FIC: These Roads We Travel (10/?)

[Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: These Roads We Travel (10/?)
AUTHOR: Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
SUMMARY: The long awaited next story in "The Road Series".
SPOILERS: Everything is fair game.
DISTRIBUTION: The usual suspects. Anyone else, e-mail me please.
AUTHOR?S NOTES: This comes because I've had so many great responses to the series and
many people begging for another. Be careful what you wish for.

{{Indicates flashbacks}}
-----------

Lisa had been going back and forth between her house and Laurel's for over two weeks now.
Every Friday she'd hop on the bus and spend the weekend with Laurel at Giles'. Giles was
glad for the company and even happier to slipped into the role of grandfather to Lisa as
well.

Currently, the only light in the room was a flashlight. Not an ordinary flashlight. It
was a Scooby Gang flashlight. One of those huge industrial ones that made it look like
noon if your room was small enough.

The room Laurel and Lisa were currently occupying was just big enough for them to use the
flashlight to throw an eerie glow on their faces as they tried to scare each other while
telling ghost stories. Laurel was in the lead of course, lending personal experience to
the tales.

"Okay. Can we stop now?" Lisa asked.

Laurel smirked. "And why would you want to do that? Getting scared?" Lisa looked down
and didn't respond. Laurel felt bad. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, Li. We
can stop if you want. I'm sick of ghost stories anyway. I live it every night. Let's
talk about something else."

Lisa nodded and was relieved. "Okay. So. . .why did you sign off without saying goodbye
that night we met? I mean really. . .and don't give me some lame story about your uncle
showing up. I'm not buying it."

Laurel opened her mouth to respond, but shut it again. She'd been caught and she knew
it. She wanted to tell her but, there were so many things to consider. "I, um. . .I
don't know really. I was scared, I guess." She shrugged.

"Did I do something or say something to scare you? If I did, I'm sorry. You know I was
only kidding around. Right?"

Laurel sighed. "It's not you know. . .natural to me, I mean. All the flirting and stuff,
sure that's fun but I've, well, I've had boyfriends but, nothing serious. You know? The
thought of being with someone is. . .nice. I think about it all the time, what normal
sixteen year old wouldn't. . .but when I think about that person's face I. . .I can't see
it. It's like their features are erased or something." She looked up at her. "You think
I'm a total freak now. Right?"

"No, Laurel, no. Of course not. I think about it too. I mean, I may come off as all
knowing and bold and all but, I'm really just as scared as you are. And I get the whole
faceless person thing too." She chuckled. "It's like I can see myself cuddling or
snuggling or even kissing *a* person but, I don't know what they are. I think I'm scared
to define them, their features. Cause one way or another, that's a choice I'm making and
I'm not sure if I'm ready for that choice."

Laurel looked at her, confused. "But I thought that you. . .?" Lisa shook her head no.
"You mean you've never. . .?" She shook her head no again. Laurel thought about this for
a few moments. . .then nailed her on the head with a pillow.

"Hey! What was that for?" Lisa held her hands up to block the next blow.

"*That*?" Laurel hit her again. "Oh, gee, I don't know. Why don't you tell me miss 'bi
till the day I die'?" She tried to hit her again, but Lisa caught the pillow and tugged
it away from her.

"Okay, okay. . .so I deserved it." She laughed. "I just. . .oh, I don't know. You were
so cool when we met in the chat room and I took a chance and messaged you privately and we
kinda hit it off. . .I mean, that's what I believe anyway and it's not like I haven't
given the whole 'other team' thing some serious thought. I have, I. . ." She shrugged.
"I just wanted you to like me. I wanted to keep you interested so you'd keep talking to
me. I. . .I liked having you as a friend and you seemed to enjoy the jokes so I just ran
with it." She looked at Laurel seriously now. "I'm sorry if you feel like I lied to
you. I didn't mean for it to sound that way. Honestly."

"No, Lisa, it's okay, really" She placed her hand on her leg. ". . .I don't want you to
feel bad. I'm just kidding around. Well, kind of." She smiled. "I'm kinda, you know,
relieved that you're not, I mean that you haven't. . ." She froze when she looked down
and noticed her hand was still on Lisa's leg.

Apparently, Lisa noticed it too because she slowly reached over and put her hand on top of
Laurel's. She entwined their fingers together and squeezed reassuringly. "I was so
scared that you'd be. . .I don't know. Disappointed I guess?"

"In what?"

"In everything. In me, how I look, how I sound and the way I act. Just, disappointed in
me generally." She whispered.

"Li, no. I'm not, really. A lot of the reason I didn't want to meet you was because I
didn't want to be a disappointment to you." She smiled. "I mean vampires, sure that's
exciting and all but, take that away and I'm just plain old Laurel Summer Rosenberg."

Lisa quirked her head to the side. "Uh, Summer?"

"It's my middle name. Got a problem with it?" She narrowed her eyes at her friend
playfully. "It's Buffy's last name, well, without the 's' at the end."

"No, I think it's cool. You've got a part of both of your moms in your name. Speaking of
which, I can't wait to meet Buffy, and Faith! I'm so excited about tomorrow."

"I see how it is now." Laurel nodded knowingly. "You're just using me so you can meet
Buffy and Faith. You didn't wanna meet me at all. Now I get it."

Lisa didn't respond. Instead, she hit Laurel with a pillow ? hard. This began one of the
most famous pillow fights in the history of their relationship. The only casualties were
Giles' goose-down pillow, but both girls agreed that it was well worth it.

---------

Xander moved about his home looking for something. It was a very important something, but
he just couldn't remember what. He'd been sleeping soundly and suddenly found himself in
a dream. A voice surrounded him telling him to find 'it' and that 'it' was very important
? that his life and the existence of the rest of the world as he knew it depended on him
finding this item. It had to be prophetic, it just had to be. He realized early on in
his Shadowman career that he had the tendency to get prophetic visions in his sleep. They
weren't anything like Slayer dreams. Buffy and Faith had tried to explain it to him once,
only to let it drop after about an hour of talking in circles. His dreams were different
? vivid ? and not usually filled with double entendre's or hints. They out and out told
him what he needed to do.

He made his way from the kitchen to his den and continued to search. He was going through
a drawer in his desk then suddenly froze. Someone was in his home. His anger rose at the
thought of one of the lower beings treading on the Shadowman's mansion. He rose to his
full height and willed his 'mask' in place. "Show yourself. Now." He bit out angrily.

A breeze came through the room and fluttered his curtains open. The window was closed.

"I don't have time for these games. Who dares enter my home uninvited?" He turned around
and saw a figure standing in the doorway. It was translucent and he could see the door
behind this person but, the person was unmistakable. "Oh, God." He whispered.

"Not quite. . .I haven't met him yet. I mean there weren't any angels or pearly gates or
anything. . .and St. Peter didn't read me my sins so," the figure shrugged. "What do you
think that means?"

"Will!" Xander screamed out and bound over to her with arms open wide. He didn't stop to
think and ? wham!!! Crashed right into the door and fell backwards, hitting his head on
the edge of the desk. "Ow, ow, ow, ow. . .that's gonna leave a mark." He shook his head
and looked up at her. "Transparent." He swiped his hand where her legs were and it went
right through them. "I am *not* pleased."

"Well, if you're not happy to see me then I can just go." She stepped halfway though the
door.

He grabbed for her and hit the door again. "Ahhh!"

She giggled. "So are you gonna stop trying to punch though your door and relax? Geez,
you act like you've never seen a dead person before."

"Ah, but that's where you are wrong my translucent friend." He smiled at her. "If you
were dead, then you wouldn't have been able to come into my house. I have a protection
spell on it and Cyberus' pups keep guard at all the entrances." He shoved his hands in
his pockets and gave her a self satisfied smirk. "So, that means that you are not dead."
The words he spoke registered two seconds after they left his mouth. "Will! You're not
dead! You're not dead! That means you can come back! Woo hoo!!" Xander broke out into
a full 'Snoopy Dance' complete with wiggling his butt and flailing his arms in the air.
"Wait till I tell Buffy and Laurel and Faith and Giles. . .I can't wait!"

"Xander! Xander, calm down." She laughed. She waited until his dance slowed then
eventually stopped. He gave her a sheepish grin and mumbled 'sorry'. "It's okay, but. .
.you can't tell them. *Anything*. Got it? I need your help and we can't let them know
until we're sure that it's gonna work, and I'm not even that sure what *it* is."

He stood there in awe. He looked at her, really looked at her and realized this wasn't a
dream. Willow, his best friend of forever and a day, was standing in his den asking for
help. She wasn't dead, translucent maybe, but definitely not dead.

She saw his expression sober up a bit and was concerned. "Xand?"

He looked around then back at her again. "I would give everything up right now if only I
could hug you." He said sadly.

"Oh, Xander." She reached up to his face and tried to touch him. "I know. I need you to
try and be strong and to help me. I know you have a job to do, but."

He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. If it takes me a millennia to get you back, I'll do
it. Job be damned." He paused a moment. "They miss you, a lot. Laurel keeps it hidden
well but Buffy. . .you could always see in her eyes when something wasn't quite right."

"I know. I saw them, at the cemetery." He gave her a confused look and she put up her
hand to silence him. "Don't ask, it's a long story. Laurel looked disturbed and Buffy
looked like she hadn't slept in months. It's a good thing Faith is around."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, I tried to talk to Laurel but. . .no dice. She's not givin an
inch. Geez, remind you of anyone?" He smiled. "I think I know what's going on with her
but, Buffy. . .she's another story entirely."

"I know what's going on with Buffy." Willow remarked a little sadly. "I wouldn't worry
about it. She'll be fine as long as Faith is around to keep her in line."

Xander caught the tone of her voice. "No. Uh uh, not if I can help it. I'll keep Buffy
in line myself."

"She's lonely Xander and I can't blame her. I can't even be mad really. I kept so many
things from her over the past two years, things that led me to where I am now. .
.practically invisible visiting you in Limbo. If anyone should be mad, it's Buffy and
Laurel. She's only sixteen. . .I know what it's like not to have your mom around when
you're at that age."

"You two belong together."

"I can't even 'get solid' Xander. . .how am I supposed to spend the rest of my life with
Buffy? Come on, now is the time to get realistic. If I can't live with her and love her
the way she deserves then I don't want to stop her from being happy either."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Will. We don't even have a plan yet, and already
you're giving her up. Hang in there. We'll figure something out."

Willow smiled. "Okay. Hey, Xand? Mind if I stick around? Cause in my condition, I
really don't have any place else to go and I don't think I sleep. . ."

He grinned widely. "You never have to ask that! Of course you can stay. I'll ring up
the butler and have him get a room ready for you."

She smirked. "'Ring up the butler?' You sound like. . ."

"Giles, yeah, don't remind me." He shook his head. "After you're settled in, the first
thing we're gonna do is take a walk around and find out if we can get you all together. I
have a few favors owed to me."

She laughed. "I'm warning you mister, one humpty dumpty crack and I'll. . ."

He put he hands up in defense. "Okay, okay. . .I wasn't even thinking about it. Much."

They moved into the living room where they could talk comfortably. Willow sat down on the
couch beside him and smiled. "This is weird." She shook her head. "I'm practically
invisible, yet I can still sit down on solid furniture. . .something I'll have to get used
to I guess."

"Not for too long though. We'll figure something out."

Willow smiled at his optimism. "Tell me, Xander. What's wrong with Laurel? She looks so
sad, so. . lost. I'd hate to think that I did that to her. That she's hurting over me."

Xander sighed. "She is hurting over you, Will. She lost her mother and it's not an easy
thing to deal with at her age. I'm sorry if you feel guilty over that, I really wish
there was something I could do but, there's not. She's dealing with something now. I can
only guess what it is, but, I know it's big. She does that 'twirly hair' thing Buffy
always does when she's disturbed. . .freaks me out too. She's got so much of both of you
in her."

"Well? What do you think is wrong?" Willow pushed him.

Xander smiled. "Well, what was wrong with you when you were sixteen? Wait, that didn't
sound right. . .um, what disturbed you and was constantly in the back of your mind?
What's the one thing that you were scared to death of people finding out about you?"

Willow thought for a few minutes. It could have been anything, really. Sixteen was a
tough age to get through. . .so much was happening. She was just glad she had Buffy there
to help her. Buffy. . .how she felt about Buffy. It would have devastated her if anyone
found out, but it was her inner most secret. She looked up at him in surprise. "No, it
can't be. Can it?"

Xander shrugged. "I don't know, Will. I tried to get her to talk to me. The only thing
she said was that she was being sixteen and that it sucked. . .I suggested that she talk
to Buffy but she totally nixed the idea and told me it was way too personal. I could only
think of one thing."

"Well, science has tried to prove that it's genetic." She laughed. "Does she, um, have a
friend?" Xander was silent and looked away. She tried to slug him on the arm but she
went right though him. "Damn it!"

He laughed. "Ha! Don't like it very much. Now do ya?"

"Xander!"

"I think so, I don't know. She's. . .she's such a private kid, you know? Keeps
everything locked inside the way Buffy does. She's been hangin out with this one girl a
lot. They stay at Giles' every weekend. Who knows."

"Name?" Willow prodded.

"You never stop 'momming', do you?" He smiled. "Lisa, her name is Lisa. She looks like
a good kid, goes to catholic school over on the other side of town, both parents are
together but we both know that doesn't mean anything."

Willow nodded. "Yeah. So can you find out more for me? About Laurel I mean. I'm
keeping my eye on Buffy, so don't worry about her." She smiled.

"Yeah, I'll find out. It's late and I have a full day ahead of me. You gonna be okay? I
can stay with you if you want. Technically I don't need the sleep but,"

"No, I'll be fine. I'll head up to my room as soon as it's ready."

He got off the couch and headed towards the stairs. "Hey Will? I missed you, so much.
We'll take care of everything tomorrow. I have a few errands to run but, you're my
priority now. Okay?"

She smiled. "Okay. Thanks Xander."

--------------




--
Your humble bard,
~~Kimber

"Lisa's Personal Pit Pet" *eg*
Official Noodle wetter and distributor, Gutter-Slut and Vice President and Treasurer of
the Riley/Oz neutering society and garden club...Personnel Recruiter for all main gutter
and sub gutter affairs.



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