FF//RoL II: Revelations and Realizations (8/?)

[keeper444@xxxxxxxxx]

Well here we are and I'm back again. To begin with I'd like to once
again thank all of you that have written to let me know you're enjoying
this twisted little tour through the demented maze of my mind. Lords,
it's a mess in there! 
Anyway here is yet another chapter in this continuing story. Yes it will
reach a conclusion eventually but there's still a lot these people have
to learn before they can go on with their lives. Have fun, I hope you
enjoy the ride. 
TTFN
Alex 
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Full disclaimers can be found at: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/message/8661 
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Revelations and Realizations (8/?) 
By: Alex P. 
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Buffy kicked open the doors to their rooms, followed closely by her two
fellow warriors. Nightrunner went to the foot of the huge bed that her
packmates shared and leapt onto the soft surface wanting to be near to
protect both her distressed packmate and worried mate. 

Buffy gently lay her weeping lover down and was going to get up to allow
her lover her personal space, but Willow grabbed her wrist with amazing
strength and begged her not to leave her. In response the Slayer lay
down and pulled the red haired witch into a loving and protective
embrace, holding her tenderly while she sobbed out her apparent grief or
whatever it was that was hurting her. 

"I don't know Buffy," Willow answered once she was able to speak through
the sobs. "I just have this feeling of incredible pain, like a part of
me has been ripped open and left to bleed out. I also get 
this disoriented feeling like something that wasn't right has been
righted but in a terrible and agonizing way." 

"You are right my child." Brigit's voice said as she materialized in the
doorway. "Somehow the path of true destiny has been diverted and was
allowed to deviate from its goal much too far. That caused a serious
imbalance in the cosmos. It has been rectified or at least turned in the
proper direction. 
Two that were to be one were sent in the wrong direction and thus the
course of four lives were being corrupted. Destiny in the form of a
powerful deity has had to take desperate measures to return those life
lines to their proper place." 

Morrigan moved swiftly to her mate's side to comfort her as she spoke.
It was obvious to everyone in the room that whatever the normally serene
and quiet woman had learned had upset her greatly. Her copious tears
were easily seen by all of them. 

"Who?" Willow asked her voice broken by the depths of her emotion and
worry. "Which of our loved ones has paid destiny's price?" 

"That I can not tell you my dearest child." Brigit told her student, the
regret was clearly written on the blonde woman's face and in her dark
blue eyes. "I was not given that knowledge. I only know that involves
your fellow warriors of the Light and that nothing any of us could have
tried would have changed the course set by destiny to thwart the
interference of the Dark's forces." 

"We need to go home." Buffy said flatly in a voice that would brook no
descent. "If our friends are endangered we should be there to protect
and support them. It is my responsibility to insure the safety of the
people that follow me." 

Buffy looked over the huddled form of her mate and directly into the
burning green eyes of her mentor, doing her best to project how
important she believed this to be. 

"Slayer," Brigit said softly holding a finger to her impetuous mate's
lips to stall her comment, "I know you are worried for your extended
family and given your position as head of your clan your anxieties are
amplified greatly. 
However I must counsel patience,
for the sake of 
both yourself and your mate and all the others involved in this
unfortunate situation." 

"Patience isn't an easy thing for me Brigit." Buffy returned just as
calmly, but the violence she was holding back was visible just below the
surface, "I'm not inclined to be patient when one of the main reasons I
have for continuing this insanity as the Slayer, and not just giving up
and leaving it for the next poor deluded sucker, are the ones getting
hurt because they believe in me. No, Brigit, 
patience is hardly an option I would normally consider." 

The Slayer waited for her teacher's reply staring unwavering into the
dark blue eyes of the woman once called the Goddess of healing and
compassion, not in defiance, but in all the seriousness and firmness of
someone with her responsibilities in her position. She was also trying
to convey her willingness to consider their reasons and to compromise if
their answers merited it. 

"Slayer your point is well made and to your credit it is the argument of
a clan chieftain that has the concerns of her people close to her
heart." Brigit began answering the young woman she had come to respect
for her intelligence as well as her fighting abilities, and had become
very fond of. "It is an admirable trait and one to be cultivated to be
sure. However as a clan chief or even a pack alpha you must consider the
good of the entire pack or clan when you are making your decisions. 
All I ask is that you listen to
what I have to 
say and then make your decision based on the needs and security of your
clan." 

The two women looked into each other's eyes trying to gauge the others
state of mind and their sincerity. Understanding her student's dilemma
Morrigan knew it was time to step in. The tall redhead took he blonde
lover in her arms and rested her chin on the top of her head. 

"She's bein' as fair as she can Elizabeth," the legendary warrior added,
the fact that she'd used Buffy's given name let the Slayer know just how
serious she believed this was. "Just know that no matter what ya' decide
ta do, my darlin' Brigit and myself are goin' ta stand wit ya', even
against Lugh himself if ya' need us to." 

Buffy was thrown a little by her mentor's statement of support, she was
about to tell Brigit to go on and tell her what she knew when
Nightrunner made her presence known. The huge black wolf moved up on the
bed and took her position in front of Willow and Buffy to show the other
women where her loyalties lay. 

She would stand and protect her pack-mates no matter the foe. Buffy
smiled at her new friend's gesture and projected her affection and
appreciation to her pack-mate. 

"Ah your pack-mate has added her support as well my dear," Brigit
pointed out and smiled at the dire-wolf's actions. "You inspire great
loyalty Slayer, it is a credit to you that so many would gladly stand
with you, but I also understand it is a great burden as well to be the
one responsible for the welfare and actions of so many others. It is
because of this obligation that I ask that you hear me out before you
make your decision. The out come of your choice will have a lasting
effect on all those you hold dear." 

Buffy studied the deceptively small woman for a moment as if trying to
gauge her sincerity. Seeing no indications of any kind of deception the
Slayer began to think it might be for the best to hear what the woman
many had called Goddess felt was so important to those who for whatever
reason followed her lead. 

"Alright Brigit," Buffy sighed in resignation "I'll listen to what you
have to say, but I have to tell you, I don't think that my being in
danger will carry much weight when the safety and well being of my
friends and loved ones is involved." 

Sensing the young woman's determination to do what was right for her
followers Brigit smiled and stepped away from her tall red haired
warrior and went over to sit on the edge of the bed that held the Slayer
and her two clan members. 

The small woman seemed to fill the room with her aura of peace and
serenity, feeling her student's anxiety over this unforeseen and
precarious situation and her willingness to accept outside council,
Brigit relaxed and sat on the edge of the bed near the wolf, as she
began her explanation the small blonde instinctively began to scratch
the huge black animal's ears unaware of the endearing effect her natural
unassuming display of affection had on the other four occupants of the
room. 

"The truth of the matter is that your friends are not in any life
threatening danger. Yes, they are in pain right now, and that pain is
having an effect on my dearest student, Willow, they will eventually get
past it and will be immeasurably stronger because of it." 
Brigit began focusing her attention on Buffy, determined that the
volatile young woman hear and understand the message she had to deliver.
"I'm sure they would feel a little better if you and your mate were
there to support them, but I have to tell you that the relief you bring
would be short lived. If you and Willow were to return to your realm now
you and she along with everyone you hold dear would be either dead or
worse tuned to the side of the Darkness within a month." 

Both young women gasped at this revelation and Buffy opened her mouth to
protest but Willow beat her to it. 

"How can that be?" the distraught redhead said her voice nearly breaking
with the mix of pain and anxiety that was assaulting her senses
threatening to overwhelm her. "How can you know that for certain? We
would never turn to the other side and neith...." 

Willow was cut off when her mate touched her shoulder and gently
squeezed it, to get her attention. 

"Wills honey," the Slayer said softly "we did promise to hear her out,
and I think we should calm down and hear what she has to say. I'm sure
Brigit will explain everything if we just give her a chance. K?" 

"You're right my heart," Willow agreed as she kissed her lover's
reassuring hand. "I'm sorry Brigit, please go on." 

Brigit nodded accepting the young witch's apology. 

"It is quite alright my child, it was quite a harsh and abrupt manner to
give you such news and I shouldn't have told you in that way. I just
wanted you to understand the full gravity of the decision you and your
mate are about to make." Brigit replied to Willow's apology then turned
back to Buffy, "I am not saying this to make you stay, it is the facts
as divined by our seers." 

The small blonde's intense dark blue eyes locked with Buffy's equally
intense hazel eyes, the gold and red flecks flashing brightly at her
mentor's statement. Buffy felt as if she were pinned to the spot as
those eyes burned straight to her soul, laying bare so that the
information would soak into her very being. 

"As you know," Brigit continued "there are always alternatives whenever
a major life decision is made, and once the final choice is made all but
one of the timelines will cease to exist. Until the decision is made all
of the alternate timelines are there and we sit on a nexus. Using the
capabilities of some of our seers it is sometimes possible to see the
outcome of each of the alternate timelines. When all this occurred
tonight I asked our seers to try to see what had occurred and what the
consequences would be of whatever decision you might make. 
Only one was able to pierce the veil enough to see the results. In one
timeline you chose to return to your friends and it came to an end
within a short span with the results I gave you. 
The other continued on into the mists of time, and while I can not
promise that you will not be defeated in the future, I can guarantee
that if you should ignore this warning, you will not be able to with
stand the powerful forces of the Darkness that are arrayed against you
at this time. 
What he saw was so disturbing the seer has gone into seclusion grieving
over the image he saw. 
I will tell you if you wish, 
but it is a hard thing to know." 

"Tell me." the Slayer croaked her throat suddenly very dry. 

Willow silently nodded her agreement but it was obvious she feared the
answer. 

"The man that looked into your future has asked that after you know that
you do not try to contact him as he wishes to forget his vision." Brigit
told them in preparation for sharing the knowledge she wished she didn't
possess. "What he saw was that you, your mate, your watcher, and your
seer, I believe her name to be Cordelia, all dead. 
Your mother, and everyone associated with your struggle against the
Darkness, some you don't even know yet, all that survive that final
confrontation were all turned into servants of the Darkness, and because
of their attachment to you they are reduced to the lowest most
humiliating slaves of the Dark Lord you know as Dracula." 

Brigit sat quietly letting the startling information sink through the
raging storm going on in the Slayer's mind. Her emotions were at war
with the more logical and sensible side of the young woman. 

On one side she knew through her beloved mate that someone they cared
about was in dire trouble, along with another of their loved ones that
were badly hurt or worse, and like any other normal caring and
compassionate person she wanted to be there to comfort and protect them. 

On the other hand, she had the facts given to her, and since she was
responsible for more than just herself she was forced to consider the
consequences her actions would have on the others. 

She knew neither Brigit or any of the others were capable of lying to
her the vows they took upon entering the Druid society would cause them
unimaginable pain and possibly death if they lied to another and
especially to her or her wife. 

The new clan chief was obviously torn between leaving and facing the
consequences of the Druid seer's vision or staying, knowing the pain her
mate would suffer from the pain and suffering their friends were
enduring. Plus the knowing that her friends were facing and suffering
because they were fighting the evils that she was supposed to be
protecting them from. 

Willow turned and looked deeply into her lover's eyes, despite Buffy's
attempt to keep her torturous thoughts from her mate, Willow was still
able to read the agony that being the Chosen One was putting her mate
through once more. 

Once again Willow wished Buffy would let her share the burden of destiny
with her, but she knew that the deeply ingrained and stubborn protective
streak wouldn't allow the woman she loved beyond distraction to
relinquish her responsibilities to anyone, and especially the one woman
on earth that the Slayer was determined to protect above all others. 

Being the Great Sorceress Willow was just as determined to aid her
Slayer whether she liked it or not, and she knew this was the time to
speak up and let the Slayer know where she stood. 

"Buffy," Willow's voice was weak and drawn from the pain brought on by
the overwhelming grief she had experienced and to be honest still felt.
"I know you're worried about me, but we can't go no matter how much it
hurts. 
After what Brigit just said we simply can't take the chance that
something that bad could happen, 
because we weren't ready for it. 
Besides how could my soul ever rest when I would know it happened
because of me." 

"Are you sure sweetheart?" Buffy whispered looking down at her life mate 
and the absolute center of her existence. "I know you're hurting so
don't try acting all noble and self sacrificing on me. 
I need to know what my Wills feels, not what she thinks everyone else
thinks she should feel." 

"I know my love." the Sorceress answered as she raised a hand and gently
caressed the face she always saw even in her dreams. "I've seen that our
friends are troubled and something very frightening has happened, that I
can feel through the veil, but I can feel all of them and while some are
hurt no one is dead or dying. Now that we know that what happened wasn't
life threatening we have to consider their distress weighed against what
we know will happen if we go back too soon, and you know we must stay as
do I but if you still feel we must go back, then know that I will be at
your side where I'm destined to be." 

Buffy closed her eyes and leaned into the soft caressing hand as she
listened to what her deeply loved Wills had to say. A slight frown
crossed her lips and her brows furrowed when it became obvious where
Willow's line of thought was going. 

She knew the highly conscientious 
Sorceress would never shirk her responsibilities in favor of her mate
and the Slayer was also sure the her wife knew the only reason Buffy
didn't like it was no matter how right or reasonable it was to stay,
staying was causing Willow pain. 

As far as Buffy was concerned all rights and reasons went out the window
when it was about relieving Willow's pain, but as much as it really
irked the Slayer, she was forced to admit her lover and her mentors were
right and there was really only one answer she could give the quiet
patiently waiting blonde. 

"Alright, Brigit," Buffy conceded reluctantly "you can tell the elders
we'll stay for now, ONLY because Wills says so. If remaining causes her
anymore pain, we'll be gone in a heartbeat." 

Nightrunner yipped her agreement as it was her duty to help protect the
Alpha's mate and she too hated it when the redhead was in pain. In many
ways the Alpha's mate was more important to protect because she was the
future of the pack. 

Morrigan had to smile slightly, secretly approving of her student's
defiance. She was well aware of how high handed the Druids could be and
she used to rally against them herself. 

The fact that Morrigan saw a lot of herself in the small feisty blonde
warrior only endeared the Slayer to her even more. Brigit gave the
younger woman a sad smile knowing the inner turmoil she was facing and
how the choices would only get harder from now on. 

"I see your worry my child," the serene woman said softly, her gentle
dark blue eyes conveying her empathy for the Slayer. "You have made a
difficult decision considering your dilemma. It is always hard when
weighing the greater good against the possible detriment of your
friends. 
Your father would be proud of your leadership and maturity." 

Buffy's head jerked and her spine stiffened at the mention of her
father. 

"Who the hell cares what Hank Summers thinks?" the enraged Slayer
snarled as her hazel eyes turned hard and cold "That son-of-a-bitch is
no more a father to me than a sperm donor." 

To her surprise Brigit smiled at her indulgently and Morrigan laughed
out loud. 

"I'm so glad you find amusement at my father abandoning me." Buffy
growled both angry and hurt by the women's seemingly inappropriate
behavior. "I had expected better of you." 

Morrigan grabbed up the upset Slayer and gave her a bone-crushing hug to
forestall any further expressions of her anger. The tall wild redhead
had decided it was time for all the Druids and watcher's secrecy and
deception to be ended. 

The mystery surrounding the Chosen One had always irritated the ancient
warrior it went against everything she had always stood for and the
compassionate woman felt a deep maternal connection with her young pupil
and she thought it cruel to make the child believe that the heartless
bastard was her natural father. 

"Ah my darlin' Slayer, the things that have been kept from you are
legion, and as far as I can see it's done for no apparent reason."
Morrigan said her patience clearly at an end with the supposed mystic
secrets of the Druids. "The first thing ya' got ta know, is that useless
git Hank Summers is not yer Da. Fact is he's no relation at all." 

Buffy stared at her mentor slack jawed and flabbergasted at the womans'
statement. A thought took root in the Slayer's fertile mind and she
blurted out. 

"If Hank Summers isn't my father, then just who in the hell is?" 

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END 8
TBC 
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Remember, I do this for the feedback, so here is my blatant
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I'm at: 
keeper444@xxxxxxxxx
So no excuses not to write.<bg>
~A~