FF: Shadowwalker 3/?

[Carol.Clarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Title: Shadowwalker
Chapter Three: Short Sight
Rating: PG-13 now, later? 
Disclaimer: Joss Weldon and Mutant Enemy own it all 
Summary: Buffy died but it's not the end. 
Thanks: Cheryl Hill
Note: Spoilers for Gift. I couldn't deal with Buffy being dead. And this
idea was bouncing in my head for a while. Hope it's not too disjointed. 

Short Sight

Kalib and Joshua carefully tied Buffy's legs to the side of the motorcycle.
It was important her legs didn't slip off and get burned on the engine or
drag on the ground. This was the fifth time Nada had taken her for a ride on
the back of the bike but this was the first time Nada was actually taking
her for a ride to an actual destination. 

On her previous rides they had just driven up and down the street in front
of their house. Kalib and Josh running beside the bike the first two times.
The family was always careful with Buffy. 

"Are you sure you don't want us to tail you in the car?" Kalib asked
worriedly. 

"We will be ok, besides a husband should not be around when his future wife
is planning his wedding." Nada joked punching her brother playfully on the
arm.

"You can't blame him, leaving you alone with a mans girlfriend is pretty
scary. You might talk her into that all-leather wedding or something." Josh
joked back as he tied the last strap around Buffy's waist and then fixed the
last part around Nada's waist so that the two women were literally tied
together. 

Buffy's upper body was getting stronger all the time. She could pull herself
up and easily hold onto Nada on the bike but her lower body still did not
respond at all. 

"Buffy you ready?" Nada asked revving the engine of the street legal dirt
bike. Buffy wrapped her arms around Nada as a form of answer. Words still
did not come easily to the one time slayer. Nada smiled at her brothers and
then began the 3 block journey. 

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))) 

Cordelia Chase rubbed her hand on her forehead at the headache that should
have been there. She was actually very disturbed by the fact she didn't have
a headache because she was absolutely sure she had been having a recurring
vision. She was used to having visions, and the cost she had to pay for
having visions. The mind numbing headaches that came with each vision.

Which was why this vision was pissing her off. Since the day that Willow
Rosenberg had shown up at the Hyperion Hotel to tell Angel that Buffy was
dead she had been having this vision. She couldn't even say the same vision,
because it was continuously changing, but it was still the same vision. And
it didn't give her a headache. It just was always there nagging her to do...
what? That was the part that really pissed her off. It didn't seem to want
her to do anything. In fact it was a serious of non-actions. 

Do not tell Angel. Do not tell Giles. Do not tell Willow. Like she had a
clue what she was not to tell them. And the lack of headache just made her
wonder if she was completely sane or if all those visions had finally fried
her brain. 

At least today her vision had told her to do something other than not tell
somebody something she had no clue about. No, today she was going to one of
the poorest areas of LA to ask a witch about her wedding plans. Like that
made a lot of sense. 

Looking down at the address first, she looked up at the duplex and
double-checked it against the address. It wasn't necessary; she recognized
the house from her vision. Going up the sidewalk she reached the door and
knocked. 

A young woman of about 19 or 20 answered the door. She was blond about five
six, and while not stunning she was very pretty with a pleasant smile. She
was also a few months pregnant. She wasn't showing yet but Cordelia could
sense the second life within the young woman. Cordelia looked up from her
belly where she had been staring and into the woman's eyes. "Hello my name
is Cordelia Chase and I understand you need help planning a wedding."

"You must be kidding, right?" The woman replied still looking at Cordelia. 

"I don't think she is dear." A very beautiful three-eyed demon said from
behind the young woman. "Cindy let her in, I believe the Powers That Be have
sent you a wedding planner. 

"You're a demon." Cordelia said a little shocked. The woman was beautiful.
Possibly the most beautiful woman Cordelia had ever seen. 

"And you're a seer." Madelyn said with a smile at the woman's confusion. 

"Why am I here?" Cordelia said weakly stepping into the house and moving
into the living room toward the demon. 

"You're the seer, why do you think you are here?" Madelyn responded helping
Cordelia to sit down on the couch. 

"To plan a wedding I think. But they said she was a witch." Cordelia said
trying to get control of herself. This demon was clearly playing havoc with
her mind. If it were possible she would swear she was madly in love with the
demon on first sight. She could feel her hands shaking. 

"Cindy why don't you get your wedding planner a drink of water." Madelyn
replied, then in a whisper to her future daughter-in-law said; "It will be
alright dear." 

Cindy brought Cordelia a glass of water and helped her hold the glass until
she took a drink. Cordelia looked up at Cindy and then at her necklace. It
was a protection symbol she recognized. 

"Tara has a necklace just like that. I don't know Tara well, she is Willow's
girlfriend." Cordelia blurted out but it was helping her gain back some
control. "I think I prefer the headaches." She then added. 

Then she looked around the duplex. She drank the rest of the water. "Since
you're pregnant I take it you want to get married quickly." Cordelia replied
looking at the young witch and future bride. 

"I never said I was preg... .How did you know?" Cindy said grabbing her
stomach and blushing. 

"Cindy I like you, and am looking forward to my first grandchild. Just as
long as you love my son and really want to get married." Madelyn said
carefully moving over to hug the girl. 

"My mother doesn't know yet." Cindy whispered leaning into Madelyn's
embrace. 

"Well in a few months you won't have to tell her. Cindy she loves you. She
will come around. She is coming to help you plan the wedding today, it's a
start." Madelyn said to reassure the girl. 

"Only because Aunt Ruth is making her." Cindy replied hugging Madelyn one
last time and then moving back over to the couch. 

"So what did you say your name was again?" Cindy asked.
"Cordelia Chase, and I have never actually planed a wedding before."
Cordelia said holding out her hand. 

Cindy took it and said, "Cindy Jameson, and I have never been married before
so we're even."

"I am Madelyn Romanoff, the future mother in law." The demon said with a
smile sitting down on a chair facing the two young women. 

"We don't have a lot of money. There is no way I can pay you." Cindy
suddenly said.

"I don't think I am supposed to charge on this one. Honestly I don't know
why the PTB sent me here but I am suppose to help you with the wedding, I
think anyway." Cordelia said smiling back at the two women. On the whole it
wasn't the worst assignment the powers that be had sent her on.

Madelyn suddenly shifted and her third eye disappeared. She took on a far
more human appearance as two older women walked in the door. 

"Mom, Aunt Ruth, I am glad you both came." Cindy said running to the door.
Cordelia immediately figured out that Cindy's mother did not want her
daughter to marry Madelyns' son but her mother being here for the planning
was a positive sign for Cindy. The girl was praying her mother would come
around. 

Mrs. Jameson leaned over and kissed her daughters cheek then walked into the
duplex. "I see you have done some housekeeping. You and Kalib still plan on
living here after the wedding?" She said in a less than kind tone. 

"That is the plan for now. The rent is cheap and it really isn't a bad place
to live." Cindy said looking nervously at the floor. 

"Hello Mrs. Jameson, I am Madelyn Romanoff, Kalib's mother." Madelyn said
holding out her hand. Mrs. Jameson just walked past her not taking her hand
and moving over to Cordelia who was still sitting on the couch. 

"Hi, I am Ruth Michaels, Cindy's aunt." Ruth said taking Madelyn's hand and
shaking it. 

"You must be Nada, Kalib's sister." Mrs. Jameson said flopping down on the
chair facing Cordelia. 

"I am Cordelia Chase. I am here to help plan the wedding." Cordelia
answered.

"I thought you were too pretty to be a half demon." Mrs. Jameson said
staring at Cordelia.

"Funny I thought a practicing witch would understand about prejudice,
Madelyn may be a demon but at least she has manors." Cordelia replied
staring Mrs. Jameson in the eye. 

Mrs. Jameson just laughed, "I like you." Then she looked at Madelyn and
said, "I thought your oldest daughter was coming over to help with the
planning."

"Nada and Buffy should be here any minute. Nada is probably riding Buffy up
and down the street for a few more minutes." Madelyn said quietly.
Cordelia's ears perked up at Buffy's name. There were lots of girls named
Buffy, right? 

Just then the sound of a motorcycle pulling up could be heard in the yard.
"I'll go help Nada carry Buffy in." Cindy said before she left the house.
Cordelia just held her breath, as she became pale white. She knew the answer
to her vision was coming in the door. 

Cindy held the door open as Nada carried Buffy into the house. Buffy easily
kept her arms around Nada's neck. She was much thinner than Cordelia
remembered and very pale but it was Buffy Summers without a question. Buffy
looked up as she was carried into the house.
"Cordy, you're in my spot on the couch, and what the hell are you doing here
anyway?" Buffy asked her one time friend. 

Cordelia felt the need to faint instead she moved off the couch. Helped Nada
put Buffy down then she grabbed Buffy and hugged her as tears of joy and
sorrow poured down her cheeks. "I was so afraid." Cordelia cried squeezing
the former slayer with all her strength.

"I never knew you cared." Buffy said wrapping her arms around Cordelia's
back.

Cordelia leant back, and said, "Ok, so I am a bitch, I still missed you."
Buffy just laughed.

"Thanks Cordy." Buffy said pulling away from the ex-cheerleader. 

"I take it you know each other?" A jealous Nada asked. 

"Cordy this is Nada, Nada this is Cordelia Chase. I told you about her, she
was the one that was the cheerleader." Buffy said in explanation. 

"Yes and now she is going to help us plan a wedding. You two can talk
later." Madelyn said as she handed out notebooks. It was time to plan the
wedding.

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))))))))))))))))))))))

Oddly Cordelia had turned all her energies over to wedding planning. She had
taken a week off of work, telling angel she needed a break. She was now busy
checking into getting flower arrangements made; priests that did Wicca
ceremonies; a place for the wedding. And she was sure that she and Cindy
would be good friends after the wedding. They really were alike and they
both needed a friend. 

If planning the wedding was the only thing she had to deal with she would
have been pretty happy about everything. But there was Buffy. A Buffy she
couldn't tell anyone about. 

That was a clear point. No one was to know Buffy Summers was alive. It was
too dangerous. She had a series of headache ridden visions about what would
happen if Buffy was discovered to be alive, to be the Shadowwalker too soon.


Buffy was still weak. She still couldn't use her lower body. Hell she was
still wearing diapers. And she was having these crazy periods that Nada
called fits. Cordelia had watched as Buffy suddenly went off wildly swinging
her arms screaming about killing some demon. She managed to punch Nada so
hard she sent the girl flying across the room. It gave her one hell of a
black eye. But somehow the half demon managed to get up off the floor and
calm her down. 

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
))))))))))))))

"Nice black eye, did she hit you again?" Cordelia asked Nada as she moved
into the Romanoff house.

"Cool it, she never remembers hitting me." Nada said in a whisper.

"So what do you tell her?" Cordelia asked as she shut the front door. 

"Josh and I were playing softball and I missed." Nada said evenly. The two
women clearly didn't like each other. 

"Yeah that is believable. So where is she?" Cordy asked rudely. She loved
every member of the family but Nada. For some reason she just couldn't be
nice to the girl. 

"Kalib is giving her a bath." Nada said leading Cordy back into the bedroom
she shared with Buffy. 
"Great, Buffy is getting a bath by your brother." Cordelia said in a huff
before looking at the clothes laid out of the bed for Buffy to wear. "You
know just because you have that whole dyke thing going for you doesn't mean
you have to dress Buffy like she is going for Ms Gay America. Buffy looks
good in pink." Cordy replied looking at Nada.

"Sorry you don't like her clothes. It's not like she came to us with a
complete Barbara fashion selection. Mine were the only ones that fit her."
Nada said very defensively. 

"I really am a complete bitch I am sorry. It just hurts to see her."
Cordelia said then held out a bag to Nada.
"I bought her a new outfit. Something a little more 'old Buffy'." 

"And it's pink." Nada said taking the jeans out of the bag. 

"With a matching top." Cordelia added as Nada took out the matching blouse. 

"Did your parents ever let you play with dolls as a child, is that why you
need to play dress up with your friends as an adult?" Nada said looking the
outfit over. 

"I need to get you and Willow together." Cordelia replied before fingering
the outfit. She had a strange need to dress Buffy more like the woman she
remembered than the helpless demon she had become. Demon, Cordelia still
wasn't sure about that title. But she was sure whatever Buffy was, she was
definitely no longer human. 

Before the two women could argue anymore, Kalib entered the room carrying
Buffy wrapped in a towel.
"Hey I almost completely bathed myself today." Buffy said happily. She was
enjoying becoming more independent. 

"That is not good, who will Josh and Kalib check out if the boys stop
bathing you." Nada said with an evil grin. Kalib just blushed bright red. 

Buffy just laughed while Kalib carefully placed her on the bed. The three of
them had been bathing and caring for Buffy for almost 6 months now. 

"I bought you a new out fit." Cordelia said holding up the pink jeans and
matching top. Even she understood that dressing someone who didn't have
complete use of their body was different from dressing someone who could
manage tight jeans. 

"Very pink Cordy." Buffy said with her trade mark smirk. 

"You have been around Nada too long. Pink is very in this year." Cordy said
crossing her arms. 

"It was very sweet." Buffy stated. Buffy had not asked Cordelia one question
about her friends and family. And Cordelia was actually relieved by that.
Still the growing silence was getting on her nerves. 

"You go back to work tomorrow?" Buffy said as she lowered the towel and
started to put the new shirt on. Kalib turned his head and slipped out of
the room. 

"Yes, somebody has to keep those guys in line." Cordelia said moving over to
help Buffy with her other arm. Her arms still weren't working 100 percent.
She was doing well with gross motor movements but fine motor movements were
still difficult. 

"I like the shirt." Buffy said to change the subject. She began to try and
button the shirt but after the first 3 buttons she gave up and let Nada
finish buttoning the shirt. 

"I can't wait until I don't have to wear these anymore." Buffy said as Nada
began putting her diaper in place.

"I bet Nada feels the same way." Cordelia replied with a smile. "So what
movie are we going to see?" Cordelia asked as Nada began to put on the loose
fitting pink jeans. Cordelia had been careful to pick out pants that would
be easy for the ex slayer to wear. 

"Something PG, Martha is going with us." Nada replied.

"Speaking of the rug rats where are the kids?" Buffy asked.

"Mom took them to the park, except for Martha who is helping Cindy." Nada
said as she zipped Buffy's pants in place.

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)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

"So you're from the Magic Box?" Cindy carefully asked the two women at the
restaurant as the four of them took seats at the table. 

"I'm Willow Rosenberg and this is Tara McClay." Willow said pointing out
Tara.

"It's nice to finally meet you after talking to you and Anya Harris on the
phone." Cindy said smiling at the two witches. "Oh this is my soon to be
sister in law Martha Romanoff." Cindy said introducing the young girl at her
side. Martha was just now learning to hide her third eye and this was in a
way a kind of test for her. If she could stay in human form long enough she
could go to public school next year and she really wanted that a great deal.


"Nice to m..m..m meet you." Tara said smiling. She recognized another shy
soul like herself immediately. 

"Here is a list of our herb orders, it's about double what we have been
ordering from your company. And we have added a few other items we are
looking for and what we are willing to pay for them." Willow said handing
Cindy over the typed inventory list of herbs and other magic items they were
buying for the Magic Box. 

Cindy took the list and looked it over carefully. "Well most of the herbs I
can handle. But I am going to be short on Zintra root. The weather wasn't
good for that root this year. I have a source for the Kalnip scales so if
you give me a few days I can fill your whole order, the rest I am going to
have to check on. Are you going to be in town long?" Cindy asked looking up
at the two witches.

"A few days, we have a couple of other dealers to see." Willow said slowly. 

"I am going out tonight with my sister in laws to be, and won't get back to
my shop until tomorrow. It's going to take me a few days to pull this
together anyway, so is there's someplace I can call you. With Mr. Giles,
well he always respected my need to keep the shop location secret. Some of
this stuff is powerful and I don't... it's just better to keep it secret."
Cindy said slowly. 

"We are staying with friends, here is the number where you can reach us."
Willow said handing the number over to Cindy.

Cindy looked at it and then let Martha look at it. "It's the Hyperion Hotel
number." Martha whispered to Cindy.

"How did you know that?" Tara asked

"We know Cordelia, she works there." Martha said smiling, "Do you know
Cordelia too?"

"We know her." Willow said carefully

"Is she planning your wedding." Martha then blurted out, looking at Tara and
Willow clearly asking if Cordelia was planning their wedding.

"No." Willow said a little shocked.

"She does seem a little homophobic. She doesn't mean it and she would never
admit it, but ... well. She just has a lot of faith in fashion. You know she
likes things to be like they are in magazines. To be picture perfect. But
she really is a great person once you get past the fashion. " Cindy said
with a smile. 

"I never thought of Cordelia like that before. But she is a good friend. You
really know her?" Willow said surprised. 










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