the bushes. Please go away." He sniffled again. "I can't stand it
when I'm like
this. It's quiet humiliating really."

"Maybe I could help." Even as the words registered in her brain and left
her mouth,
Willow couldn't believe she'd just said that. She didn't even know who this
was.

"What could you do? You're a mere human. No help at all really."

"Mere? I'll have you know I'm not a mere anything. I. . .I'm a witch!. .
.and a darned
good one too and I'm a Slayerette and a computer hacker and. . ."

"Computer hacker? Hrumph. I'll bet you don't even know what a black box
is, let alone
what it's used for."

Willow smirked. "Actually, a black box isn't a part of a computer, it's
just a homemade
device that hackers use to illegally access other people's home numbers so
that their
activities can't be traced." She smiled to herself. "And it's not actually
black. It
can be any color you make it."

"Very good. Your knowledge intrigues me."

"So why don't you come out here and talk?" She didn't know why, but she was
beginning to
like the voice. It had a deep timbre to it and was very comforting.

"Well, I suppose I could, but. . ." he seemed to be struggling with
something.

"But what?"

"Well, I'm not human." He paused for a moment. "I'm not apologizing for
it, I just don't
want to send you off screaming into the night is all."

Willow smiled to herself. "Um, okay. I won't run. I promise." There were
a few moment
of silence, then Willow noticed the bushes begin to move in front of her. .
.a lot. Then
they began to move towards her. Suddenly, the bushes turned out not to be
bushes at all.
Standing in front of her was what could only be described as the Swamp
Thing. . .but much
taller, and more ominous, and he had a lot more things hanging off of him.
She smiled and
waved. "Uh, hi."

He nodded to her. "Hello." He quirked his head to the side and studied her
for a
moment. "You're not. . frightened?"

Willow shook her head. "No." She smiled. "I'm a pretty good judge of
character. I
don't think you'll hurt me. You're um, kinda. . ."

"Small. I know." He frowned. "As bog-beasts go, I was the runt of the
litter. It's
quiet sad really. I'm already four hundred years old and only six foot nine
and three
quarter inches."

Willow smiled genuinely. "I was gonna say big. Huge even. I don't think
I've ever met a
person as tall as you, well, you're not really a person and technically we
haven't met yet
cause I don't know your name and-"

"Clarence." He stated simply.

She looked up at her dark green companion. "You know, that's oddly fitting
for you.
Clarence. I like it. I'm Willow." She walked over to the bench to sit
down and Clarence
followed. "So why were you so sad?"

Clarence sighed and placed his chin in his hands. "I had a fight with my
mate."

"Okay. . .what do you mean by 'fight'? Cause there can be all sorts of
fights...verbal...that's usually kinda loud...Springer fights. . .they're
loud and usually
involve throwing something. . .or. . ."

As if on cue, Buffy shot out of the bushes behind them. She had a crossbow
in her hand
and was aiming it at Clarence's chest. "Fights that involve a Slayer and a
demon. Which
you obviously are. So let's get going." She kept the crossbow trained on
Clarence's chest
but neither Clarence nor Willow moved. She looked at the depressed bog beast
first. "Okay,
you're supposed to attack," She switched her gaze to Willow, "and you're
supposed to run
to safety. Am I the only one who knows the rules?"

"Is she always this aggressive?" Clarence asked Willow.

"Only when she's in Slayer mode." Willow looked to Buffy and smiled.
"Buffy, this is
Clarence. It's okay, he's not bad."

"He give you his word as *demon*, Will?" Buffy asked her friend, still
eyeing Clarence.

"He. . .he's not a demon. He's a bog-beast. I know he looks bad, with the
bigness and
slime and all...no offense,"

"None taken." Clarence said, not even really paying attention.

"But, he's just having a little relationship trouble. He had a fight with
his mate."

"Relationship trouble? I'm the Slayer, not Chuck Woolery from the Love
Connection. If he
had a...whatever...he probably ate her. And what kind of a name is Clarence
anyway?" This
got his attention. He rose from the bench, and towered over the petite
blonde. She
remained unfazed. "Take it easy, Gigantor."

"I don't appreciate being accused of eating my mate! And my name is very. .
.dignified!"

"By who's standards?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I find you to be very rude! If I was going to eat anyone, it'd be you!"

"Try it, pal!"

Willow hopped off the bench and got in between her friend and the bog beast.
"Knock it
off! Both you! There will be no eating. . .and you'll both stop being so. .
.immature
right now! Would anybody like to argue?"

Both of them looked down at the ground. "We'll stop."

Buffy peered up at Willow casually. "But I'm not apolo -"

"Ssh!" Willow looked at Buffy with the resolve face. "Now we'll all be
nice, not eat each
other, and go to Giles'! Come on."



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