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Re: Digest Number 737
----- Original Message -----
From: <buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 2:06 AM
Subject: Digest Number 737
Community email addresses:
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are 25 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Re: Fic; Return (4/?)
From: shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxx
2. Re: Checklist For The First Of The Month { THIS IS A VIRUS!}
From: <feagin36610@xxxxxxxxx>
3. FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
4. FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
5. FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
6. OT: WHOOPS!
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
7. Re: [buffyandwillowslash] Poll Question!!
From: <feagin36610@xxxxxxxxx>
8. Re: Virus (tater)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
9. FIC: These Roads We Travel
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
10. New poll for buffywantswillow
From: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
11. Misc Moderator Replies
From: "Quindo Ma" <quindo.ma@xxxxxxxxx>
12. FIC: These Roads We Travel (1)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
13. FIC: These Roads We Travel (2)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
14. FIC: These Roads We Travel (3)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
15. FIC: These Roads We Travel (3)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
16. FIC: These Roads We Travel (4)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
17. These Roads We Travel (5)
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
18. FIC: Immortal Pair ch97
From: Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
19. Re: FF: Thank you
From: zshadowslayer@xxxxxxx
20. FIC: Immortal Pair ch98
From: Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
21. WAY OT: Titanic Wed BS
From: PChazzman@xxxxxxx
22. Am in need of a beta-reader
From: Tim Møller <sitisas2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
23. FIC: The Second Generation
From: "Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>
24. buffy, willow, etc
From: juliejames01@xxxxxxxxx
25. OT: The Gift is on
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 10:04:37 +0200 (MEST)
From: shadowmage_draco@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Fic; Return (4/?)
Very cool update, Xander and Anya at the do tors was great, and I loved
Spikes reaction to what the initative had done, can't wait to see how the
rest of
the scoobs think about what is happening. Loving this story please
continue.
--
Sam
Shadowmage, Dark Jedi Master, High priest of Mayhem, Shades wearing
Koala, Thief of the woods out back, tormentor and corruptor at large,
CSWCS Chairman of letter inversion, supporter of the bards,
fundraising representive of the GBWNS,
chairman of the directorate of Nonsensical Mayhem, Offical guide to
the edge of insanity, Jungle juice smuggler, Member of the hand of
Choas carldholder #2.
AIM: SlayerDraco
MSN: shadowmagesam
Sent through GMX FreeMail - http://www.gmx.net
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 03:45:47 -0500
From: <feagin36610@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Checklist For The First Of The Month { THIS IS A VIRUS!}
----- Original Message -----
From: Melinda
To: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2001 11:12 PM
Subject: Checklist For The First Of The Month
Hi! How are you?
I send you this file in order to have your advice
See you later. Thanks
----------
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Community email addresses:
Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subscribe: buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Unsubscribe: buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
List owner: buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shortcut URL to this page:
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Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:35:04 -0000
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
Subject: FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
Disclaimer: All this belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy Inc.
(Grrr..rarrr)
Drain Brameged Inc. Proudly Presents
A Mad-Hamlet Production
We walk the roads that fate lays before us. More often than we'd like
that path is strewn with blades and teeth. Shadows with claws that try
to gut us from within, most of us struggle foward, over, under,
through all these obsticles hoping, even in the face of all evidence,
that we'll be stronger for it.
On occasion, through mercy, or mayhaps the whim of Gods
needing entertainment, allow Fate's way to be softened. Cool breezes
flow over our skin, all the living things around seem to speak to us
and our existance is not only possible but worthwhile. The road is
soft and comfortable and we can rest as we journy onward, wounds heal,
blood stops and strength returns..just so we can face the next shadowy
terror with a far too wide, sharp, grin just around the corner.
On occasion we're gifted with Feather Roads. This is theirs.
Feather Roads
Subterfuge
Note: Subterfuge takes place during the 4th Season, several months
after 'Forge-Blade but before the Spring Semester is over and the big
beat down with Adam. Lets say..three months. Three months sound good
to you? Cool. Rock on!
"...too repeat, even though a conversation may appear simple
to the casual observer it remains, in fact, a highly complex activity.
Not only are there the roles of 'Speaker' and 'Listener' but there are
also responsibilities that each role imparts on those involved in the
coversation. It is the Speaker's responsibility to insure that the
Listener, his or her counterpart in the Conversational Process is able
to understand clearly and easily everything that is being said..."
Inhale..inhale..you have to inhale sooner or later you stupid
proffessor of..of..what is this course again? But does he breathe?
Noo..just talk, talk, talk, blather tweet whoodle, never stopping,
never ending..what is he..some sort of hellish new amalgamation
between Human Administration and Hellmout energies? The Eternal
Teacher?
Doesn't he breathe? Well?
Inhale damn you!! Stop! Pause! Desist is the gum flapping!
Just for a second..please..just one, sweet, sweet second without your
damn droning filling the room. Oh Please..Oh Please..Oh please..
"So students, to sum up..."
YES!!!
"You must be aware of the actual complexities of a basic
conversation, which go beyond simple speech. If you'll just cast your
eyes to the front of the room I have a series of slides which should
illustrate my point nicely."
NO!!!
OhGodnopleasenotthisanythingbutSLIDES!!!
I look about the lecture hall despretely. Someone here must be
able to help me, aid me in conquering this
threat..this..evil..this...monstrosity(Oo big
word!)..this..this....LECTURE!!
Most of the seats empty, maybe the students sitting there were
smarter than I was and ran from the room at top speed. Maybe I
could...no. I need the credit hours.
Wah!
Oh..wait! There she is, my hope, my saviour! She's sitting
right next to me, how could I be so blind as to forget her, she'll
make everything all better, she'll protect me from the threat
of..Education. She'll...she'll...she's taking notes?
Damn these dark forces for corupting her so! I will free you
my Willow!
I open my notebook and select a cool, clean, piece of paper.
This I slowly, and quietly tear out, blah..I hate those little pieces
of paper that get stuck in the metal loops. Grrr... Ahh..there we go.
What to do ..what to do... I casually peek out of the corner
of my eyes at Willow. She's still bent over her notebook, carefully
and laboriously taking very, precise notes. Aha! Got it.
I write my thoughts quickly and slide the paper over so it
bumps into her elbow. It takes a few seconds for her to notice it. She
glances up, see's the paper and reads the note.
'Nice Sweater.'
And indeed it is a very nice sweater. I've been working very
hard to get my Willow to wear clothing that is a just a tad more
risque. The aformentioned sweater is an excellent example of
compromise. Warm, fuzzy and just the nicest shade of light blue, with
a line of slightly darker blue buttons running up the front. It's also
very, very tight. When I first got it for her and she tried it on she
swore it was trying to strangle her, but these days it's her favorite.
Willow writes down her response and slides the paper back to
me.
'Thanks.'
I feel a tingle of mischivious energies ripple along my spine.
This'll beat those classroom doledrums for sure!
I scribble out another message on the same piece of paper and
I slide it back to Willow.
Willow casually glances at the new words on the paper.. and
her face goes bright red! She shoots me a look of exasperation and
then quickly hugs the paper to her chest while making sure no one
around us happened to read it over her shoulder, eyes darting around
the room. After a few minutes, interupted by repeated furitive glances
around, she puts the paper back on the desk, carefully smooths out the
wrinkles as best she can and picks up her pen.
The paper slowly slides across the desk back to me and I think
I Willow's hand is trembling just an eensy, teensy bit.
I glance at the words she wrote.
'With your teeth?? Can you do that?'
I look up from the paper and see Willow staring at me wil a
small smile creeping about her lips. I answer her question by clicking
my teeth together a few times in her direction. She covers her mouth
with both hands to muffle the giggle. Her cheeks are burning bright
red again too. She's such a cutie.
Willow reaches out, grabs the piece of paper and writes out
another note before sliding it back.
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
Ah, a serious question. Trying to change the subject are we?
Naughty, naughty! Can't have you spoiling my fun now Wiccan-mine. Need
to think..what would ..ah. Got it.
I quickly write, 'It's not a question of where, but a question
of what.' and I slide the paper back to her.
This time she has to stifle the surprised yelp that almost
bursts from her throat and she does sit bolt upright in her seat. Eyes
spinning wildly she looks around afraid that anyone will have noticed
her outburst. But no, the spell of the Evil Proffessor of Doom is a
powerful one and everyone else seems to have lapsed into some sort of
vegetative state. Thank God for innduendo! It probably saved my soul.
Willow's staring at me again with a fake 'I'm cranky' look on
her face. Lower lip sticking out just a little bit, a little crease
which is scrunching her eyebrows together but I can tell she's just
playing from the tiny crinkles around her eyes. She lets out a barely
audible 'hmph' and crosses her arms in a deliberate gesture. She does
it again a few more times to make sure I get the point. 'Hmph!'
I smile, time to throw some fuel on the fire!!
I poke her gently on the shoulder.
"Hmph!" She hmphs again.
I poke.
A more forceful Hmph is my reward.
Poke.
"Hmph Hmph!!" Crosses the arms.
Poke, poke.
She gives a resigned sigh and faces me.
Smiliing wickedly, I point at her then back at me while
slowwwllly licking my lips. Then, with exaggerated movements I rub my
tummy.
Willow's jaw is just hanging open. Her eyes are very, very big
as well...every few seconds a tiny squeak manages to escape her
throat. I hold up a finger over my lips and pantomine going 'ssshhhh'.
"eek." She says.
More fuel.
Glance around quick, good, no one's paying attention.
I slowly, slowly...bring my fingers up and kiss the tips
one..by..one then reach out and touch her cheek quickly but softly.
"eek!" She says again.
Now she's really red.
I smile and wink at her.
Her hand dives for the pen, there's a moment of furious
scribbling and the paper, now fairly drowning in notes has new words
for me to read.
'You're a meanie!!' With the word meanie underlined three
times.
I nonchalantly pick up my own pen and write back:
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
I smile sweetly, takes a few seconds but I resist the urge to
bat my eyelashes. I settle for trying to look all sweet and innocent.
"Eek!"
Now I have to try not to laugh out loud. This is fun.
She scribbles another note.
'You are such a meanie!' This time both 'such' and 'meanie'
have been underlined more than once.
I write back. 'Sorry. How can I make it up to you.' She's
putty in my hands.
Aww..I don't get an eek this time.
Uh...oh...uh oh..I know that look.. Willow cannot look sultry
on purpose if she tries but when she doesn't want too she does,
really, really well. And right now that accidental 'Sultry' look is
burning across the space between us to nail me right between the eyes.
The paper slides across the desk toward me and now the sound
of paper grinding across plastic coated wood is very, very loud. I'm
sure someone had to have heard that but a quick glance around the room
confirms that no one is paying attention to anything, including the
proffessor.
"...must reiterate that body language is another primary
factor in communication that is woefully underappreciated and that it,
not verbal communication, can be used to convey meanings and messages
that would be impossible with just the limitations of the spoken
word..."
I tune the proffessor out and look at Willow. Flushed cheeks,
eyes very, very bright, small smile dancing on her lips. Yay body
language!
I look at the newest words on the paper.
'I'm sure I can think of something.'
I raise an eyebrow. This is rather daring of her...let's see
how far she wants to play.
I write back, 'Like?'
I slide the paper over to her. She reads. She looks at me. She
smiles. I'm in trouble.
She pretends to think about it for a minute. Tapping the tip
of her pen against her lower lip eyes looking everywhere but at me.
She hmmm's quietly a few times, every once in a while shaking her head
as if dismissing a thought. Finally pen dips to paper and her hand
moves the latest note across the desk to me.
'Buy me a mocha!'
What? What?? Ooooh.. is she ever going to get it!!
'Now you're being the meanie!' I write back.
She reads it and almost giggles aloud again.
The paper slides over to me again and I read...
'Well, you could do more than just buy me a mocha.'
I smile, this is more like it, I write again. 'Like?' and
slide the paper back.
Her pen moves across the paper and she slides it back to me.
Slide, write, slide, write..this _is_ fun. Reminds me of high school.
Course if the proffesor catches us and I have to read it I'll eat the
paper first! I read her words.
'You could buy me two mochas!'
I shoot a glare at Willow but she's not paying attention to
me. Indeed she's again looking like the perfect student. Eyes fixed on
the teacher, pen dancing across her notebook as she takes notes. It's
only the doodles she's actaully drawing and the green eyes peeking at
me from underneath red hair, and the small smile still being worn,
that tell me otherwise.
Then the bell rings.
"...chapters two and three to prepare for the next lesson.
I'll see you all Thursday." The teacher concludes.
"Willow!" I say loudly lurching to my feet. "You are such the
Ex-Wiccan!!"
Lauging Willow grabs her books and stuffs them in her bag.
"You'll have to catch me first Slayer!" Then she sticks her tounge out
at me, and runs for the exit. I'm still standing behind my desk in a
mild state of shock. She reaches the door, turns, winks and, making
sure again no one is too nearby, and pats her ass in my direction
then she bolts out the door.
I love body language.
I take off after her.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:35:11 -0000
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
Subject: FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
Disclaimer: All this belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy Inc.
(Grrr..rarrr)
Drain Brameged Inc. Proudly Presents
A Mad-Hamlet Production
We walk the roads that fate lays before us. More often than we'd like
that path is strewn with blades and teeth. Shadows with claws that try
to gut us from within, most of us struggle foward, over, under,
through all these obsticles hoping, even in the face of all evidence,
that we'll be stronger for it.
On occasion, through mercy, or mayhaps the whim of Gods
needing entertainment, allow Fate's way to be softened. Cool breezes
flow over our skin, all the living things around seem to speak to us
and our existance is not only possible but worthwhile. The road is
soft and comfortable and we can rest as we journy onward, wounds heal,
blood stops and strength returns..just so we can face the next shadowy
terror with a far too wide, sharp, grin just around the corner.
On occasion we're gifted with Feather Roads. This is theirs.
Feather Roads
Subterfuge
Note: Subterfuge takes place during the 4th Season, several months
after 'Forge-Blade but before the Spring Semester is over and the big
beat down with Adam. Lets say..three months. Three months sound good
to you? Cool. Rock on!
"...too repeat, even though a conversation may appear simple
to the casual observer it remains, in fact, a highly complex activity.
Not only are there the roles of 'Speaker' and 'Listener' but there are
also responsibilities that each role imparts on those involved in the
coversation. It is the Speaker's responsibility to insure that the
Listener, his or her counterpart in the Conversational Process is able
to understand clearly and easily everything that is being said..."
Inhale..inhale..you have to inhale sooner or later you stupid
proffessor of..of..what is this course again? But does he breathe?
Noo..just talk, talk, talk, blather tweet whoodle, never stopping,
never ending..what is he..some sort of hellish new amalgamation
between Human Administration and Hellmout energies? The Eternal
Teacher?
Doesn't he breathe? Well?
Inhale damn you!! Stop! Pause! Desist is the gum flapping!
Just for a second..please..just one, sweet, sweet second without your
damn droning filling the room. Oh Please..Oh Please..Oh please..
"So students, to sum up..."
YES!!!
"You must be aware of the actual complexities of a basic
conversation, which go beyond simple speech. If you'll just cast your
eyes to the front of the room I have a series of slides which should
illustrate my point nicely."
NO!!!
OhGodnopleasenotthisanythingbutSLIDES!!!
I look about the lecture hall despretely. Someone here must be
able to help me, aid me in conquering this
threat..this..evil..this...monstrosity(Oo big
word!)..this..this....LECTURE!!
Most of the seats empty, maybe the students sitting there were
smarter than I was and ran from the room at top speed. Maybe I
could...no. I need the credit hours.
Wah!
Oh..wait! There she is, my hope, my saviour! She's sitting
right next to me, how could I be so blind as to forget her, she'll
make everything all better, she'll protect me from the threat
of..Education. She'll...she'll...she's taking notes?
Damn these dark forces for corupting her so! I will free you
my Willow!
I open my notebook and select a cool, clean, piece of paper.
This I slowly, and quietly tear out, blah..I hate those little pieces
of paper that get stuck in the metal loops. Grrr... Ahh..there we go.
What to do ..what to do... I casually peek out of the corner
of my eyes at Willow. She's still bent over her notebook, carefully
and laboriously taking very, precise notes. Aha! Got it.
I write my thoughts quickly and slide the paper over so it
bumps into her elbow. It takes a few seconds for her to notice it. She
glances up, see's the paper and reads the note.
'Nice Sweater.'
And indeed it is a very nice sweater. I've been working very
hard to get my Willow to wear clothing that is a just a tad more
risque. The aformentioned sweater is an excellent example of
compromise. Warm, fuzzy and just the nicest shade of light blue, with
a line of slightly darker blue buttons running up the front. It's also
very, very tight. When I first got it for her and she tried it on she
swore it was trying to strangle her, but these days it's her favorite.
Willow writes down her response and slides the paper back to
me.
'Thanks.'
I feel a tingle of mischivious energies ripple along my spine.
This'll beat those classroom doledrums for sure!
I scribble out another message on the same piece of paper and
I slide it back to Willow.
Willow casually glances at the new words on the paper.. and
her face goes bright red! She shoots me a look of exasperation and
then quickly hugs the paper to her chest while making sure no one
around us happened to read it over her shoulder, eyes darting around
the room. After a few minutes, interupted by repeated furitive glances
around, she puts the paper back on the desk, carefully smooths out the
wrinkles as best she can and picks up her pen.
The paper slowly slides across the desk back to me and I think
I Willow's hand is trembling just an eensy, teensy bit.
I glance at the words she wrote.
'With your teeth?? Can you do that?'
I look up from the paper and see Willow staring at me wil a
small smile creeping about her lips. I answer her question by clicking
my teeth together a few times in her direction. She covers her mouth
with both hands to muffle the giggle. Her cheeks are burning bright
red again too. She's such a cutie.
Willow reaches out, grabs the piece of paper and writes out
another note before sliding it back.
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
Ah, a serious question. Trying to change the subject are we?
Naughty, naughty! Can't have you spoiling my fun now Wiccan-mine. Need
to think..what would ..ah. Got it.
I quickly write, 'It's not a question of where, but a question
of what.' and I slide the paper back to her.
This time she has to stifle the surprised yelp that almost
bursts from her throat and she does sit bolt upright in her seat. Eyes
spinning wildly she looks around afraid that anyone will have noticed
her outburst. But no, the spell of the Evil Proffessor of Doom is a
powerful one and everyone else seems to have lapsed into some sort of
vegetative state. Thank God for innduendo! It probably saved my soul.
Willow's staring at me again with a fake 'I'm cranky' look on
her face. Lower lip sticking out just a little bit, a little crease
which is scrunching her eyebrows together but I can tell she's just
playing from the tiny crinkles around her eyes. She lets out a barely
audible 'hmph' and crosses her arms in a deliberate gesture. She does
it again a few more times to make sure I get the point. 'Hmph!'
I smile, time to throw some fuel on the fire!!
I poke her gently on the shoulder.
"Hmph!" She hmphs again.
I poke.
A more forceful Hmph is my reward.
Poke.
"Hmph Hmph!!" Crosses the arms.
Poke, poke.
She gives a resigned sigh and faces me.
Smiliing wickedly, I point at her then back at me while
slowwwllly licking my lips. Then, with exaggerated movements I rub my
tummy.
Willow's jaw is just hanging open. Her eyes are very, very big
as well...every few seconds a tiny squeak manages to escape her
throat. I hold up a finger over my lips and pantomine going 'ssshhhh'.
"eek." She says.
More fuel.
Glance around quick, good, no one's paying attention.
I slowly, slowly...bring my fingers up and kiss the tips
one..by..one then reach out and touch her cheek quickly but softly.
"eek!" She says again.
Now she's really red.
I smile and wink at her.
Her hand dives for the pen, there's a moment of furious
scribbling and the paper, now fairly drowning in notes has new words
for me to read.
'You're a meanie!!' With the word meanie underlined three
times.
I nonchalantly pick up my own pen and write back:
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
I smile sweetly, takes a few seconds but I resist the urge to
bat my eyelashes. I settle for trying to look all sweet and innocent.
"Eek!"
Now I have to try not to laugh out loud. This is fun.
She scribbles another note.
'You are such a meanie!' This time both 'such' and 'meanie'
have been underlined more than once.
I write back. 'Sorry. How can I make it up to you.' She's
putty in my hands.
Aww..I don't get an eek this time.
Uh...oh...uh oh..I know that look.. Willow cannot look sultry
on purpose if she tries but when she doesn't want too she does,
really, really well. And right now that accidental 'Sultry' look is
burning across the space between us to nail me right between the eyes.
The paper slides across the desk toward me and now the sound
of paper grinding across plastic coated wood is very, very loud. I'm
sure someone had to have heard that but a quick glance around the room
confirms that no one is paying attention to anything, including the
proffessor.
"...must reiterate that body language is another primary
factor in communication that is woefully underappreciated and that it,
not verbal communication, can be used to convey meanings and messages
that would be impossible with just the limitations of the spoken
word..."
I tune the proffessor out and look at Willow. Flushed cheeks,
eyes very, very bright, small smile dancing on her lips. Yay body
language!
I look at the newest words on the paper.
'I'm sure I can think of something.'
I raise an eyebrow. This is rather daring of her...let's see
how far she wants to play.
I write back, 'Like?'
I slide the paper over to her. She reads. She looks at me. She
smiles. I'm in trouble.
She pretends to think about it for a minute. Tapping the tip
of her pen against her lower lip eyes looking everywhere but at me.
She hmmm's quietly a few times, every once in a while shaking her head
as if dismissing a thought. Finally pen dips to paper and her hand
moves the latest note across the desk to me.
'Buy me a mocha!'
What? What?? Ooooh.. is she ever going to get it!!
'Now you're being the meanie!' I write back.
She reads it and almost giggles aloud again.
The paper slides over to me again and I read...
'Well, you could do more than just buy me a mocha.'
I smile, this is more like it, I write again. 'Like?' and
slide the paper back.
Her pen moves across the paper and she slides it back to me.
Slide, write, slide, write..this _is_ fun. Reminds me of high school.
Course if the proffesor catches us and I have to read it I'll eat the
paper first! I read her words.
'You could buy me two mochas!'
I shoot a glare at Willow but she's not paying attention to
me. Indeed she's again looking like the perfect student. Eyes fixed on
the teacher, pen dancing across her notebook as she takes notes. It's
only the doodles she's actaully drawing and the green eyes peeking at
me from underneath red hair, and the small smile still being worn,
that tell me otherwise.
Then the bell rings.
"...chapters two and three to prepare for the next lesson.
I'll see you all Thursday." The teacher concludes.
"Willow!" I say loudly lurching to my feet. "You are such the
Ex-Wiccan!!"
Lauging Willow grabs her books and stuffs them in her bag.
"You'll have to catch me first Slayer!" Then she sticks her tounge out
at me, and runs for the exit. I'm still standing behind my desk in a
mild state of shock. She reaches the door, turns, winks and, making
sure again no one is too nearby, and pats her ass in my direction
then she bolts out the door.
I love body language.
I take off after her.
________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:35:09 -0000
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
Subject: FIC: Feather Roads-Subterfuge
Disclaimer: All this belongs to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy Inc.
(Grrr..rarrr)
Drain Brameged Inc. Proudly Presents
A Mad-Hamlet Production
We walk the roads that fate lays before us. More often than we'd like
that path is strewn with blades and teeth. Shadows with claws that try
to gut us from within, most of us struggle foward, over, under,
through all these obsticles hoping, even in the face of all evidence,
that we'll be stronger for it.
On occasion, through mercy, or mayhaps the whim of Gods
needing entertainment, allow Fate's way to be softened. Cool breezes
flow over our skin, all the living things around seem to speak to us
and our existance is not only possible but worthwhile. The road is
soft and comfortable and we can rest as we journy onward, wounds heal,
blood stops and strength returns..just so we can face the next shadowy
terror with a far too wide, sharp, grin just around the corner.
On occasion we're gifted with Feather Roads. This is theirs.
Feather Roads
Subterfuge
Note: Subterfuge takes place during the 4th Season, several months
after 'Forge-Blade but before the Spring Semester is over and the big
beat down with Adam. Lets say..three months. Three months sound good
to you? Cool. Rock on!
"...too repeat, even though a conversation may appear simple
to the casual observer it remains, in fact, a highly complex activity.
Not only are there the roles of 'Speaker' and 'Listener' but there are
also responsibilities that each role imparts on those involved in the
coversation. It is the Speaker's responsibility to insure that the
Listener, his or her counterpart in the Conversational Process is able
to understand clearly and easily everything that is being said..."
Inhale..inhale..you have to inhale sooner or later you stupid
proffessor of..of..what is this course again? But does he breathe?
Noo..just talk, talk, talk, blather tweet whoodle, never stopping,
never ending..what is he..some sort of hellish new amalgamation
between Human Administration and Hellmout energies? The Eternal
Teacher?
Doesn't he breathe? Well?
Inhale damn you!! Stop! Pause! Desist is the gum flapping!
Just for a second..please..just one, sweet, sweet second without your
damn droning filling the room. Oh Please..Oh Please..Oh please..
"So students, to sum up..."
YES!!!
"You must be aware of the actual complexities of a basic
conversation, which go beyond simple speech. If you'll just cast your
eyes to the front of the room I have a series of slides which should
illustrate my point nicely."
NO!!!
OhGodnopleasenotthisanythingbutSLIDES!!!
I look about the lecture hall despretely. Someone here must be
able to help me, aid me in conquering this
threat..this..evil..this...monstrosity(Oo big
word!)..this..this....LECTURE!!
Most of the seats empty, maybe the students sitting there were
smarter than I was and ran from the room at top speed. Maybe I
could...no. I need the credit hours.
Wah!
Oh..wait! There she is, my hope, my saviour! She's sitting
right next to me, how could I be so blind as to forget her, she'll
make everything all better, she'll protect me from the threat
of..Education. She'll...she'll...she's taking notes?
Damn these dark forces for corupting her so! I will free you
my Willow!
I open my notebook and select a cool, clean, piece of paper.
This I slowly, and quietly tear out, blah..I hate those little pieces
of paper that get stuck in the metal loops. Grrr... Ahh..there we go.
What to do ..what to do... I casually peek out of the corner
of my eyes at Willow. She's still bent over her notebook, carefully
and laboriously taking very, precise notes. Aha! Got it.
I write my thoughts quickly and slide the paper over so it
bumps into her elbow. It takes a few seconds for her to notice it. She
glances up, see's the paper and reads the note.
'Nice Sweater.'
And indeed it is a very nice sweater. I've been working very
hard to get my Willow to wear clothing that is a just a tad more
risque. The aformentioned sweater is an excellent example of
compromise. Warm, fuzzy and just the nicest shade of light blue, with
a line of slightly darker blue buttons running up the front. It's also
very, very tight. When I first got it for her and she tried it on she
swore it was trying to strangle her, but these days it's her favorite.
Willow writes down her response and slides the paper back to
me.
'Thanks.'
I feel a tingle of mischivious energies ripple along my spine.
This'll beat those classroom doledrums for sure!
I scribble out another message on the same piece of paper and
I slide it back to Willow.
Willow casually glances at the new words on the paper.. and
her face goes bright red! She shoots me a look of exasperation and
then quickly hugs the paper to her chest while making sure no one
around us happened to read it over her shoulder, eyes darting around
the room. After a few minutes, interupted by repeated furitive glances
around, she puts the paper back on the desk, carefully smooths out the
wrinkles as best she can and picks up her pen.
The paper slowly slides across the desk back to me and I think
I Willow's hand is trembling just an eensy, teensy bit.
I glance at the words she wrote.
'With your teeth?? Can you do that?'
I look up from the paper and see Willow staring at me wil a
small smile creeping about her lips. I answer her question by clicking
my teeth together a few times in her direction. She covers her mouth
with both hands to muffle the giggle. Her cheeks are burning bright
red again too. She's such a cutie.
Willow reaches out, grabs the piece of paper and writes out
another note before sliding it back.
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
Ah, a serious question. Trying to change the subject are we?
Naughty, naughty! Can't have you spoiling my fun now Wiccan-mine. Need
to think..what would ..ah. Got it.
I quickly write, 'It's not a question of where, but a question
of what.' and I slide the paper back to her.
This time she has to stifle the surprised yelp that almost
bursts from her throat and she does sit bolt upright in her seat. Eyes
spinning wildly she looks around afraid that anyone will have noticed
her outburst. But no, the spell of the Evil Proffessor of Doom is a
powerful one and everyone else seems to have lapsed into some sort of
vegetative state. Thank God for innduendo! It probably saved my soul.
Willow's staring at me again with a fake 'I'm cranky' look on
her face. Lower lip sticking out just a little bit, a little crease
which is scrunching her eyebrows together but I can tell she's just
playing from the tiny crinkles around her eyes. She lets out a barely
audible 'hmph' and crosses her arms in a deliberate gesture. She does
it again a few more times to make sure I get the point. 'Hmph!'
I smile, time to throw some fuel on the fire!!
I poke her gently on the shoulder.
"Hmph!" She hmphs again.
I poke.
A more forceful Hmph is my reward.
Poke.
"Hmph Hmph!!" Crosses the arms.
Poke, poke.
She gives a resigned sigh and faces me.
Smiliing wickedly, I point at her then back at me while
slowwwllly licking my lips. Then, with exaggerated movements I rub my
tummy.
Willow's jaw is just hanging open. Her eyes are very, very big
as well...every few seconds a tiny squeak manages to escape her
throat. I hold up a finger over my lips and pantomine going 'ssshhhh'.
"eek." She says.
More fuel.
Glance around quick, good, no one's paying attention.
I slowly, slowly...bring my fingers up and kiss the tips
one..by..one then reach out and touch her cheek quickly but softly.
"eek!" She says again.
Now she's really red.
I smile and wink at her.
Her hand dives for the pen, there's a moment of furious
scribbling and the paper, now fairly drowning in notes has new words
for me to read.
'You're a meanie!!' With the word meanie underlined three
times.
I nonchalantly pick up my own pen and write back:
'Where do you want to have lunch?'
I smile sweetly, takes a few seconds but I resist the urge to
bat my eyelashes. I settle for trying to look all sweet and innocent.
"Eek!"
Now I have to try not to laugh out loud. This is fun.
She scribbles another note.
'You are such a meanie!' This time both 'such' and 'meanie'
have been underlined more than once.
I write back. 'Sorry. How can I make it up to you.' She's
putty in my hands.
Aww..I don't get an eek this time.
Uh...oh...uh oh..I know that look.. Willow cannot look sultry
on purpose if she tries but when she doesn't want too she does,
really, really well. And right now that accidental 'Sultry' look is
burning across the space between us to nail me right between the eyes.
The paper slides across the desk toward me and now the sound
of paper grinding across plastic coated wood is very, very loud. I'm
sure someone had to have heard that but a quick glance around the room
confirms that no one is paying attention to anything, including the
proffessor.
"...must reiterate that body language is another primary
factor in communication that is woefully underappreciated and that it,
not verbal communication, can be used to convey meanings and messages
that would be impossible with just the limitations of the spoken
word..."
I tune the proffessor out and look at Willow. Flushed cheeks,
eyes very, very bright, small smile dancing on her lips. Yay body
language!
I look at the newest words on the paper.
'I'm sure I can think of something.'
I raise an eyebrow. This is rather daring of her...let's see
how far she wants to play.
I write back, 'Like?'
I slide the paper over to her. She reads. She looks at me. She
smiles. I'm in trouble.
She pretends to think about it for a minute. Tapping the tip
of her pen against her lower lip eyes looking everywhere but at me.
She hmmm's quietly a few times, every once in a while shaking her head
as if dismissing a thought. Finally pen dips to paper and her hand
moves the latest note across the desk to me.
'Buy me a mocha!'
What? What?? Ooooh.. is she ever going to get it!!
'Now you're being the meanie!' I write back.
She reads it and almost giggles aloud again.
The paper slides over to me again and I read...
'Well, you could do more than just buy me a mocha.'
I smile, this is more like it, I write again. 'Like?' and
slide the paper back.
Her pen moves across the paper and she slides it back to me.
Slide, write, slide, write..this _is_ fun. Reminds me of high school.
Course if the proffesor catches us and I have to read it I'll eat the
paper first! I read her words.
'You could buy me two mochas!'
I shoot a glare at Willow but she's not paying attention to
me. Indeed she's again looking like the perfect student. Eyes fixed on
the teacher, pen dancing across her notebook as she takes notes. It's
only the doodles she's actaully drawing and the green eyes peeking at
me from underneath red hair, and the small smile still being worn,
that tell me otherwise.
Then the bell rings.
"...chapters two and three to prepare for the next lesson.
I'll see you all Thursday." The teacher concludes.
"Willow!" I say loudly lurching to my feet. "You are such the
Ex-Wiccan!!"
Lauging Willow grabs her books and stuffs them in her bag.
"You'll have to catch me first Slayer!" Then she sticks her tounge out
at me, and runs for the exit. I'm still standing behind my desk in a
mild state of shock. She reaches the door, turns, winks and, making
sure again no one is too nearby, and pats her ass in my direction
then she bolts out the door.
I love body language.
I take off after her.
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 09:39:46 -0000
From: Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx
Subject: OT: WHOOPS!
Greetings,
It's YAHOo's fault! Really! I didn't multi-post! Don't go siccin no
Frogs on me! Please!!!
I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet
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Message: 7
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 05:54:00 -0500
From: <feagin36610@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [buffyandwillowslash] Poll Question!!
hey guys how do you get into the polls? everytime on every list there is
just no open
polls even tho they maybe voting on somethiing.<sigh> something else I need
to work on.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 10:20:23 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Virus (tater)
Tater . . . LOL
I totally forgot about the mush that comes with formatting. Especially for
AOLers. I know there are other mail progs out there that don't accept
HTMLing of stuff, but I wasn't aware it was this far spread. ::sigh::
Perhaps I should leave the attachments off permanently?? I'm really not
sure. Any input from everyone would be appreciated. Or my lil bait boy
could go off and make a poll about it. :) I'm just saying......
~~Kimber
List Gutter Lust Goddess, Masked Road Runner (meep, meep!!), Keeper of the
crazy lil comma, Elmer to Pat's Wabbit, self proclaimed 'perfect drug'
addict, and Official Tormenter the Phantom Chimpunk and her band of crazy
nuts. Proud supporter of the Mad Poet Society and the Troll under the
Bridge.
Proud Member of the BtVS Writers Guild: Because fic makes anything
possible.
Join !
~Buffy Wants Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyWantsWillow
~Buffy Loves Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyLovesWillow
~Willow Slash Fic - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WillowSlashFic
~Popular Slash - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PopularSlash
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tater" <tater@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 1:58 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Virus
>
>
> >P.S.: Kim, by turning off the attachments, you also disabled everything
> >that's non-text, including html formatted emails. Some of the stories
posted
> >will loose their formatting, and appear as plain text, so I suggest that,
> >once everyone gone through his/her AV programs and eliminated the threat,
we
> >go back to allow attachments.
> >Otherwise, we'll need a place to have the formatted fics lying around for
> >those who preferre it so (personally, if an author uses text formatting,
he
> >does that for a good reason, and I don't want to have to read it in plain
> >text afterwards)
> >Maybe that the authors could in the meantime upload the fics (best in
html,
> >that has the least risks of infecting virii), to the file section of the
> >lists, so that we can get them as such.
>
>
> But... but... some of us can only get our email in plain text and get all
> kinds of garbage that makes emails twice as long or unreadable if they
have
> any formatting other than plain text. With the attachments disabled, all
my
> mail from the list is all nice and clean and makes sense. For the first
> time, being the oddball works in my favor. It's quite nice.
>
>
> tater (Vegetables of the world unite!)
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 11:16:56 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel
Well, not really. Not yet anyways. I just wanted to warn you guess in
advance that I will be reposting previous chapters, plus the newest
chapter(s) I've finally gotten around to writing.
For those of you who are new to the List, The Road Series is my epic and has
been an ongoing process since around December of '99. If you want to read
the other 'books' you can go to my homepage http://www.kimbers-corner.net
or, to FanFiction.net
http://www.members.fanfiction.net/index.fic?action=story-read&storyid=252821
I have uploaded all four previous 'books' for ease of reading straight
though, if your crazy enough to do it that is because it's 4 books, 877kb
and 102,334 words so far. But who's counting? *grin*
~~Kimber
List Gutter Lust Goddess, Masked Road Runner (meep, meep!!), Keeper of the
crazy lil comma, Elmer to Pat's Wabbit, self proclaimed 'perfect drug'
addict, and Official Tormenter the Phantom Chimpunk and her band of crazy
nuts. Proud supporter of the Mad Poet Society and the Troll under the
Bridge.
Proud Member of the BtVS Writers Guild: Because fic makes anything
possible.
Join !
~Buffy Wants Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyWantsWillow
~Buffy Loves Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyLovesWillow
~Willow Slash Fic - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WillowSlashFic
~Popular Slash - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PopularSlash
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 10
Date: 25 Jul 2001 15:35:06 -0000
From: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: New poll for buffywantswillow
Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the
buffywantswillow group:
Should the BuffywantsWillow list in
future be an attachment permitting, or
attachment denying list?
If we permit them, HTML formatted
mails, pictures as attachments, but
also virii can pass through yahoogroups
to the single subscribers.
If we deny them, there won't be
any 'junk' cluttering up people using
non-html-compatible email readers,
virii won't pass the group, but the
only way to post pictures is using the
file archive on the list, which has a
max of 20mb, and stories formatted in
html will loose their formatting, and
the readers might miss certain points
the author wants to accentuate.
This poll won't put anything into
stone, but it'll give us a good hint as
to what you want, and will play a large
role in our decision.
The length will be 2 weeks from now, to
give you enough time to vote.
o Permit attatchments
o Deny attachments
To vote, please visit the following web page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/polls
Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are
not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the Yahoo! Groups
web site listed above.
Thanks!
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 17:36:13 +0100
From: "Quindo Ma" <quindo.ma@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Misc Moderator Replies
Re: Subj
The spammer has been removed by Kimber, no more talking needed, this
topic is dead.
Re: Virus
I think we've had enough comments about this one, it's obvious that
everyone has found out by it by now, quite a few have been hit, damage has
been done, but we should finally drop this topic. This mailing list is about
Buffy and Willow loving each other in any and all ways they can, not about
virii spreading. Topic done.
Re: Polls
Yes, there are polls, but no, not any open ones. All current polls on
BuffylovesWillow and BuffywantsWillow are closed and done, but members can
create new polls and edit their own if they want to.
Re: Attachments
This is still in discussion, both variants (with and without) come with
advantages and disadvantages, and we wanna have the groups opinion about
this, I've set up a poll, and I want everyone to vote and tell us how to
handle it
Well, for now, that's all
Quin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:17:31 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel (1)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel
AUTHOR: Kimber (kimbertvs@xxxxxxxxx)
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}}}
-----------
She's just. . .amazing. Every time I see her and catch a glimpse of that
red hair and those fiery green eyes, it reminds me. . .of what I lost.
She's sleeping now. And here I am again like most nights, watching over
her. Keeping her safe and sound. The nightmares still won't go away. She
wakes in a cold sweat every night screaming my name, screaming her name. .
and there's nothing I can do about it. No way to ease the pain or even make
it disappear.
I'm trapped in my own hell too, though having lived for so long, I can deal
with it, push it down, swallow the words. The words that want to leap from
my throat almost every minute of every hour of every day I've spent without
her by my side.
She's stirring again and I place the washcloth on her forehead and touch her
cheek and stroke her crimson hair. Just as I've done every night for the
past six months. Does it ever get any easier? Is there ever going to be a
time when she'll sleep through the night again? Feel safe again? Smile
again?
I sigh and go to the window. Dawn is approaching. The sun is beginning to
break through the inky darkness and I close my eyes, realizing that it's
today. *The* day is today. One day at a time. That's what everyone keeps
telling me, but that only makes me keep count of all the days leading up to
this day. . .and all the hours in between.
I loved. . .correction *love* her.. With everything I am, everything I feel
and know, and some things I still don't understand. . I love her and live
for her. That's the only thing that keeps me going, even now.
She's whimpering in her sleep again, and I rush to her side knowing full
well what's to come. She struggles harder, more violently, and all I can do
is sit back and wait.
She sits bolt upright in the bed, clutching the blankets. "Mom, no!!" She
looks around and sees me and drops her head in embarrassment. "Will it ever
end?" She mumbles.
I reach out and touch her cheek with my hand. Slowly she raises her head
and looks at me with that lopsided smile I know all too well. She kisses
the palm of my hand and traces some of the old scars there on my arm. I
smile because the look on her face is as if she's committing each wound to
memory and plotting vengeance for them. Her green eyes lock on my own hazel
ones and she scrunches her eyebrows in concentration.
"It's today. You know. . .*the* day. Well, of course you know, how could
you forget I mean not that you're forgetful or anything, don't get me wrong
but, you know, it could have slipped your mind or something not that you'd
ever forget about-"
I cut her babble off with the tip of my finger. "I know."
She smiles sadly. "It'll never get easier, will it?"
"It may with time." I push some hair away from her face. "And with each
other." I get up knowing that she's not going to put up with the bonding
session much longer. As I reach for the door she stops me. "Hey, Buff?"
"Yes, Laurel?" I turn and try to give her a brave smile.
"I know. . how much you love her still and, as much as I miss her, I know
you miss her more and it hurts you more and you cry sometimes when you think
I'm not watching. And if you need me to, you know. . talk or whatever-"
"I know." I nod and smile at her. "It's a little easier with you here.
You remind me of her and you look like her and even babble like her." We
both laugh at that. "And I love you in a way that I can't even explain." I
shrug at a loss for words.
She gives me a perplexed look. "So it doesn't hurt you? With me being
around? Cause I know how much I look like her and I would think that it
bothered you and-"
"Never, Laurel. You have the face of the one person who brought me
happiness - the face of your mother - how could that ever bother me?" I
smile again and reach for the door before I have a total mental breakdown.
"Get dressed, I'll make breakfast. Uncle Xander will be here around nine."
"He's up before noon?"
I chuckled. "Laurel. You know how he gets. What he does is very important
and-"
"I know, Buff. I'll be nice to him. Promise."
-----------
"Where am I?" This thought rattled around Willow's head as she looked at
the scene before her. She knew where she was, but not really. She was
sitting outside of a small café, sipping a mocha and watching the crowd
shuffle by. She was in Paris.
As pleasant as the surroundings were, she wasn't able to enjoy it at all.
She missed Buffy, Laurel and Xander and wished they were with her. She
smiled sadly to herself knowing how much Laurel would love to be in Paris.
She was a typical teenager, and Willow could picture her going from boutique
to boutique putting a serious strain on her credit card.
Buffy. Willow knew she would fall in love with this place the moment she
saw it. The aesthetics of the surroundings, the architecture of the old
buildings, the gardens and parks. She smiled to herself again picturing
herself and Buffy laying in the grass having a picnic near the Eiffel Tower.
Buffy would feed her strawberries dipped in fudge and neither of them would
care about the stares they got from the passer-bys. Buffy would remark that
they were just jealous to see two people so completely in love with each
other.
"Why so sad?"
"I miss my family." Willow remarked.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Have you been away from them long?"
She sighed. "I don't know."
"Seems to me that they're only as far away as you make them. At least
that's what I've always thought."
"They're. . .they're in here always." Willow placed her hand over her
heart. "But. . " She trailed off.
"You wish they were here, physically. I understand that all too well."
Willow had been staring off in the distance, but brought herself back and
looked around her immediate surroundings. There was no one there. "Um,
where are you?"
"Oh, I'm here. You just don't want to see me yet." The voice, male, took
on a knowing tone.
"That's weird. Why wouldn't I want to see someone I'm talking to?"
"Well, you may not be ready, or you might need more time to adjust. One can
never tell with this sort of thing. I miss my family too, and my friends.
It's been such a long time since I've seen them."
"Why? I mean, can't you call them or something?"
He laughed. "They're too far away. I can't reach them." A slight sadness
touched his voice. "They've been far away for a long time now."
Willow nodded knowingly and looked off into the distance again. Two young
girls were running around, playing tag - much to the dissatisfaction of the
adults trying to walk by. She smiled and remembered playing tag with Buffy
and Laurel in Weatherbey park.
"Fond memory?" He asked.
"Yes. My daughter, Laurel. She used to love to play tag in the park. And
Buffy and Xander would join in. We must have looked like a bunch of fools,
playing tag with a ten year old, but we didn't care. She was so beautiful
back then, beautiful and innocent."
"Ah, so you have a daughter. You must miss her."
Willow nodded. "I hate being away from her. She's sixteen now. When I
think about all the trouble I got into when I was sixteen it just makes me
want to lock her in the house till she's thirty." She laughed.
"Trouble maker, were you?"
"No, not really. I was a big geek at that age. I didn't have many friends
at all. Just one. . .no, two. Two very good friends that I grew up with.
Then Buffy transferred to Sunnydale, that's where I'm from by the way, and
she had an . . .interesting hobby. We got involved with it and, well, it
was dangerous but - it was for a good cause." Willow looked down at her
hands. She fingered the gold band on her ring finger and closed her eyes.
"I wouldn't trade it for anything ever."
"Sounds like you and your two friends must have loved her a lot to risk your
lives with her, um, hobby."
Willow nodded. "Xander and I loved her a lot. And Jesse? Well, Jesse
never got the chance to really know her. He was. . .killed by vampires.
But I know he would have loved her too."
"I'm sorry you lost him. To uh, vampires?"
"Oh, um. . oops?" She looked up and smiled at him sheepishly. "Sorry, I
got so carried away with my story that I totally forgot. You probably think
I'm some kind of nut now. Talking about vampires. Sheesh."
"No, not at all. I'm sure they exist. I mean, how else can you explain all
the sudden deaths from 'mysterious blood loss'." He made quotation marks in
the air with his fingers. "Besides, I've heard a lot of stories like yours.
Nothing surprises me anymore. I'm existing surprise free these days.
Really."
Willow smiled at him. "No matter how hard we fought or how many times we
won, I think Buffy was always trying to make up for loosing Jesse those
first few weeks she was in Sunnydale. She knew how much he meant to Xander
and I and it hurt her that he was one of the ones she couldn't save."
Willow smiled to herself a little. "Xander would probably say, 'Damn
vampires. They're such sneaky and unpredictable things.' Only if he said
it, it would be much funnier. He was always trying to lighten the mood."
She closed her eyes again. "I miss Jesse. I guess in a way, I started
helping Buffy to make sure, you know, that him dying. . .that it wasn't for
nothing. It was for something. A good cause."
"I'm sure he didn't blame you or your friends. He knew things were going on
that no one else could see. Everyone did, but the difference was that you
and your friends paid attention to it and took care of it - and without
taking any credit."
Willow squinted at him. He was. . .fuzzy. That was the best way to
describe it. Like someone took a huge lens and twisted it out of focus only
on him. She could see the outline of his body but. . .she rubbed her eyes
and blinked a few times. This made him laugh.
"You want to see me. Don't you?" He reached his hand out and placed it on
her own. "Everything you want to see, everything you want to know is right
in front of you. All you have to do is open your eyes a little wider."
She stared at him intently and focused on wanting to see him, being
desperate to see him.
"I know you blame yourself, even now, but you shouldn't." His voice took on
a sad tone. "Things just. . .happen, Willow. Things that nobody ever has
control over, and that's just the way it is." He squeezed her hand
reassuringly. "You need to know that. . .you're fighting on a daily basis,
putting your life on the line, killing the baddies - none of it was in
vain." He took a deep breath and whispered. "I didn't die in vain."
She gasped and the tears that had been threatening to surface finally
spilled over as he came into sharp focus in front of her. He stood the same
time she did, and she fell into his arms sobbing openly. She clung to him,
stroked his hair, kissed his cheek and finally managed to croak out between
sobs, "Jesse."
-----------
"Xander." Buffy breathed.
He stood in the doorway to her home and bobbed his head in acknowledgement
the way that only Xander could. "Hey, Buffy. Where's my girl?"
"Getting dressed." She smiled and stepped aside to allow him access to the
house, then hugged him as soon as she closed the door. "It's so great to
see you, especially-" She stopped herself and hugged him even tighter.
"I know." He whispered into her hair.
"Uncle Xander, is that you?" Laurel called from upstairs.
He smiled. "The one and only!" He looked down at Buffy. "God, she sounds
more and more like Willow every day."
Buffy nodded somewhat sadly and retreated to the kitchen.
Just then, the redheaded teen bounded down the stairs and jumped into her
uncle's arms. "Whoa, Laurel." He tried to regain his balance. "You're
getting so big. Let me take a look at you." He held her at arms length for
inspection.
"I think I grew two inches from last time you saw me, Xand-man." She
smiled.
He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. "Xand-man, huh? Lemme guess. .
.Faith's been by recently."
"Yup!! She took me shopping in L.A. for new clothes for school and we went
to the Chinese Theatre and then to Rodeo Drive and," She looked around
conspiratorially and dropped her voice to just above a whisper. "She even
bought me a pair of leather pants for when we go out on patrol."
"I take it you're whispering cause Buffy doesn't know yet." He whispered
back.
Laurel shrugged and headed toward the kitchen. "I'm not worried about it,
Uncle Xander. Everything's five by five." She smiled at him and
disappeared through the kitchen door.
Xander shook his head in disapproval, but couldn't help chuckle a bit.
---------
Buffy, Laurel and Xander finished up breakfast and were washing the dishes
together. It was almost the perfect family scene, except one important
person was missing. Willow.
Buffy stepped back and watched Laurel and Xander finish up. She remembered
a time not long ago when the four of them would do this every time Xander
came over for dinner. It would usually end in a water fight, which usually
sent Willow into 'resolve-face' mode in record time. They'd get scooted out
of the kitchen while she cleaned up the mess, then she would bring them all
ice pops and they'd sit on the front porch watching the night go by.
It was such a simpler time back then. Buffy frowned. <Back then?> In
reality, it was only six short months ago but now it felt like a lifetime.
She was shaken from her thoughts by the sound of a loud motor right outside
the house. She knew it could only mean one thing as she watched Laurel's
eyes go wide with delight.
"Faith!" Laurel yelled from the window as she waved at the Dark Slayer.
She smiled wider when Faith beckoned to her to come outside.
"Jacket." Buffy reminded her.
Laurel stopped in her tracks, ran to the living room, grabbed the beaten up
old leather jacket Faith gave her and ran outside.
Buffy enjoyed the silence for a few moments and leaned back against Xander.
They watched as Faith showed Laurel the ins and outs of the motorcycle, and
Laurel stood there listening intently. Buffy noticed that she began to ask
Faith questions, and as soon as Faith started to answer, Laurel pulled a
small pad and pen out of her jacket.
"Looks like Faith is in trouble now." Xander commented.
"Yup." Buffy smiled. "After all, Laurel is the daughter of the one and
only research queen. Willow taught her well." A tear trailed down Buffy's
cheek.
"I know that tone, Buff. You taught her lots of things too." Xander
tightened his grip on her waist a little in reassurance.
Buffy was about to comment when she heard Laurel say to Faith, "That's
wicked cool! Can I try?"
"Uh oh." Buffy and Xander said in unison as they went outside to stop any
of the ideas the redhead may have just come up with.
--------
Rupert Giles woke in the morning feeling all of his sixty plus years. He
yawned and padded his way to the bathroom to begin his morning ritual.
Showered, shaved and dressed, he grabbed his trusty walking cane from beside
the bed and headed downstairs.
In the forefront of his mind, he knew what today was and knew what was to
come. He'd spend the day alone in quiet refection, perhaps go through an
old photo album or two, check on impending prophesies, then there would be a
knock on the door. He would get up to answer it, only to have the joy of
his life be impatient as always and burst through it with a resounding
'Papa' before falling into his arms and showering him with kisses. Laurel.
His precious 'granddaughter', with the smell of youth surrounding her and
life behind those soulful green eyes would make him feel ten years younger
or more any time he saw her.
The visits had grown shorter and shorter now. It wasn't that Laurel was too
old for him or not interested in her Papa anymore. No. It was far worse.
Buffy had grown too old for him, too old and uninterested and bitter and
hateful and. . .Giles shook his head. <What's the use?> She'd never
forgive him, never be his Slayer again or the daughter he never had.
---------
"What happened Willow?" Willow and Jesse were walking along a cobble stoned
street reminiscing about high school and all the good times they had
together growing up. Jesse tried to broach the subject of Buffy a few
times, but Willow skirted the issue. He thought it was best to leave it
alone but now it was time for the hard stuff. "Will?"
"Jesse, I really don't-"
"-Wanna talk about it, I know. But-" He shrugged. "you know how your
tummy gets all acidy when you keep bad stuff inside. Come on, Will, I'm
here for a reason. You have to know that."
She sighed. "I know. It's just. . .a touchy subject for me right now.
Buffy, well, it's kinda hard to explain."
"You love her."
Willow smiled up at him. "Apparently not that hard." She walked beside him
in silence for a while. "It started in high school, kind of. I admired
her, wanted to be like her. It always seemed so, I don't know, exciting and
daring. . .you know, all the Slayer stuff she did and even that aside. .
.she's an amazing person - so full of life and funny and sweet and romantic
and sexy and-"
"Willow-"
"Sorry, too much information I guess." She blushed.
"No, it's not that, it's just, well, why are you here? Have you asked
yourself that yet? I mean, do you even know where here is?"
Willow stopped in her tracks and looked around. It was as if she was
noticing for the first time that things were very different. She tried as
hard as she could to remember how she got there but couldn't. Then she
tried to remember the last time she saw Buffy and Laurel. She couldn't do
that either. A look of panic crossed her face. "Jesse?" She looked at him
quizzically. "How did you get here?" She began to back away from him
almost fearfully. "You're. . .you're dead. I saw it. . .I saw Xander stake
you in the. . .oh God, that was sophomore year of high school."
"Take it easy, Will."
"Take it easy? Take it easy? I'm dead. . .am I dead?. . .oh God, I'm not
dead, am I? Cause I have a sixteen year old daughter that needs me and
Buffy, Buffy doesn't know how to cook! And she doesn't know when Laurel's
doctor's appointments are and. . .and I think there's a load of laundry in
the washer. . .the last time Buffy did laundry everything turned out pink!
And Giles still isn't fully recovered from the fall he took last year, he
needs me and-"
Jesse placed his hand on her shoulder. "Willow, breathe."
"Breathe? Dead people don't breath, Jesse they. . .well, they don't do
anything. . .cause they're dead!" She ran her hands through her hair in
frustration. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm calm.
. .somewhat." she opened her eyes and looked at him. "You can tell me the
truth, I can handle it, really. Am I dead?"
Jesse looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "Well. . ." He hedged.
-----------
Buffy closed and locked the door behind her. It was a rough day and she
felt every minute of it right down to her bones. They say loss gets easier
with time. Buffy Summers would have liked to have a word or two with who
ever 'they' were and find out what 'they' would say when a motherless
sixteen year old looks at you imploringly and asks one simple question.
'Why?' Those big green questioning eyes were enough to frazzle the nerves
of even the Immortal Slayer. Well, not so immortal now. Now she would die
just like everyone else, or, just like every other Slayer before her.
She played with the gold band on her finger absentmindedly and smiled. It
seemed like only yesterday that they exchanged the rings and vowed to love
each other forever. In reality it was almost seventeen years ago, right
after Willow discovered she was pregnant.
They discussed starting a family at least a thousand times but never really
followed through with the plans. It seemed like nothing would make either
of them happy. Willow wasn't too fond of the idea of adoption because she
wanted the baby to at least be a part of her or Buffy. Then when the
subject of artificial insemination came up Buffy totally nixed the idea
because she didn't like the fact that she wouldn't know anything about the
father. She also didn't like that there was a possibility of the father
showing up on their doorstep. Precautions were often taken, but nothing was
fail-safe. Add that in with living on the hellmouth and Willow came around
to Buffy's way of thinking on the matter of 'frozen fathers'.
It all seemed so cut and dry now, but when the discussion was happening, it
was anything but. Buffy grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and
opened the sliding door to the patio. The view still amazed her every time
she saw it. She and Willow decided to go house hunting on a whim. They
thought it was a good way to pass the time and would enjoy looking at the
many different styles and structures of the houses in Sunnydale. This was
the first and last house they looked at and two weeks later they bought it
thanks to the money from Willow's computer programming hobby.
The house was set on a cliff near the outskirts of Sunnydale. It was as if
this particular cliff was made just so a house could be nestled into it
nicely among the trees and other greenery. When you stepped out onto the
porch you were assaulted by the sweet smell of flowers and there was a lake
and a forest about twenty feet below. The house was close enough so they
wouldn't have to worry about leaving their friends or family, but it was far
enough away so that if anyone wanted to see them, they'd have to drive.
Well, except for Xander. He could 'beam' in and out of anywhere in the
blink of an eye. The setting for the house and the house itself was perfect
and private and romantic. And now Buffy Summers was occupying it alone with
Willow's daughter.
Buffy sat down in her favorite lounge chair and took a deep breath of the
warm night air. She could remember a night just like this. Being out here
with Willow and without a care in the world.
{{"Buffy! You're incorrigible. You know that?" Willow swatted her lover's
arm playfully. She was sitting in the Slayer's lap, straddling her legs and
from the grip Buffy had around her waist, Willow wasn't going anywhere.
"I know, but you have to admit you've thought about it, Will. Come on."
She drank down the last of her iced tea then looked up at Willow with great
big puppy dog eyes.
Willow attempted to reprimand the errant Slayer, but her tone of voice came
out as amused. "Don't you turn those eyes on me, missy."
Buffy smiled. "You *have* thought about it. I'll bet it crossed your mind
the first time we stepped out on this deck together when we came to view the
house."
"Did not." Willow crossed her arms and pouted, but only for a moment. A
smile began to creep across her features. "Well, maybe I did. Just once. .
.or twice."
Buffy reached up behind Willow's neck and gently pulled her down for a kiss.
She pulled away after a few moments, much to Willows dislike. "You vixen,
you. If you had told me sooner then I could have made your wish come true."
Willow smiled. Talking wasn't first and foremost on her mind, but she
actually got her brain somewhat in gear to give Buffy and answer. "I didn't
think you'd want to." She said softly and somewhat embarrassed.
"Not want to make love to you under the stars? There are still so many
things you have yet to learn about me Miss Rosenberg." Buffy smiled.
"But what if we get caught?"
"Don't you have some sort of protection spell in your little bag of witchy
tricks? Something to make us, you know, invisible but not."
Willow's eyes went wide. She couldn't believe she hadn't thought if it
before. She wiggled around on Buffy's lap and tried to get comfortable then
mumbled a few choice words under her breath. She lifted her arms in the air
and made a sweeping motion.
Buffy watched with keen interest as Willow cast a spell over them. She saw
a thin mist begin to bear down on the entire house then just as it looked
like it was going to billow over them, it disappeared.
"So mote it be." Willow whispered. She opened her eyes and leaned down
close to Buffy's ear. "Now. Where were we?" She whispered. "Here?" She
trailed light kisses down the Slayer's neck and up to her chin. "Or here?"
She took Buffy's head in her hands and turned her face. She proceeded to
kiss her cheek, her forehead, and down her other cheek. "Or maybe we left
off here." Finally Willow pressed her lips to the blondes.
Buffy felt as if her blood was set on fire. It was very rare when Willow
took the upper hand, but when she did. . .look out. All other thoughts fell
away from the Slayer's mind when Willow increased the pressure of the kiss.
Buffy parted her lips slightly to grant the redhead access and the rest of
the night was. . .}}
<Amazing.> Buffy smiled at the memory. They'd had such great times
together in this house right from the moment they moved in. That night,
that wonderful, passionate, amazing night - was the night Willow got
pregnant. Biologically it was impossible. But magically. . .well, if
anyone knew about magic it was Willow and if there was a way for her to get
pregnant with a child that was part of her and Buffy, then Willow was just
the one to find that way and make it work.
"Now that's what I like to see."
Buffy jumped at the sound of the voice behind her and was instantly on the
defensive. She dropped her stance when she saw who it was. "Xander! One
of these days you're gonna sneak up on me and I'm gonna take your head off.
I'm sure the PTB wouldn't be happy about a headless Shadowman running
around."
He walked over and sat down in one of the chairs. "I wouldn't worry about
that, Buff. I can regenerate."
She sat back down in the lounge chair and gave him a questioning look. "I'm
almost afraid to ask how you know this."
He smiled. "Well, The first time it happened I was careless. I was helping
Anya make dinner and I was chopping onions. She dropped a plate, it
startled me and I chopped off my finger."
"Can I just say, eww?"
Xander chuckled. "You might want to save that 'eww' for after I tell you it
was one night that you and Will came over for dinner."
"Xander!"
"Easy there, Buff. None of my, um, 'parts' were in the stew. Trust me. I
don't bleed and anything I loose regenerates in about five minutes but it
takes longer if it's a bigger part." He smiled. "So I've lost a finger
here and there when I'm working. No big." He shrugged. "The biggest
problem is getting rid of them though. You start to run out of places to
hide the pieces so I've started to bury them in limbo. Although I did get
kinda freaked when I saw a Gremcheu walking around with my hand." He
shuddered.
"A who?"
"Gremcheu. It's kind of like a dog but not. It's hard to explain. The
pets here have *nothing* on the pets we have in limbo."
"I'll bet." She made a face. "So what brings you back here anyway?"
"I forgot my bag. I was just gonna slip in and out, but then I saw you out
here. It's nice to see you smiling again."
"I was just thinking about Willow." Her voice became a little sad. "About
the night she got pregnant."
Xander nodded in understanding and smiled. "You know, I think I still have
marks from when you jumped me." He rubbed his chin.
Buffy genuinely smiled. "I am sorry about that, Xand. I just couldn't
believe it. I thought it was impossible until Willow explained it to me."
"Yeah, after Faith and Giles restrained you so you wouldn't try to kill me."
He laughed. "Although I can understand you thinking the worst."
"It was about four months after Willow's birthday/graduation party. We were
only in the house a week and you two kept disappearing. What was I supposed
to think?" Buffy glared at him playfully.
"That's my Slayer. Punch first, ask why later."
"And what made it even worse was the fact that everyone was there! Even
Angel and Cordelia. I walked onto the patio and immediately had a bad
flashback to that time in the library when you guys found out Angel was
back. I thought you were gonna pull some crazy intervention thing on me
again."
{{Buffy dropped her duffle bag near the door and yawned. The yawn wasn't so
much from slaying as it was from boredom. The demons and vampires were
scarce lately. Giles had checked into it several times in the past few
weeks but nothing seemed out of place. There was no big evil coming up, no
prophesies, no doom and gloom. Nothing. It was as if the forces of evil
finally got a clue and decided to let the Slayer have a semi-normal life for
once.
She walked into the kitchen then onto the patio where she knew Willow would
be waiting for her. The minute she opened the door she knew something was
wrong. Her mom, Giles, Angel, Cordelia, Faith, Anya and Xander were all
there. They were sitting in a semi-circle and Willow was in the lounge
chair facing them. What made it even worse was that they all stopped
talking when they noticed she arrived.
"Buffy." Willow got up to greet her and they exchanged a quick kiss.
"You're back early."
Buffy thought Willow almost sounded disappointed about that. "Evil lurks. .
.somewhere else I guess. Patrol was a bust." She looked around at all her
friends. "Not to sound un-hostessy but, why are you all here?"
Giles cleared his throat and stood up. "Buffy, you may want to sit down for
this."
"Yes, honey. Come take a seat." Joyce gestured to the empty chair next to
her.
"Alright, you guys have managed to wig me in record time." Buffy turned to
Willow. "What's going on, Will?"
Willow took her hand and led her to the chair. She sat down in her own
chair and looked at everyone gathered for support. Finally, she turned to
Buffy and took her hand in her own. "It's nothing bad." She smiled. "But
it is a surprise. A good surprise! I mean I wasn't expecting it and we
talked about it a lot and I should have told you what I planned on doing
before actually doing it but I think you're gonna be happy about it, at
least I hope so and-"
"Will!" Buffy pleaded. This wasn't the best time for babble mode.
"Sorry." She said sheepishly. "I, um. . .got some news today."
"And. . ." Buffy coaxed.
"And," Willow smiled and her eyes suddenly became wet with tears. "and I'm
pregnant." She choked out.
Buffy audibly gasped and her eyes went wide. "You're, you're. . ."
"Pregnant." Willow knelt down in front of Buffy and cupped her face with
her hands. "I'm pregnant, Buffy."
"How? What? How?"
"Three very good questions, Buffy." Giles smiled at the Slayer. "We've
been waiting for you to arrive so Willow could explain it to us."
"You all knew before I did?" Buffy turned and looked at the group.
"No, Buffy, no." Willow squeezed her hand. "I called everybody so I could
tell you in front of them. Giles was the first to arrive and he kind of
guessed but I didn't confirm it until just now."
Buffy nodded in understanding. Nodding was really all she was capable of
right now. Nodding and crying and a little smiling too.
"I guess you're wondering how it happened." Willow finally said.
Buffy nodded.
"Well, you know how we've been talking about it. We just couldn't seem to
agree on how to do it. The logical thing we both agreed on was that I would
be the one to get pregnant because we didn't know what would happen if a
Slayer got pregnant because it's never happened before. I was really keen
on the donor thing till we researched it. I just couldn't stand it if some
strange guy showed up on our doorstep demanding to see his child."
"Frozen pops. Literally." Xander quipped. He saw the look Buffy shot him
and looked sheepishly down at his hands. "Sorry, Buff."
"So as I was saying." Willow continued. "I did some research on mystical
births. It's amazing how many there have been actually. There was this one
in India where-"
"Will." Buffy pleaded again. "Tangents not such a good thing right now.
I'm gonna explode if you don't get to the point soon." She smiled at the
redhead.
Willow smiled apologetically and rushed on in the explanation. "Okay, so I
figured why beat them if you can join them? I talked to Xander about the
stuff I found and he did a little research on his own. Once we put
everything we found together, it was easy. I can't believe how easy it was.
Well, except it was a little awkward at first. . .especially for Xander.
But we did it!"
Buffy scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. "You did it?"
"Yes! Isn't that great!"
Angel noticed the look in the Slayer's eyes first. It was that look she
always got just before she was about to seriously maim or even kill
something. "Uh oh." He didn't get a chance to take one step before Buffy
was out of her seat and on top of Xander pummeling him. "Faith!" Angel
yelled and the two of them ran over to Buffy and Xander.
It took Faith and Angel a good amount of time to get her off of Xander. She
was screaming enough profanities at him to even make the vampire blush.
Once Angel got a hold of her arms, Faith grabbed her legs. Between the two
of them she wasn't going anywhere.
Giles attempted to defuse the situation. "Buffy, I don't think Willow
explained the situation entirely." He looked over to Willow who was
standing there in shock. "I hope."
Cordelia walked over to Willow and placed her hand on the redheads shoulder.
"Hey, Red?"
Willow looked up at Cordelia as if she was seeing her for the first time.
She blinked once or twice and tried to get her bearings. This wasn't going
exactly as she'd planned it. She rolled her eyes then turned to the
restrained Slayer. "Buffy, do you honestly think I'd do "it" with Xander?"
She walked over to where Angel and Faith were holding her and put on her
best 'annoyed' face. "Never mind the fact that he's Immortal and who knows
the ramifications of him fathering a child. . .it's Xander!"
"Gee thanks, Will." Xander dryly commented from his position on the floor
of the deck.
"No offense, Xand." She put her hand out and helped him up. She noticed
there wasn't a scratch on him and he didn't even moan in pain, but she'd
have to save that discussion for another time. Right now she had a very
pissed off Slayer on her hands. "Think you can behave while I explain the
rest?"
Buffy sighed and nodded her head. She grinned a little at Angel and Faith
when they let her go and she had a feeling she was going to be making this
up to both Willow and Xander for a long time.
Willow looked over at Xander. "I think you might want to try and explain it
this time. I think I left a few things out."
"Gee, Ya think?" He sat down a safe distance away from Buffy and turned to
the group. "In my line of work, you get to go some interesting places. If
there was a way for me to bring a camera with me I would, cause if I tried
to explain it, you guys would think I've lost my marbles. One of the places
I go is a parallel world to this one. A lot of it is the same with two very
important exceptions. One; time moves much faster in that plane. A minute
here would be about two hours to them and two; gender roles are reversed."
"Interesting." Giles nodded his head. "I've always had a suspicion that
there were parallel universes out there."
Xander nodded. "I thought it was pretty interesting myself. This
particular place is a mirror of good old Sunnydale, complete with it's own
wacky hellmouth and all the goodies that come with it. Once I figured out
which universe was the one I was supposed to be in, the rest was easy."
"The rest of what, Xander? I swear, it would take you six hours what any
normal person could say in six minutes." Cordelia remarked.
"I'll spare you the details but basically, I took some of the essence of the
active Slayer in that world and brought it back to Willow. She had to time
it correctly, otherwise we never would have gotten that opportunity again.
It's a whole mess with the temporal folds and the alignment of the stars and
planets and. . ." He shrugged. "Like I said, I'm sparing the details."
"I still don't get it. Why couldn't you take B's Slayer essence for what
ever little brew Will was gonna cook up?" Faith asked.
"Everyone has a doppelganger, an exact clone in a parallel universe.
Buffy's clone, the active Slayer there, is male." Giles deducted. "By
taking the essence of the male Slayer and giving it to Willow for a
fertility spell, it is ensured that the child will be a part of both of
them."
"Exactly." Willow nodded at Giles.
Buffy walked quickly over to Willow. "I'm so sorry, Will. I just. . .I
thought the worst and. . ."
"I'm sorry too. I should have explained it better." She hugged the Slayer.
Buffy froze under Willows touch and looked at her with realization in her
eyes. "Oh God, we're gonna have a baby!!"
Willow smiled. "That's pretty much what I've been trying to tell you."
"When? I mean, when did you find out. How pregnant are you? Shouldn't you
be sitting down?"
Willow smiled at her concern. "I snuck out to a doctors appointment late
yesterday while you were on patrol. I'm about six weeks pregnant and I'm
fine, really." She touched her stomach. "We both are."
Buffy thought about the time frame for a moment then it dawned on her. "You
little devil, you! Six weeks ago was the night you did the protection spell
on the deck and we mrummph!" Buffy found herself silenced by Willow's hand
over her mouth.
"I don't think our family needs the exact time and location of conception,
do you?" Willow blushed.
"Sorry." Buffy hugged her. "You know, I thought that iced tea tasted a
little funny." Willow giggled at that. Buffy pulled away to look at her,
then over at Xander who was sprawled out on the lounge chair. She suddenly
got a mischievous look in her eye. "I'll tell you one thing. We're never
getting rid of that lounge chair. It's part of the family now."
Xander looked up and realized what Buffy was saying. He shot out of the
chair with a yelp and looked around, panicked. "You mean you?. . .there?. .
.where I was sitting? Oh, gross! As much as I can appreciate the mental
imagery, I could have done without the props."
Anya whacked him for that comment.
Willow buried her face in Buffy's shoulder out of embarrassment. "I can't
believe you did that."
Buffy squeezed her tighter and smiled. "Oh, but it was so much fun."}}
Buffy was trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard. She's missed
this. Missed laughing and smiling and remembering the good times. She
looked up at Xander who had a smirk on his face. "Oh, come on Xand, your
reaction was classic. And so worth it might I add."
"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead, mock me. You'll notice I never sat on that lounge
chair again." He snerked and put his chin up in the air as if he were
annoyed.
"God, what happened Xander? How did we get so far away from where we
started?"
Buffy's words were sobering to him and he got out of his chair and knelt in
front of her. "It's that big old wheel of life, Buff. It just keeps
turnin', turnin', turnin'. . .no matter what we do we can't stop it." She
fell into his arms then, sobbing. He rubbed her back in comfort and sighed.
"I wish I could change it Buff. I'd give up everything I have, if only I
could go back to that day. . .and so would Giles."
Buffy stiffened at the mention of her ex-Watchers name. "Xander." She
warned.
He sighed. He knew it was useless and there was no point in arguing with
her. "He is sorry, Buffy."
"He's not sorry enough. I should have made him sorry when I had the chance.
It's all his fault and no one is gonna make me think otherwise."
"I know. I just. . .I wish you'd reconsider. Laurel loves him so much."
Buffy stood up and began to pace. "You think I don't know, Xander? You
think I don't know Faith sneaks her over there after patrol and that's where
they are now? I'm not stupid."
"I didn't say you were." He held up his hands in defeat. "I just. I wish
you could see what I saw. Then maybe. . ."
"No. I already told you, you're not taking me anywhere near it again.
Hearing how it happened is bad enough. . .I don't need to see it." She
stopped pacing and grabbed the railing for support. "See her get flung
around like a rag doll, screaming, practically torn to shreds, calling my
name. . ." She trailed off and sobs began to wrack her body. "Oh God,
Xander. . .I felt her, heard her in my mind but I couldn't get there until
it was too late. Why wasn't I there?"
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Because
that's the way Will wanted it. You know that Buffy." He whispered. "The
resolve face comes out and we all run for cover. There was no use in
arguing with her, she would have done it anyway because it was for you and
Laurel. I just wish I had found out about what she and Giles were planning
sooner. Then maybe. . ."
Buffy shook her head. "No, then maybe you would have been on the receiving
end of one of her tantrums." She smiled despite her present mood.
"Complete with lightening and all the fireworks that go with it. I think-"
"I think you two are really pathetic."
Xander and Buffy both turned around to see Laurel standing at the entrance
of the patio.
"Laurel. How long have you been there?" Buffy asked. She was surprised
that Laurel was able to slip in without being noticed.
"Somewhere around you saying that Papa wasn't sorry enough for what happened
to mom." She bit out angrily.
"Laurel, you weren't there. You don't know everything." Xander warned.
She ignored him and stomped over to Buffy. "No, I wasn't. But you know
what I do know? I love my Papa and I miss mom. And he misses her too. You
don't know how sorry he is for what happened because you haven't seen him or
spoken to him since."
"Laurel, this is a lot more complicated than you think." Buffy tried to
speak in soothing tones although the shakiness in her voice betrayed her.
"Giles and I. . .well, who knows what will happen, but right now I can't see
him. I won't."
Laurel sighed and walked the one step it took to put her arms around Buffy's
waist. "I just miss my family, mamma. I miss Papa coming here and us
having dinner together and mom laughing at Uncle Xander's lame jokes and
Anya and Faith trying to do the dishes without strangling each other-"
Buffy chuckled at the last comment. "I know, Laurel, I miss it too."
She pulled away from Buffy and looked up at her with sad eyes. "Can Papa
come next time we go visit mom? Please? You don't even have to talk to him
or anything I just, I want him there. It's important to me."
Buffy looked from Laurel to Xander. He gave her one of his 'it's not up to
me' looks and put his hands in the air. She looked back down at Laurel who
had shifted from sad eyes to 'resolve face' in record time. Buffy was about
to protest her daughter's little trick when she realized there wasn't any
use in arguing. This was Willow's daughter too after all. She just wished
that Laurel had inherited something other than the 'resolve face' from her
mother. If it would make her happy, then. . ."Fine. But not another word
about it. Straight to bed with you."
She smiled and hugged Buffy. "Okay. Not another word. I love you mamma."
She ran off to the house, took a pit stop to kiss Xander goodnight and ran
inside.
Buffy looked over at Xander feeling like she just got suckered big time.
The innocent look on Xander's face confirmed it.
"Don't give me the Slayer eyes, Buff. She's your daughter."
"The mamma thing works every time. As soon as she gets her way it's back to
'Buff'." She couldn't help but smile. "I just got played by my daughter
and her uncle. That'll teach me to cave into the puppy eyes."
"Yeah, well, the puppy eyes came from you, remember. And that resolve face
gets us both every time."
Buffy nodded. "I think I should turn in. Tomorrow is going to be
interesting to say the least."
"I'm goin. But just remember. No fighting with the G-man. He's not as
young as he used to be."
Buffy scoffed. "That old coot still has some fight left in him. Trust me,
Xand. Don't buy into the weak old man routine."
Xander chuckled. "If you say so." He walked over to her and kissed her on
the forehead. "Night, Buff." And with that he simply disappeared.
"I hate it when he does that." Buffy mumbled as she walked inside, locking
the patio door behind her.
-----------
"Jesse!" Willow scolded. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were
taking procrastination lessons from-"
"Okay, okay. Look, Willow, it's a bit more complicated than asking 'am I or
aren't I?'. I mean, there are a lot of ways to define 'dead'."
-------
"Papa! Just spit it out already!" Laurel was sitting on the couch in
Giles' apartment. She and Faith had stopped by to tell him about Buffy's
change of heart and he surprised them with some news of his own.
"Come on, G-man." Faith was pacing in front of the couch.
"Faith, has it ever struck you as, um, curious that you're my age when you
came to Sunnydale and you still insist on calling me, ah, G-man?"
"That's just who you are, G. And I wouldn't be me if I didn't call you
that." She winked at him. "Now quit stalling and tell us what you found
out about the spell Red did."
Giles smiled at Faith's sentiment and cleared his throat. "Yes, well.
There are a lot of ways to define dead. It's fascinating really. Some
people can refer to themselves as dead meaning, inside, void of emotion.
Others such as vampires are referred to as 'undead' meaning they're dead but
their bodies are still animated."
"Mom's not a vampire. Is she?" Laurel reached out for Faith's hand.
Faith sat down on the couch next to her. "Quit scaring the kid, Giles. Get
to the part about Red already."
"Yes, well. The spell that Willow attempted seems to have been, um,
successful to a degree."
"What kind of spell was she trying to do?" Laurel asked.
Faith looked up at Giles and gave him a look of warning, then turned to
Laurel. "It's not important right now. What's important is getting
everything out of Giles." She turned her attention back to him. "Which is
like pulling teeth sometimes."
"Yes, well." Giles reached for his cane and got out of his chair. He
walked over to the bookshelf. "This brings us to volume seven of the
Garzian texts. Faith, if you remember correctly, this is the volume that
Xander, uh, liberated from my collection before he took his station."
"Yeah, I remember."
"So I was looking though the translation of the spell and it seems to me
that she got it right to a point. She was researching the biological and
magical ramifications of being Immortal. She was attempting to find out how
it was that her cells and Buffy's stopped replicating. To do this, she had
to focus a lot of magickal energy into herself. This could have adversely
affected the cells and begun the reversing process of immortality."
"Wait. She can die? Like anyone else?" Laurel was confused. "It can't
be. The Powers That Be gave them immortality."
Giles tried to explain it to her. "Laurel. You have to understand. . ."
"No, Papa. Did she lie? Cause you know mom and Faith were on patrol last
week and this wicked fang gang came outta no where and mom got hurt real bad
and she was bleeding and everything but she said she was okay cause she was
immortal and that nothing could kill her and. . ."
"Laurel, breathe." Faith placed her hand on Laurel's shoulder. "I'll be
damned if I you didn't just channel your mother."
Laurel smiled. "Thanks." She turned to Giles. "Papa. . ."
"Yes, well. Willow, as I said, was researching the cause of the immortality
in she and Buffy. She could have possibly focused entirely too much magick
on the task of replicating cells again. When she was immortal, the cells
never died, therefore non of them were able to replicate. Buffy and Willow
have both been immortal for almost seventeen years now. The sudden
biological change back to replicating was too much and she just. . .blew up
into millions of pieces." He paused a moment so they could digest the
information. "That's not to say that she's dead. It could simply mean that
she's, um, in pieces and hasn't figured out a way to bring herself together
again."
"But, Papa, that still doesn't explain why she was doing the spell in the
first place."
"She was trying to recreate the conditions under which she and Buffy became
immortal, Laurel."
"Giles!" Faith interrupted. She looked at her watch. "I think we'd better
get back or you're mom's gonna have the whole town looking for us, kid.
We'll finish this another time."
Laurel shook her head. "No. Why won't you tell me? What's the big secret,
Faith? What was mom trying to do?"
Giles sat down next to her and took her hand. "Laurel, I can't and neither
can Faith. This is simply something your mother must explain to you. It's
not our place. As if she weren't furious enough with me for helping Willow
with the spell, I simply couldn't jeopardize her being angry at me for
something else. I hope you can understand."
Laurel was about to protest, but she knew he was right. She'd been talking
to Buffy for six months about forgiving Giles. While she still refused to
do it, she'd finally gotten Buffy to agree on being in the same room with
him and she wasn't about to let all her hard work go to waste. "Alright,
Papa. I understand." She hugged him. "I don't like it, but I understand."
-------
"So define dead, oh wise one." Willow smirked at him.
"Hey, don't get all snippy with me young lady. I'm only trying to help.
You brought me here after all." Jesse feigned a pout.
"How did I bring you here? And where is here exactly? And you still
haven't answered my dead question. I swear, I thought Angel was the king of
cryptic." Willow shook her head.
"Tell me about your daughter, Will."
"Jesse, no changing subjects!"
"Trust me, I'm asking for a reason." He smiled.
"Well, okay." They started walking again and Willow began to smile.
"Laurel. Laurel is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Well, besides Buffy of course. She's just. . .I don't know how to explain
it. She's the best of Buffy and I wrapped up in a whole other person.
She's athletic and willful the way Buffy is, she has a knack for computers
and school work the way I do. She's my height and she has my red hair and
deep green eyes, but her personality is almost all Buffy through and
through. She babbles when she gets upset or nervous and if she's mad you'd
better watch out. . ." Willow giggled. "She definitely has Buffy's
temper."
"How else is she like Buffy?"
"She's fiercely overprotective with anyone she cares about. Any time Buffy
disagreed with Giles over something or said something that Laurel thought
was an insult, she'd jump to his defense. It took us a long time to explain
to her that that's just the way Buffy's and Giles' relationship works. He
tells her what to do, she disagrees, and they argue." She shrugged. "It's
tough when Buffy and Laurel disagree on something though. Those two are so
pig headed sometimes."
"Well, if I remember correctly, you have quite a stubborn streak yourself,
Will."
She couldn't disagree. "Yeah, I do. Especially when it comes to the people
I love. I'd even risk my-" She stopped in her tracks and looked at him in
shock. She was beginning to remember. Everything came rushing back at once
and thousands of images flashed in her mind.
{{{"Giles, it can't be! I won't let it happen. Ever!"
"Willow, I'm sorry but all signs point to it being the case. I wish there
were something I could do."
"There has to be something!" Willow slammed the book closed on the desk,
which caused Faith to wake up from her nap on the couch.
"What's up, Red?" Faith sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Tell him it's not possible." She pointed to Giles. "These books and
prophesies and vampires and demons. I can't take it anymore, and I'll be
damned if *my* daughter is going to be forced into it the way you and Buffy
were."
"Giles, what's got her all worked up in a lather?" Faith got off the couch
and stretched. "What's the evil of the week and when do we kill it?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that, Faith. There's a
prophesy I've been researching for some time. It tells of the coming of the
final Chosen One, the last Slayer. She is to give her life in the final
battle of good versus evil."
"Cool. So when does she arrive and how do we help?"
"Faith." Willow's voice was thick with emotion.
Faith put two and two together and finally caught on. "No. No way." She
shook her head and walked up to Giles. "Not the kid. There's no way in
hell I'll allow that. Patrolling with us is one thing, she has a choice,
but. . ."
"It doesn't seem as though any of us has a choice." Giles took his glasses
off and walked over to the phone. "I'll call the Council and find out where
the current Slayer is located. If I remember correctly, we sent her to
Europe to dispatch of an unruly group of fire demons who were taking
pleasure in torching the local shrubbery."
"If I loose her, I don't know. . ." Willow stopped herself. Following that
thought could only cause heartache.
"Hey, no talk like that, Red. We'll find a way to stop it."}}}
Willow blinked back the tears that were falling silently down her cheeks and
all Jesse could do is look on and let it happen; let her remember every
detail. She felt the terror and the panic of finding out her daughter was
going to be the next Slayer all over again as if it were the first time.
She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself, but more memories began to
flood her mind.
{{{"Willow, you must listen to reason."
"No, Giles. I have to do this. I found the spell and the meditation in the
Garzian text Xander took. It's not that hard really. All I have to do is
focus my magic inward and figure out what makes me immortal. I know my cells
stopped replicating, you know, cause they don't die anymore, I just need to
find the cause. No big."
"I don't think you realize the possible consequences of this. I insist on
researching it more before you put your life in danger. Buffy would never
forgive me if-"
"Buffy's not going to find out, Giles." Willow stated as a very matter of
fact. "Ever, if I can help it. Is that understood?"
"Willow, I beg you to reconsider. The task you are undertaking is-"
"It's to save my daughter's life, Giles, and Buffy's. If there's any way I
can stop this, well, I'll use my last breath to do it if I have to."
"Willow, please tell me you haven't already attempted the meditation." From
the look on her face, Giles knew she had. He was at his wits end. There
wasn't anything he could say to change her mind. The only thing left now
was to work with her and make sure she didn't get hurt or worse. "Alright,
fine, if you insist on doing this then at least allow me to assist you."
She thought for a moment then nodded her head in agreement.
***a few weeks later***
"Buffy, is Willow there?" Giles had made plans with Willow to do more
research on the spell. They agreed to meet at his house while Buffy and
Faith were on patrol and Laurel was off with some friends. That was over
two hours ago.
"No, she hasn't been around all afternoon. I thought she was with you?"
Giles rubbed his temples. "Oh, dear."
"I really hate it when you say that, Giles. It only means trouble. What's
going on?"
"Well, I ah, made plans with her to go over, some um, information and. . ."
"Giles! Just. . .stop stalling and tell me what's going on."
Xander appeared out of no where. "Giles. . .trouble. . .Willow. Breaker's
woods!"
"Xander!" He had to grab onto the table because the sudden flash of light
startled him.
"No time, G-man. Let's go."
Giles returned to the conversation with Buffy. "Buffy. . ."
"I heard. I'm on my way. You two *so* have some explaining to do." Buffy
hung up the phone.
"Yes, alright." The watcher sighed and hung up the phone. He grabbed his
keys from the table and turned to Xander.
Xander shook his head. "Nope, sorry Giles. No time to drive. We're taking
my transportation system." He grabbed Giles around the waist and gave him a
goofy grin. "Trust me, I don't like this any more than you do, but it's the
only way to get you there in one piece. Hang on." He put his head back
and they disappeared in a flash of white light.
***Breakers Woods***
Xander and Giles reappeared in a clearing. "Where is she?" Giles said,
looking around.
"Over there." Xander pointed to another clearing about fifty feet away.
There was a warm light breaking through the trees. "Damn. I must have
overshot."
----------
Willow Rosenberg was on a journey. A journey unlike any she'd ever been on
before. She was deep in meditation and focusing all of her energy on the
biological system that made her breathe, made her blood flow, her hair get
longer and more importantly, the cells that gave her life. The cells that
stopped replicating when she and Buffy were struck by the bolt of lightening
in England and rendered them immortal. She was determined to find out how
it worked, why and if she could do the process herself to save her
daughter's life.
Willow reasoned that if Laurel could become Immortal, then she'd never be
called as a Slayer. She knew enough about her immortality and the Powers
That Be to know that they would never allow two Immortal Slayer's to exist.
Time was running out and the research sessions with Giles only reinforced
her theory. They found out that at any given time, there are only a certain
number of immortals walking the earth and the balance was in direct
correlation with the amount of evil that existed. An immortal Slayer would
throw off the balance and therefore, Laurel would be passed up and the next
Slayer would be called.
Willow looked around with her mind's eye. This was almost familiar
territory. The last time she attempted something like this, it was when she
and Buffy had to fight the demon King Arthur. The only difference was that
now she was taking a trip into her body, not her mind.
She could see the intricate network of her veins and hear the blood pumping
through them. <Not close enough.> She thought. <Need to get smaller.>
She focused and after a few moments she was down to the cellular level. She
looked around and immediately noticed that they didn't look like anything
she'd ever seen under a microscope.
Each cell had a yellow/gold protective film on it. It was almost as if they
were sprayed with glow in the dark paint. Their movement was graceful and
fluid, but she also noticed that they followed a traffic pattern. No new
cells broke into the line and none of the existing cells faded away. It was
just as she'd suspected, they stopped generating.
Her idea was simple. Get close enough to them to find out what the
yellow/gold film was made out of. If she could do that, then there had to
be a way for her to do the process on Laurel herself. She began to
concentrate again and slowly moved closer and closer to the cells. The
answer she was looking for was just within her reach. All she had to do was
reverse the process of immortality and then be there to cause them to take
on the film again.
She'd done enough research to know that it would take a lot of concentrated
magick along with the potion she made and drank before she started
meditating. There was only a small window of opportunity to do this and get
it right, she just hoped that it would work. This would be her one and only
chance.
Something was wrong, horribly wrong. The cells weren't going back to
immortal fast enough. It was taking too much time and Willow knew that if
she stayed too long she may never make it back. That just wouldn't do. She
had to make it back for Laurel, and for Buffy. She concentrated even harder
and the cells began to take on the yellow/gold color again, only it was as
if someone pushed the fast forward button on her internal VCR. It was going
so fast that she lost control and instead of retaining the color, the cells
went beyond the yellow into a bright blinding white and suddenly there was a
flash as every cell in her body exploded outward like shards of glass when a
bullet goes through a windowpane. Willow's world went black.}}}
----------
"Laurel, look out!" Faith yelled.
The girl looked up just in time to see a vampire headed right for her. She
ducked and tripped him, sending him flying into the mausoleum wall. He got
his balance quickly and charged her again.
"You dead guys sure don't know when to quit." She pulled a stake out of her
jacket and hit him with a right hook. He was stunned momentarily and she
grabbed him by his shirt. "Someone needs to teach you that dead," She
pulled the stake back and rammed it though his chest, "Means dead." He
dissolved into dust.
She sauntered over to where Faith was sitting in the grass. "Two for two."
She put her hand down to help her up. "I'd say I'm on a roll. Wouldn't
you?"
Faith glared at her. "Don't get all cocky on me, kid. I'm a little off my
game tonight."
"A little? You're getting sloppy in your old age, *auntie* Faith."
"Go ahead little girl, gloat now. We'll see who's sore in the morning now
won't we?"
Laurel smiled at her but didn't answer. The truth was, she hadn't been sore
after patrol in a long time. Maybe even for the past year. She just kind
of got into a groove where slaying was concerned and she didn't question it,
or the other two Slayers. Since her mother's death, she'd been testing her
limits and found out that not only could she keep up with Faith and Buffy,
but she could excel far beyond what they were capable of. She silently
figured out that she, being the daughter of two immortals and one being a
Slayer, had attained Slayer powers herself.
-------------
The two of them walked into the house and Faith called out for Buffy. "Yo,
B! You around?"
Buffy emerged from the kitchen with a tray full of food for the two of them.
"'Yo, B?'" Buffy shook her head and set the tray on the coffee table. "One
would think you've reverted back to your teen years, Faith."
She flopped down on the couch and took a giant bite of the sandwich she'd
just picked up. "And who's to say I ever left 'em?"
"So how'd it go tonight?" Buffy directed her question to Laurel.
"Not bad. It was kinda slow, actually. You think something might be
brewin?" She quirked her eyebrow up and took a healthy bite of the
sandwich.
"No, I don't think so." Faith answered. "Just to double check, I'll stop
by G's tomorrow."
"Laurel, why don't you head upstairs and get ready for bed. I'll be up in a
few."
She was about to protest, but Buffy's expression told her to just do as she
was told. "Um, okay." She bound up the stairs, leaving Faith and Buffy
alone.
Buffy turned to her when she heard the shower go on. "So how'd it *really*
go tonight."
Faith rolled her eyes. "We didn't stop by Giles' if that's what you mean.
We patrolled for two hours before we saw any real action. Two fangs in a
row and we were on our way home."
"How much action did Laurel see?" Buffy went though this every time Laurel
and Faith went on patrol. They'd formed a very strong bond right from the
day she was born, it was if they were sisters, and Buffy had to play mother
to both of them. She waited a few moments then tried again. "Faith. . "
"Both. She got both. No problem. She was great, Buffy. And no, she
didn't give me attitude. Seems like you're the only
one she gives it to." Faith sat back and looked at Buffy. Really looked at
her. "Have you even slept more than two hours at a time in the past six
months, B? Keep this up and. . ."
"And what?" She rose to her feet and glared at the Dark Slayer. "I'll die?
Cause you know, that sounds like a really good prospect right now, *F*."
She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to keep some kind of
composure. "What's the use anymore. . .I mean really? Will's gone,
Xander's off doing his job more than half the year, I'm not even speaking to
Giles and I don't know if I ever will and Laurel. . .Laurel tells you more
than she tells me. She confides in you and trusts you and looks to you for
advice. And when Will was here, she. . .she was the one that put the
band-aids on the bruises and chased the monsters out from under the bed.
What good am I anymore?"
Faith rose and looked her in the eye, angrily. "You're no good to anyone,
Buff, not like this. Not fallin apart at the seams and lookin' like you're
gonna collapse any minute! What the hell happened to 'Buffy the Vampire
Slayer'? Where is she cause I'll tell ya somethin', B, she sure ain't
standing here."
"You don't know! You don't understand how. . ."
"No I don't understand. No one does. Since Red. . .since Willow's been
gone you're just closed up to everyone, especially your daughter. She told
me. . .told me she walked in on you and Xander talking. She said she was
happy that you could open up, even if you were badmouthing her grandfather
and. . ."
Buffy's anger flared. "He's *not* her grandfather." She turned around.
"He's not anything to anyone." She bit out.
Faith turned her around forcibly and held onto her arms. "He's all you ever
had. . .all any of us ever had, B, and you know it! God, you're pathetic."
She let Buffy go and shook her head. "That's not even what this is about.
Is it?"
Buffy wiped hot tears away from her eyes. "Then tell me, oh wise one, what
exactly is this all about?"
"It's all about you. . .as usual. Willow's gone. She's not here to pick up
your pieces anymore or hold this family together. She's gone, B, and you
can't see straight. I'll tell you something, you either get your act in
gear or you're gonna loose that kid," She pointed to the stairs. "She's
gonna turn on you so fast your head will spin."
"How the hell would you know?"
"I'll tell you." Faith said evenly. "Cause I was there. My father died
when I was eight and my mother slowly got sucked into herself day by day and
month by month. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, she couldn't function
after a while and *I* had to take care of her. She lost him and it was
like. . .like she fell into this deep dark pit that not even I could pull
her out of." Faith paused, trying to collect her thoughts. She didn't
expect for all of this to come rushing out. . .especially now. But she was
too far gone to stop it, or to even care. "She resented me, said she hated
me, hated my face 'cause it reminded her of him. Do you have any idea what
that's like? To have your mother tell you to get out because she couldn't
stand to look at you anymore? I was eleven years old, B, eleven." Faith
wiped her own tears away and took a deep breath. "You gotta come to peace
with this, Buffy. If not for yourself, then for you daughter." She stepped
closer to Buffy, who still looked at her defiantly. "Say it."
"Say what?" Suddenly, it dawned on Buffy what Faith was trying to do. "No.
I won't. I won't ever say it."
Faith grabbed her arms. "Say it, B. Willow's dead. She's not coming back.
Say it!" Each word was punctuated by a slight shake. "Willow's dead.
She's not coming back!"
Buffy broke from her grip and struck her square in the jaw with all her
strength. "No!"
Faith grinned at her menacingly. "That all you got, Slayer? I know a
fungus demon that punches better than *that*." She slugged her back with as
much, if not more, force. "Willow's not coming back, B. Face it!"
Buffy snapped. She started wildly throwing punches at Faith's face, "No! I
won't say it! I won't! She's not dead, she's not!" She tried to land a
roundhouse kick but misjudged and broke the coffee table in half as her foot
came back around. This only angered her more and she stepped up the pace of
her attack. Every punch she threw, Faith countered it and sucker punched
her, taunting her, forcing her to bring it on even more. "Willow's not
gone. . .she's not. . .Willow's not gone, Willow's not gone. . .Willow's. .
.oh, God." She collapsed against Faith and began to sob uncontrollably.
"She's gone, Faith. . .Oh, Will. . ."
The Dark Slayer caught Buffy easily and slid them both to the ground safely,
kicking the remnants of the coffee table out of the way. She held onto her
tightly, stroking her blonde hair soothingly. The tears continued to stream
down her own face, silently. "I know, B. I know."
When Laurel was satisfied that everything was alright down in the living
room, well, everything except for the poor coffee table. . .she silently
crept to her room and closed the door. The last thought she had before she
drifted off to sleep was that maybe, just maybe, Buffy had a chance at
healing finally.
--------
"You alright now?" Faith whispered. They were still on the floor of the
living room and she couldn't even begin to imagine how long they'd been
there. Both she and Buffy had thoroughly cried their eyes out, and hadn't
said a word since.
"Yeah." Buffy responded. Her voice was hoarse from crying and her eyes
bloodshot. She looked up at Faith and gave her a little squeeze. "I never
knew. . .about your parents." Faith merely nodded. "I'm sorry."
"You didn't do anything to be sorry for. It wasn't your fault." She
whispered.
"It wasn't yours either." She shifted slightly so that she was able to see
Faith's reaction. "You know that. Right?"
Faith closed her eyes and sighed. "I know. Now I know, but then," She
shrugged. "Back then was a whole different story."
Buffy understood. She'd been turning everything around and around in her
brain since they'd been sitting there. What Faith revealed about her
parents explained a lot of her behavior and her bad ass attitude when she
first got to Sunnydale. She saw the same attitude in Laurel occasionally
and it frightened her. It frightened her not that Laurel could be like
Faith, no, what scared her was that she was capable of hurting Laurel the
way Faith's mother hurt her. That she had the power to make or break who
she was, or more importantly, what kind of person she grew up to be.
Buffy reached up and touched Faith's cheek to get her attention. The Dark
Slayer looked down, and a tear fell from her eye. Faith could live to be a
hundred years old, her eyes still betrayed her. They had an intensity and
'age' that always exceeded her years, like she'd seen too much too soon and
her body was always fighting to catch up to everything her eyes had seen.
"You knew. Everyone knew, but only you'd go toe to toe with me."
Faith nodded almost imperceptibly. "I couldn't let you do that to yourself
or to Laurel. It's no way to live. For either one of you." She smiled.
"Besides, even being immortal, Xander woulda walked away with a few bumps
and bruises. This was a Slayer thing."
Buffy nodded in agreement. She looked up at Faith again after a few
moments. "I love you, you know. Maybe not in the way I---"
"Don't." Faith shook her head. "Don't drag up the past."
Buffy sat up and shook her head. "I'm not. I'm thinking about the future."
She leaned in and kissed her gently.
------
"Willow, are you okay?" Jesse placed his hand on her shoulder. She was
shaking and tears were streaming down her face.
"I remember what happened now." She opened her eyes and looked at him
sadly. "Oh God, Jesse. I remember."
"What happened?" He asked softly.
"I. . .I had too much magickal energy flowing though me. It was overkill."
She sniffled. "The cells reverted back to normal and started the cycle of
regenerating again. I knew I only had a short amount of time to make the
process work. I was careless and I. . .I rushed it and lost my
concentration. When you lose concentration during a spell it's. . .it can
be disastrous. I panicked and lost control and I. . .I. . .Oh, Jesse." She
fell into his arms and sobbed. "I still can't remember. Everything went
black and then I found myself here with you."
"And where is here, Will?"
She looked around, helplessly and whispered. "I don't know."
-------
A few days after Buffy and Faith's confrontation, Buffy and Xander stood
alone under a tree. She was leaning up against him and he had his arms
wrapped around her waist. She realized that she did that a lot lately;
lean on him. She smiled and knew, had it not been for him especially, she
never would have made it though these past few months. "It's so peaceful
here." She commented.
"Yeah, Will would have liked it." He squeezed her almost imperceptibly.
Laurel was about one hundred feet or so away from them and she was kneeling
in the grass. Flanking her on both sides were Faith and Giles. She pushed
some leaves away from in front of her and placed fresh flowers in a vase.
"What do you think, Papa?"
"They're very lovely, Laurel. Your mother's favorite I believe."
She nodded. "Yeah, fire and ice roses. Tough to find but," She shrugged.
"I think it's worth it." Laurel turned back to tending the grave.
"Looks good, kid." Faith nodded. She smiled at Giles and walked over to
him then turned to where Buffy and Xander were standing. "Think they'll
come over here?" She whispered.
Giles frowned. "Not likely but, I can't complain. At least I get to be
here at all."
"I heard that." Laurel stood up and walked over to them. "I'll bet she'll
come over if *I* ask her."
They both looked at her quizzically and Faith was the first to speak. "How
did you. . ?"
"Slayer hearing. I'll be right back." She walked off towards Xander and
Buffy.
"Did she just say what I think she said?" Faith looked to him.
"Oh, dear." Giles shook his head and took his glasses off. "How did she
find out? How could she possibly have any idea that," He trailed off then
looked to Faith. "The other Slayer, in Europe. They, ah, they couldn't
locate her. Her Watcher said she'd call when she found her. This could
only mean,"
"She's dead and Laurel's the active Slayer." Faith sighed. "Damn it!"
-----------
"So. What'cha doin?" Laurel asked coyly as she approached Buffy and
Xander. She had her hands behind her back and her most innocent face was
firmly in place. Neither one of them ever had a chance.
"Nothing." Buffy said suspiciously. She knew the innocent face all too
well. "And what are you doing?"
"This." Laurel grabbed her hand and started to haul her over to where Faith
and Giles were standing.
Before Buffy knew what was happening, she was standing five feet in front of
Giles. She put her hand up and waved. "Hi." She looked over at Faith who
was looking everywhere but at her. "Hey."
Faith nodded. "Hey." Then looked away.
Xander strode up behind them. "It's a really nice day ladies. . .and G-man.
Too bad I can't enjoy it with ya. Duty calls as always."
"Now? You're going now? Throw me a bone here." Buffy leered at him.
He shook his head. "Sorry, Buff, you're on your own with this one." He
grinned. "Tootles!" He waved then promptly disappeared.
"I hate it when he does that!" Faith and Buffy said in unison. They looked
at each other then looked away.
Laurel didn't know what was going on with them and before she had a chance
to ask, Giles spoke up. "Buffy, I um, well, Faith and I have some
information for you that may---"
"Nice to see you too, Giles. I'm fine, and you? Yeah, it's been a while."
She looked at him, annoyed, and crossed her arms across her chest.
"B, now's not the time. It's kinda important." Faith tried to interrupt
any kind of tirade the other Slayer was ready to launch into, then turned to
Laurel. "You wanna go grab the basket from the car? I'm starved."
"But," She tried to protest.
"No, buts. Go." Buffy interrupted her rather harshly. Laurel pouted and
glared at her mother, but did as she was told none the less. Buffy turned
back to Faith and Giles. "So?"
"I have good reason to believe that the active slayer is dead." Giles
began. "I'll have to confirm it through the council, of course, but, I
believe the current slayer is already in place."
"So, we get her, we train, teach her the in's and out's of not being a
midnight snack and ship her off to her watcher. We've done this at least
eight times already, Giles. What's the big?"
"Buffy, the active slayer is now. . .well, is now your daughter. Laurel."
"No." Buffy paled at even the thought. There were countless nights that
she and Willow stayed up discussing the prospect and they swore to each
other that it would *never* happen. Ever. "Impossible. Willow researched
it before she got pregnant and even continued to research it up until last
year! There's no way---"
"There is, and it's done." Faith interrupted her. "She's been really on
her game this past year. Hadn't you noticed? And she's not sore after
patrol anymore. Giles and I were standing at least 50 feet away from her
just now whispering, and she heard every word."
Laurel walked over to them and placed the basket at Buffy's feet. She
wrapped her arm around Giles' waist and gave him a little side hug. "I know
what you're talking about, and it's okay." She smiled at him, then looked
at Buffy and Faith. "I knew, I guess on some level I've always known and
never really said anything. It's no big. You can't fight destiny I guess,
no matter how hard you try."
It was all starting to come together for Buffy now. She processed
everything she just heard and came up with only one answer. "You knew."
She looked accusingly at Giles and then Faith. "You both knew there was a
chance of this and you didn't tell me."
"It wasn't our place, Buffy." Giles replied. "My hands were tied. I swore
I wouldn't---"
"Swore to who!?"
Faith grabbed her arm and whirled her around to face her. "Who do you
think, B?"
Buffy blinked a few times as the implications began to fall into place.
"Willow. Willow knew. That's why she was doing that spell in the woods.
It had something to do with Laurel being the Slayer. Didn't it?" She
looked accusingly at Giles.
He bowed his head and sighed. "Yes. I'm afraid so."
"Mom knew I'd be the next Slayer? Why didn't she tell me, Papa?" Laurel
looked to him.
"I'm afraid your mother was quite, um, strong headed about the whole
situation. I only found out about it by chance. She was researching at my
place one day and I glanced at the book she was reading. I don't know how
long she'd been researching it before that, Laurel. I only knew for about a
week, then she. . ." he trailed off. The others were well aware of the
rest of the story.
"I never wanted this for you." Buffy looked at Laurel sadly. "and neither
did Will. We thought we covered every base but still. . .this is what
happened. I'm sorry, Laurel."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, mamma. I asked, well, demanded that I
go on patrol with you right from when you told me about your life. I think
now looking back on it, it's in my blood. Well, obviously. Even if I never
became an 'active' Slayer, I'm still a Slayer just the same." She put her
arms around Buffy and hugged her.
"When did you get so smart?" Buffy whispered.
"Hey, I'm Willow Rosenberg's daughter, it runs in the family." She smiled.
"Now, I distinctly remember a picnic we were supposed to have. . .aunt free
of course, well, except for you, Faith. What do ya say?" She looked to the
three adults. "I'll set up. Don't be long." She grabbed the basket and
began to walk away. She stopped and turned back around. "Hey, Buff?"
"Yeah."
Laurel cocked her head to the side and smiled her widest smile. "I'm your
daughter too, you know. I may not treat you like a 'mom' sometimes but,
that's what you are. *My* mom." She turned back around and headed towards
the grave.
Buffy stood there dumbfounded.
"I'm gonna go help her." Giles said.
Buffy grabbed his arm. It shocked them both. They hadn't been within ten
feet of each other in six months and now she was touching his arm. She took
a moment to compose herself. "I can do the math, you know."
He smiled. "I know."
"You let me think you were helping her all along." He nodded and she
continued. "I blamed you, for everything." He nodded again.
"I'll just," Faith began to back away.
"You're next." Buffy turned her head to the brunette. "Don't move a
muscle." Faith complied. Buffy turned back to Giles. "Since we're in
agreement on everything I just said, I only have one question. Why?"
"We've been through a lot, Buffy. I've been there in your happiest times.
When you and Willow fought the council and won, when you finally got over
all the petty nonsense and got together, when you vowed your love to each
other and the birth of your daughter." He smiled. "You didn't need me to
lean on or lend a hand then. . .you could stand on your own. But in your
darkest hour, when Willow was lost to you and you looked for someone to
blame, you blamed me. And I didn't stop you. I suppose it was the least I
could do for you. Allow you an outlet, someone to blame for your loss.
That way, you wouldn't blame yourself, or your daughter. . .and especially
Willow."
Buffy felt the tears coming, but she pushed them back. She couldn't believe
all the hateful and hurtful things she'd said to him and about him. He
sacrificed himself and their relationship to ensure her love for Willow
wouldn't be tarnished. "Giles, I-"
"No need to apologize." He squeezed her hand. "I brought it on myself and
I knew what the consequences would be. Everything is fine now. I have you
and Faith and Xander and," He looked over to Laurel and smiled. "Now, if
you'll excuse me, I'd like to spend some time with my granddaughter, if you
don't mind."
Buffy smiled at him. "Not at all." She watched him walk off with a little
more spring to his step, even with the cane. She turned her attention back
to Faith. "We need to talk."
Faith nodded. "Yeah, but not now, B. Let's just. . .enjoy this. Okay?
It's the first time we've all been together in over half a year."
Buffy sighed. "Okay, but after patrol. You, me and. . .well, you and me.
Maybe Laurel can stay with Giles tonight."
Faith nodded and they both went to join the rest of their family.
------
"She's forgetting. . .moving on." Willow remarked to Jesse.
"How? I mean, how do you know?"
"I can just, I don't know, *feel* it. . .I guess? We have this connection,
this link. It's always been open and we can tell what the other is feeling,
thinking. . .before I tried the spell, I severed the link and didn't tell
her. I magically held a link to her so she wouldn't realize, but, it's not
the same. I just tried to re-open it and she's. . .she's distant. Not
responding." Willow's voice was resigned, like she was almost ready to give
up.
"I don't think she'd forget about you, Will. You're the love of her life."
Jesse looked at her and made a decision. It was a decision that would in
turn effect everything that happened from here on out. He stood in front of
her. "Do you trust me?" Willow nodded and tried to say something but he
stopped her. "Then I'm going to show you something." He stepped away from
her. The scenery changed and instantly, she knew where she was. If she
were deaf, dumb and blind she'd know where she was. She spent most of her
life in places like this. A cemetery. "Look." He said. And pointed in the
distance.
"Buffy." She whispered and slowly walked towards her.
-------
". . .and there was Giles, covered head to toe with demon slime." Faith
laughed. She was telling Laurel one of the hundreds of slaying stories
where Giles came out covered in goo. There were plenty of them.
"You sure did get hurt a lot, Papa. It's a wonder you never became a
snack."
Giles coughed. "Yes, well, I was much younger back then. And much more
foolish. I think I'll leave the, um, demon slaying to the younger
generation."
Something began to beep. Loudly and frequently. "What in God's name is
that?" Giles looked for the source of his annoyance.
"Sorry. It's my computer." Laurel reached into her bag and pulled out a
small black laptop. She flipped the lid open and chuckled then typed
something in. "Sorry. It's a friend of mine. She just got back from band
practice and wanted to tell me what happened."
"Don't you need a phone line and, um, electricity to run one of those
blasted machines?" Giles asked.
"No, Papa. The battery is good for a week and I'm connected through
satellite. God, I'd just *die* if I had to be plugged in somewhere. I
don't know how mom dealt with it. That is *so* last century." She got up.
"I'll be back in a few." And walked off towards a tree.
Buffy shook her head. "Willow in every way." She smiled and looked at
Giles. "Did I tell you that she *accidentally* got into the pentagon's
computers last week? They have a whole file on 'other worldly' activity.
There's even a Slayer profile. Gee, can we guess where that bit of info
came from?"
"Beefstick, I'll bet." Faith commented.
"Yeah," Buffy nodded in agreement.
----------
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 13
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:19:50 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel (2)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel
AUTHOR: Kimber (kimbertvs@xxxxxxxxx)
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}}}
-----------
*CowPrincess: So then he was all like. . .gimme that flute! And I said. .
.no way, besides, you have no idea where this flute has been!!!
*Laureltvs: LOL. . .oh, no! You didn't?! I can just imagine the look on
his face! It must have been classic.
*CowPrincess: Totally. I wish you could have been there.
*Laureltvs: Me too.
(There was silence on both sides of the computer for a while)
*Laureltvs: *tap tap*
*Laureltvs: You still there?
*CowPrincess: Yeah, just working on a paper. . .and thinking.
*Laureltvs: bout? (Laurel asked, but she knew exactly what her friend was
thinking about. It had been the source of her confusion over the past few
months)
*CowPrincess: You know. Come on, Lau-Lau. . .do I really have to say it?
*Laureltvs: No. I just. . . you know how hard it is for me to get away.
Since mom's been gone, Buffy's been watching me like a hawk! And if I'm not
with her then I'm with Faith on patrol and then we go to my grandfathers.
It's difficult. But we'll find a way to meet.
*CowPrincess: I guess you're right. I just, you know. . .wish we at least
went to the same school. I mean I'm *all* the way over here and you're
*all* the way over there ::big sigh::
*Laureltvs: LOL
*Laureltvs: you make it sound like we're twelve states away! It's only
across town and you go to another school cuz your parents are nazi's and are
sending you to catholic school so you're raised with 'good Christian values'
::snicker::
*CowPrincess: Ok, ok I get it. :) But you know it's not working. . .the
Christian values stuff....*evil grin*. . .I'll be bi till the day I die!
*Laureltvs: ::blush:: You know you embarrass me when you talk like that. .
. .
*CowPrincess: I know. But it's so much fun! Come on, Lau-Lau. . . lemme
corrupt you! You know what they say about genetics. . .you can't fight
genetics. You have 2 mom's for gods sakes! It should be the most natural
thing in the world for you.
(a few minutes passed without a word.)
*CowPrincess: Laurel? You there?
***Laureltvs signed off 3:23pm
Laurel closed the lid of her computer and sighed. She leaned her head back
against the tree and closed her eyes. Why did everything have to be so
complicated? Sure, she dated some boys in high school, without her mom's
knowing of course, but still. . .she'd been kissed and there had been some
*minor* touching involved, but. "I hated it." She whispered to herself.
"Hated what?"
She jumped and looked behind her. "Uncle Xander!" She slugged him
playfully. "When did you get here?"
He sat down in the grass beside her. "Don't worry, I wasn't spying. But I
did hear what you said. So what's up?"
"I don't know. I'm just being sixteen I guess, and feeling everything that
comes along with it." She put her head on his shoulder. "Why does
everything have to be so difficult?"
"Buffy and Willow met when they were your age." He commented.
"I know. They told me the story a million times. What's that got to do
with anything?"
"Well, they both went though what you're going though now. I'm sure if you
talked to Buffy then,"
"Uh uh. No way." Laurel interrupted. "I can't. It's too. . .personal."
She grabbed her computer and stood up. "Come on. Lets go join in the
family fun." She put her hand out to him and yanked him up.
"Whoah, take it easy there, kid. You're gonna break me."
She smirked at him. "I wasn't even tryin."
He nodded and looked at her knowingly. "Since?"
She shrugged. "Bout a year. The genius' back there just figured it out."
She pointed to Faith, Buffy and Giles still sitting on the blanket. "You'd
think with all the evil and prophesies they've seen, they'd be a little more
in the know." She shook her head.
Xander laughed. "Let me clue you in, Laurel. They're not gonna see what
they don't wanna see until it practically bites them in the face. And it'll
never change." He grinned and put his arm around her. "Come on. I'm
starved."
"What else is new?" She smirked at him and they walked over to the others
together.
-------
Willow watched with awe from behind Buffy as Xander and Laurel walked over
to meet the others. "She's. . .she gotten so big." Willow shook her head.
"Where has the time gone?" She turned to Jesse, angrily. "What the hell am
I doing here? I should be here with them, with my daughter! Mine and
Buffy's daughter!"
Buffy felt a shiver run up her spine. "That was weird. I just got a chill
and it must be ninety degrees in the shade." She looked around
suspiciously.
"Your radar goin off, B?" Faith asked and looked around too.
"I don't know." She scrunched her eyebrows in concentration. "What ever it
is, it's gone now." She shrugged and went back to eating her sandwich.
"She felt me." Willow said in surprise. "Buffy felt me here!" She got
closer to Buffy and whispered. "I'm here. I'm *right* here, Buff.
Concentrate." She got no reaction from the Slayer. "Buffy, think. . .think
about me. I haven't gone anywhere. . .I'm still here." Willow paused a
moment. "Hey."
"Hey yourself." Buffy whispered. Her head immediately shot up and she
looked around frantically.
"Buff?" Laurel looked at her, worried. "Momma, what's wrong?"
Buffy looked around some more then tried to calm herself down. She could
have *sworn* she heard Willow. "Nothing, sweetie. . .cemeteries still freak
me out after all this time I guess. What do you say we head back? It's
getting hot and you should rest up before patrol tonight."
"Okay." Laurel nodded.
Buffy put her arm around her daughter's shoulder and winked at Giles. "How
would you like to stay at your grandfather's house tonight? You don't have
school in the morning and it's close to where you'll be patrolling and---"
Buffy didn't get a chance to finish because Laurel stopped short and jumped
into her arms, squeezing with all her strength. "Oh, yes!! Thank you,
thank you , thank you!!! You don't have any idea how much this means. .
.it's been such a long time since I stayed with Papa." She jumped down and
ran over to him. "Is it okay? That I stay with you?"
He smiled at Buffy then took Laurel's hand. "That's never a question you
have to ask." They walked together and he turned to Buffy and mouthed the
words 'thank you' to her. She nodded and the four of them continued to the
car.
------
Willow looked off after them long after they left. She turned to Jesse.
"She heard me." She had a wide grin plastered across her face. "Buffy
heard me and she answered. That means something. Right?"
He shrugged. "It might. It might not."
She ignored his vague answer. "I'm worried about Laurel though. She looks.
. .preoccupied, like there's something bothering her."
Jesse nodded. "Yeah, the girl with the weight of the world on her
shoulders."
"The weight of the. . ." She trailed off. "No. It can't be." She shook
her head. "This couldn't have been for nothing. She can't be the Slayer."
Jesse simply looked at her and she knew. She knew it had happened. Laurel
was now the Slayer and the fulfillment of the prophesy was inevitable.
"God, no. She's gonna die. There's no way to stop it now." Willow looked
up to the sky and screamed. "NO!!!!"
Thunder clapped in the distance and a bolt of lightening skittered across
the clouds.
------
"So you'll go right to Giles'. No stops or side trips or window shopping.
Got it?" Buffy was relenting to Laurel's wishes, again. She wanted to walk
to Giles' alone and not have Faith and Buffy escort her.
"Yes, *mother*. I understand and I'll be fine. I'm a Slayer. . .geez!"
Laurel was exasperated. She just wanted to go, to think. The walk to
Giles' was close to twenty minutes and it was a beautiful night. She wanted
to enjoy it alone.
"Keep the Slayer thing under your hat, kid. We may have been living in this
town forever, but the towns people are still pretty clueless." Faith jumped
in with more words of wisdom.
Laurel rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I won't turn the neon sign on over my
head with the big pointy arrow and lights flashing and---"
"I get it." Buffy put her hand up. "Got it. Good." She hugged Laurel and
gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Call me when you get there." She turned and
walked down the street with Faith.
Laurel watched them go. "Finally."
"I thought they'd never leave." A voice came out of no where.
Laurel was immediately on the defensive. "Alright. Come on out and play.
I promise to make it quick, I don't have all night." She opened up her
Slayer senses to take in her surroundings. She didn't sense anything
undead, but there was an unfamiliar scent in the air.
The person chuckled. "If I wanted it to be quick I wouldn't have come *all*
the way over here from *all* the way over there."
"Li?" Laurel dropped her stance and looked around. <It can't be.> She
thought to herself.
She came out from behind a tree ten feet or so away from Laurel. "In the
flesh, Lau-Lau." She smiled. "Surprised?"
"How? When? How?" Laurel shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Her friend
was still standing there. "How did you get here?"
"Bus. Then taxi. You have no idea the look I got when I told the driver to
drop me off at this cemetery. He thought I was nuts." She smiled.
Laurel laughed and nodded her head. "You are. Completely and totally
bonkers. You've lost it totally. . .I'm sure of it now."
"Are we gonna chit-chat in a graveyard all night or do I get a proper
hello?"
"Huh?" Laurel went pale as all the possibilities of what a 'proper hello'
could be. "What do you mean?" She asked in a very un-slayer like voice.
"A hug silly! I want a hug! You owe me a few of them and I intend on
collecting each and every one." She smiled and walked up to Laurel who
stood there with a dumb expression on her face. "Laurel?"
"Huh?" She blinked.
Lisa put her arms out. "Hug?"
Laurel gulped and stepped closer to the girl and put her arms around her.
Suddenly, everything fell into place. "Wow. It's so great to see you, Li.
Really."
Lisa squeezed her a little more tightly. "Good, cause I thought I lost you
in the clouds at some point." She looked at her. "You okay?"
Laurel nodded. "Very. I just, was. . .you know. . .shocked to see you and
all. You're the last person I expected to see on patrol. Ever."
Lisa smirked. "Well, with as fast as you ran off today, I thought something
was wrong. I've been looking for an excuse to finally come see you. That
seems as good a one as any."
Laurel backed away and dropped her head. "Oh, um. . .my uncle showed up so,
I had to sign off." It was lame, she knew, but it was the only thing she
could think of.
Lisa nodded her head. "I see."
They stood there in silence for a while. Looking around, not really looking
at each other. Laurel was at a loss. She didn't know what to say, what to
ask, how to say it. They'd never had a problem talking on the computer at
all. They talked almost every day and always had funny stories to exchange.
They even told each other secrets. . .things that you would never even dare
to write in your diary because there was a chance your mom would be
'cleaning' and just happen to find it under your bed, but now. . .now it was
as if they were strangers. "So. . ." Laurel peeked up at her from under
her bangs.
"So. . ." Lisa kicked at a loose stone on the ground.
"I kinda have to, you know. Go. I'm spending the night at my grandfather's
and. . .look out!" Laurel grabbed her and tossed them both to the ground.
A newly risen vamp came out of no where and lunged at them. Laurel saw him
just in time and got her friend out of the way.
Laurel quickly got to her feet and pulled out a stake. The vampire charged,
but she threw him off to the left. He was on his feet again, but sizing her
up this time.
"The new Slayer." He growled. "You know, I liked 'em young when I was
alive. . .this is no exception."
"Vampire." She smiled eerily. "I like mine dead." She attacked head on
and landed a flying kick square in his chest. It sent him reeling backward
to the ground. She jumped on him and plunged the stake home. "and this is
no exception." She got up, dusted herself off and turned to Lisa. "You
okay?"
She sat there in the grass, her mouth wide open. She looked at Laurel, then
to where the vampire got dusted then back to Laurel. Then she pointed.
Laurel walked up to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Li? You
alright? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
She shook her head. "No." She looked away from the grass and to Laurel.
"That's slaying? I mean, that's what you do?"
Laurel smiled. "Yeah. That's part of it, well, most of it actually." She
shrugged. "He was a newbie. . .didn't have a chance." She stood and put
her hand out to her friend. "Come on. Up you go."
Lisa took her hand and got up. "That was. . .so cool! I can't believe I
just saw that! You do that every night? Do they always turn to dust? Ever
run into demony things. . .you know, with like horns and stuff? Cause that
would be awesome!"
Laurel chuckled. "Slow down, slow down." Her cell phone rang from her
backpack and she reached for it. "Hold that thought." She flipped it open.
"Hello?. . .yeah, Buff, I'm fine. Late riser. . .yeah, I know, I'm going
now. I will. . .bye." She turned back to Lisa. "See? Like a hawk! And
even more now that I'm the active Slayer."
"Active Slayer? And why did you call her Buff? Wasn't that your mom?" She
ran her fingers though her hair. "I'm *so* confused."
Laurel smiled. "I know, but I'll explain everything, I promise. Which
leads me to my next question. You're here, which is nice, don't get me
wrong but. . .what now? I mean, I don't think the bus runs this late."
Lisa shrugged. "Um, crashing with you?" She walked over to the tree and
grabbed her backpack. "I was kinda, you know, hoping for a warmer reception
but, if you want me to go then I can just call a cab." She looked down and
kicked the rock again.
Laurel frowned. "I'm happy to see you, I just, I wasn't expecting you and
so much has been going on with Buff and my grandfather. . .they're finally
talking again and then something funky's happenin with Faith and I don't
know what yet and we had a picnic today near mom's grave and it was so nice,
not that, you know, grave side picnics are *supposed* to be nice but it was
and. . ."
"Laurel!" Lisa put her hand on Laurel's arm and she stopped talking
immediately. "Now I know what you mean about your tendency to babble."
"Hey!" Laurel pretended to be hurt. "I didn't tell you that so you could
use it against me, missy." She pouted.
"Okay, okay fine. I won't use it against you."
Laurel smiled. "Good. So, shall we? My grandfather's house isn't far and
I'm sure he won't mind you staying over."
Lisa brightened up. "Sure! Lets go."
------
Buffy and Faith sat facing each other in the kitchen. Faith had gotten in
from patrol about a half hour ago. She'd eaten and they made some small
talk. Now there was nothing left to do but make with the big talk. Laurel
was at Giles' place for the night, they ate, talked about patrol and there
was only one thing left.
"Faith," Buffy started.
Faith put her hand up and stopped her. "Let me." Buffy nodded and Faith
took a deep breath. "What you and Red had, B. . . it's something that
everyone in this world looks for their whole lives. And if they find even a
shadow of it, then they think they're the luckiest person in the world. You
got the real deal with her, a complete set, no missing or broken parts. I
can't, no, I *won't* interfere in that. It'll be like spitting on her grave
and as much as me and Red butted heads in the past, I won't do that."
"That's not what this is about, Faith. I. . .I don't know where to start or
how to begin. You know everything about Will and I. And I think that only
makes this better. . .easier. You know exactly what we went though to get
to where we are. . .were. .where we were." Buffy paused a moment. "I. . I
don't know. I'm lonely. Don't you get lonely, Faith? I don't think I've
ever seen you hold a relationship for more than a few weeks."
"Lonely? Is that what this is about? Cause I'm no one's consolation prize,
B, not even yours." She said angrily. She got up off the stool and grabbed
her jacket. "Maybe I should just go."
Buffy jumped up and grabbed her arm. "No! That's not what I mean. That's
not what this is about, Faith." She shook her head. "I. . .I miss Willow
terribly. I think you know that better than anyone." Faith nodded and
Buffy continued. "No matter what, nothing and I mean *nothing* could ever
compare or come close to what Will and I had, but that doesn't mean I can't
have something different with someone else." She took a step closer. "With
you." She whispered.
"It's been six months, Buffy. How do either one of us know that this isn't
some rebound? Some kind of an 'I need a warm body' thing?"
"We don't." she stated honestly. "But I'd like to find out, if you'll let
it happen. I need to get on with my life, focus on my daughter and the
future. I'm not helping anyone if all I do is sit around crying over Willow
and mourning for her. You said it yourself. I'm no use to anyone like
that." Buffy stepped even closer and put her arms around Faith's waist.
She pulled her closer into a hug. "Help me, Faith. Help me to focus, to
move on. . .not to forget cause I'll never do that, but to maybe heal a
little." She hugged her tighter when she felt Faith's arms wrap around her.
"I need you." She whispered.
Faith sighed. That was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to
her. People had said it before but, it never had this much meaning, this
much history behind it. Buffy needed her and was asking her for help.
Maybe even asking Faith to help her love again. Could she do it? "I. . .I
don't know, B. That's a hefty request." She said. "The best I can tell
you is that I'll try. . .I'll try to help you but, I've never been much of
the 'healing touch' type. Ya know?"
Buffy smiled and looked at her. "I know but," she shrugged. "No time like
the present. Right?"
Faith nodded and smiled back. "Right."
"Can you. . .kiss me?"
Faith wanted to, but she still felt guilty. Willow was the only one Buffy
had kissed for years except for last night, and...
"It still feels like I'm movin' in on her territory."
Buffy was about to protest but something stopped her. A breeze came through
the kitchen window and fluttered through the wind chimes hanging there,
causing them to clink together and create an eerie yet pretty sound. "I
don't remember opening the window. Did you. . ."
Faith shook her head and just stared at the chimes. "Uh uh. Nope." She
looked at Buffy. "That was. . "
Buffy nodded. "Very strange and *so* creepy. You know, I had the feeling
that Willow was close at the cemetery today."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Like she was standing next to me, with us. It was. . .nice." she
smiled.
"You need to do that more often."
"What?"
"Smile. It looks good on ya." She looked at Buffy for a few moments. Was
she sincere? Did she really want this? Willing to try and heal. . .with
her? What ever that meant, Faith would have to stick around to find out.
"oh, to hell with it." She leaned down and kissed Buffy. It was light and
short and very sweet.
Buffy smiled at her. "That was. . .nice. And slow. Slow is good." She
nodded.
"Yeah." Faith agreed. "Slow."
Buffy took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and upstairs to
the guestroom. That's where Buffy had been staying since Willow was gone.
She couldn't bring herself to stay in their room. . .not yet, anyway. They
changed in the cover of darkness and slipped under the covers. Buffy
snuggled up next to Faith, and Faith gladly put her arm around her. They
were asleep in moments.
-------
Willow stood in the middle of the kitchen. Her kitchen. Hers and Buffy's
kitchen. She smiled to herself, even if it was a little sadly, then turned
to Jesse and chose her words carefully. "I don't think I need you anymore."
"And why is that?" He wasn't surprised. He knew she'd arrive here at some
point.
"Because you're not real." She shrugged and smiled again. "I made you up.
You're a comfort mechanism I created to help talk my way though this. But I
don't need to tell you that. Do I?"
He shook his head no.
"I think I figured it out. Why I'm here, what I'm supposed to do." She
moved over to the window and played with the wind chimes again. They echoed
through the kitchen. "But it's gonna take some time." She turned back to
him and smiled. "You know. . .when I imagined what it would be like to talk
to my conscience. . .I always thought it would be a cute little cartoon
character like Jiminy Cricket or something." She laughed a bit.
"Well, even if you don't know exactly what you need right at the moment you
need it. . .you're soul knows, and your heart. Trust your heart, Will. It
can never do you wrong." He faded out of sight.
---------
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."
--------------
"So you'll go right to Giles'. No stops or side trips or window shopping.
Got it?" Buffy was relenting to Laurel's wishes, again. She wanted to walk
to Giles' alone and not have Faith and Buffy escort her.
"Yes, *mother*. I understand and I'll be fine. I'm a Slayer. . .geez!"
Laurel was exasperated. She just wanted to go, to think. The walk to
Giles' was close to twenty minutes and it was a beautiful night. She wanted
to enjoy it alone.
"Keep the Slayer thing under your hat, kid. We may have been living in this
town forever, but the towns people are still pretty clueless." Faith jumped
in with more words of wisdom.
Laurel rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I won't turn the neon sign on over my
head with the big pointy arrow and lights flashing and---"
"I get it." Buffy put her hand up. "Got it. Good." She hugged Laurel and
gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Call me when you get there." She turned and
walked down the street with Faith.
Laurel watched them go. "Finally."
"I thought they'd never leave." A voice came out of no where.
Laurel was immediately on the defensive. "Alright. Come on out and play.
I promise to make it quick, I don't have all night." She opened up her
Slayer senses to take in her surroundings. She didn't sense anything
undead, but there was an unfamiliar scent in the air.
The person chuckled. "If I wanted it to be quick I wouldn't have come *all*
the way over here from *all* the way over there."
"Li?" Laurel dropped her stance and looked around. <It can't be.> She
thought to herself.
She came out from behind a tree ten feet or so away from Laurel. "In the
flesh, Lau-Lau." She smiled. "Surprised?"
"How? When? How?" Laurel shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Her friend
was still standing there. "How did you get here?"
"Bus. Then taxi. You have no idea the look I got when I told the driver to
drop me off at this cemetery. He thought I was nuts." She smiled.
Laurel laughed and nodded her head. "You are. Completely and totally
bonkers. You've lost it totally. . .I'm sure of it now."
"Are we gonna chit-chat in a graveyard all night or do I get a proper
hello?"
"Huh?" Laurel went pale as all the possibilities of what a 'proper hello'
could be. "What do you mean?" She asked in a very un-slayer like voice.
"A hug silly! I want a hug! You owe me a few of them and I intend on
collecting each and every one." She smiled and walked up to Laurel who
stood there with a dumb expression on her face. "Laurel?"
"Huh?" She blinked.
Lisa put her arms out. "Hug?"
Laurel gulped and stepped closer to the girl and put her arms around her.
Suddenly, everything fell into place. "Wow. It's so great to see you, Li.
Really."
Lisa squeezed her a little more tightly. "Good, cause I thought I lost you
in the clouds at some point." She looked at her. "You okay?"
Laurel nodded. "Very. I just, was. . .you know. . .shocked to see you and
all. You're the last person I expected to see on patrol. Ever."
Lisa smirked. "Well, with as fast as you ran off today, I thought something
was wrong. I've been looking for an excuse to finally come see you. That
seems as good a one as any."
Laurel backed away and dropped her head. "Oh, um. . .my uncle showed up so,
I had to sign off." It was lame, she knew, but it was the only thing she
could think of.
Lisa nodded her head. "I see."
They stood there in silence for a while. Looking around, not really looking
at each other. Laurel was at a loss. She didn't know what to say, what to
ask, how to say it. They'd never had a problem talking on the computer at
all. They talked almost every day and always had funny stories to exchange.
They even told each other secrets. . .things that you would never even dare
to write in your diary because there was a chance your mom would be
'cleaning' and just happen to find it under your bed, but now. . .now it was
as if they were strangers. "So. . ." Laurel peeked up at her from under
her bangs.
"So. . ." Lisa kicked at a loose stone on the ground.
"I kinda have to, you know. Go. I'm spending the night at my grandfather's
and. . .look out!" Laurel grabbed her and tossed them both to the ground.
A newly risen vamp came out of no where and lunged at them. Laurel saw him
just in time and got her friend out of the way.
Laurel quickly got to her feet and pulled out a stake. The vampire charged,
but she threw him off to the left. He was on his feet again, but sizing her
up this time.
"The new Slayer." He growled. "You know, I liked 'em young when I was
alive. . .this is no exception."
"Vampire." She smiled eerily. "I like mine dead." She attacked head on
and landed a flying kick square in his chest. It sent him reeling backward
to the ground. She jumped on him and plunged the stake home. "and this is
no exception." She got up, dusted herself off and turned to Lisa. "You
okay?"
She sat there in the grass, her mouth wide open. She looked at Laurel, then
to where the vampire got dusted then back to Laurel. Then she pointed.
Laurel walked up to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Li? You
alright? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
She shook her head. "No." She looked away from the grass and to Laurel.
"That's slaying? I mean, that's what you do?"
Laurel smiled. "Yeah. That's part of it, well, most of it actually." She
shrugged. "He was a newbie. . .didn't have a chance." She stood and put
her hand out to her friend. "Come on. Up you go."
Lisa took her hand and got up. "That was. . .so cool! I can't believe I
just saw that! You do that every night? Do they always turn to dust? Ever
run into demony things. . .you know, with like horns and stuff? Cause that
would be awesome!"
Laurel chuckled. "Slow down, slow down." Her cell phone rang from her
backpack and she reached for it. "Hold that thought." She flipped it open.
"Hello?. . .yeah, Buff, I'm fine. Late riser. . .yeah, I know, I'm going
now. I will. . .bye." She turned back to Lisa. "See? Like a hawk! And
even more now that I'm the active Slayer."
"Active Slayer? And why did you call her Buff? Wasn't that your mom?" She
ran her fingers though her hair. "I'm *so* confused."
Laurel smiled. "I know, but I'll explain everything, I promise. Which
leads me to my next question. You're here, which is nice, don't get me
wrong but. . .what now? I mean, I don't think the bus runs this late."
Lisa shrugged. "Um, crashing with you?" She walked over to the tree and
grabbed her backpack. "I was kinda, you know, hoping for a warmer reception
but, if you want me to go then I can just call a cab." She looked down and
kicked the rock again.
Laurel frowned. "I'm happy to see you, I just, I wasn't expecting you and
so much has been going on with Buff and my grandfather. . .they're finally
talking again and then something funky's happenin with Faith and I don't
know what yet and we had a picnic today near mom's grave and it was so nice,
not that, you know, grave side picnics are *supposed* to be nice but it was
and. . ."
"Laurel!" Lisa put her hand on Laurel's arm and she stopped talking
immediately. "Now I know what you mean about your tendency to babble."
"Hey!" Laurel pretended to be hurt. "I didn't tell you that so you could
use it against me, missy." She pouted.
"Okay, okay fine. I won't use it against you."
Laurel smiled. "Good. So, shall we? My grandfather's house isn't far and
I'm sure he won't mind you staying over."
Lisa brightened up. "Sure! Lets go."
------
Buffy and Faith sat facing each other in the kitchen. Faith had gotten in
from patrol about a half hour ago. She'd eaten and they made some small
talk. Now there was nothing left to do but make with the big talk. Laurel
was at Giles' place for the night, they ate, talked about patrol and there
was only one thing left.
"Faith," Buffy started.
Faith put her hand up and stopped her. "Let me." Buffy nodded and Faith
took a deep breath. "What you and Red had, B. . . it's something that
everyone in this world looks for their whole lives. And if they find even a
shadow of it, then they think they're the luckiest person in the world. You
got the real deal with her, a complete set, no missing or broken parts. I
can't, no, I *won't* interfere in that. It'll be like spitting on her grave
and as much as me and Red butted heads in the past, I won't do that."
"That's not what this is about, Faith. I. . .I don't know where to start or
how to begin. You know everything about Will and I. And I think that only
makes this better. . .easier. You know exactly what we went though to get
to where we are. . .were. .where we were." Buffy paused a moment. "I. . I
don't know. I'm lonely. Don't you get lonely, Faith? I don't think I've
ever seen you hold a relationship for more than a few weeks."
"Lonely? Is that what this is about? Cause I'm no one's consolation prize,
B, not even yours." She said angrily. She got up off the stool and grabbed
her jacket. "Maybe I should just go."
Buffy jumped up and grabbed her arm. "No! That's not what I mean. That's
not what this is about, Faith." She shook her head. "I. . .I miss Willow
terribly. I think you know that better than anyone." Faith nodded and
Buffy continued. "No matter what, nothing and I mean *nothing* could ever
compare or come close to what Will and I had, but that doesn't mean I can't
have something different with someone else." She took a step closer. "With
you." She whispered.
"It's been six months, Buffy. How do either one of us know that this isn't
some rebound? Some kind of an 'I need a warm body' thing?"
"We don't." she stated honestly. "But I'd like to find out, if you'll let
it happen. I need to get on with my life, focus on my daughter and the
future. I'm not helping anyone if all I do is sit around crying over Willow
and mourning for her. You said it yourself. I'm no use to anyone like
that." Buffy stepped even closer and put her arms around Faith's waist.
She pulled her closer into a hug. "Help me, Faith. Help me to focus, to
move on. . .not to forget cause I'll never do that, but to maybe heal a
little." She hugged her tighter when she felt Faith's arms wrap around her.
"I need you." She whispered.
Faith sighed. That was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to
her. People had said it before but, it never had this much meaning, this
much history behind it. Buffy needed her and was asking her for help.
Maybe even asking Faith to help her love again. Could she do it? "I. . .I
don't know, B. That's a hefty request." She said. "The best I can tell
you is that I'll try. . .I'll try to help you but, I've never been much of
the 'healing touch' type. Ya know?"
Buffy smiled and looked at her. "I know but," she shrugged. "No time like
the present. Right?"
Faith nodded and smiled back. "Right."
"Can you. . .kiss me?"
Faith wanted to, but she still felt guilty. Willow was the only one Buffy
had kissed for years except for last night, and...
"It still feels like I'm movin' in on her territory."
Buffy was about to protest but something stopped her. A breeze came through
the kitchen window and fluttered through the wind chimes hanging there,
causing them to clink together and create an eerie yet pretty sound. "I
don't remember opening the window. Did you. . ."
Faith shook her head and just stared at the chimes. "Uh uh. Nope." She
looked at Buffy. "That was. . "
Buffy nodded. "Very strange and *so* creepy. You know, I had the feeling
that Willow was close at the cemetery today."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Like she was standing next to me, with us. It was. . .nice." she
smiled.
"You need to do that more often."
"What?"
"Smile. It looks good on ya." She looked at Buffy for a few moments. Was
she sincere? Did she really want this? Willing to try and heal. . .with
her? What ever that meant, Faith would have to stick around to find out.
"oh, to hell with it." She leaned down and kissed Buffy. It was light and
short and very sweet.
Buffy smiled at her. "That was. . .nice. And slow. Slow is good." She
nodded.
"Yeah." Faith agreed. "Slow."
Buffy took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen and upstairs to
the guestroom. That's where Buffy had been staying since Willow was gone.
She couldn't bring herself to stay in their room. . .not yet, anyway. They
changed in the cover of darkness and slipped under the covers. Buffy
snuggled up next to Faith, and Faith gladly put her arm around her. They
were asleep in moments.
-------
Willow stood in the middle of the kitchen. Her kitchen. Hers and Buffy's
kitchen. She smiled to herself, even if it was a little sadly, then turned
to Jesse and chose her words carefully. "I don't think I need you anymore."
"And why is that?" He wasn't surprised. He knew she'd arrive here at some
point.
"Because you're not real." She shrugged and smiled again. "I made you up.
You're a comfort mechanism I created to help talk my way though this. But I
don't need to tell you that. Do I?"
He shook his head no.
"I think I figured it out. Why I'm here, what I'm supposed to do." She
moved over to the window and played with the wind chimes again. They echoed
through the kitchen. "But it's gonna take some time." She turned back to
him and smiled. "You know. . .when I imagined what it would be like to talk
to my conscience. . .I always thought it would be a cute little cartoon
character like Jiminy Cricket or something." She laughed a bit.
"Well, even if you don't know exactly what you need right at the moment you
need it. . .you're soul knows, and your heart. Trust your heart, Will. It
can never do you wrong." He faded out of sight.
----------
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.
---------
The slight fog of just waking was still clouding Laurels brain when she
rolled over. She flung her arm over to the other side of the bed and came
in contact with. . .a body. A body that was currently snoring lightly. She
went to move her arm, but another arm reached up and tugged her back into
position. Laurel opened one eye, then the other, and found Lisa snuggled
deep under the comforter hanging onto her arm. "Li." She whispered. "Hey,
Li."
"Mmm. .rrumph." Came the sleepy and very cute reply. Laurel couldn't help
but smile fondly.
"Li, gimme my arm back. You're cutting off the circulation for gods sakes."
Laurel tried to tug it away.
"Don't wanna." Came the muffled reply, right before she tightened her grip.
Laurel sighed and looked at her watch. "Buffy and Faith are gonna be here
in two hours. Don't you want to get up and get ready?"
"Nope. Plenty of time." She smiled and opened one eye. "Since when do you
complain about being lazy in bed? It's Saturday and we don't have anything
planned really."
Laurel shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just. . ." She looked at Lisa who now
had both eyes opened and patiently waiting for her to finish. Laurel looked
down and pulled at some fuzz on Lisa's shirt. "This is. . .weird. Not bad
weird, just,"
"Good weird?" Lisa smirked.
"You know what I mean." Laurel swatted her playfully. "I mean, my mom's,
they love each other so much. When I was little and had a bad dream, I'd
crawl into bed and snuggle in between them." She smiled. "Even though I
didn't hear them professing their love for each other every second, I could
just. . .feel it. Ya know? Like words weren't good enough. You could just
'feel' it in the air."
Lisa smiled at the memory. "That's so beautiful. . .the way they loved each
other. I wish I could have met her."
"Me too." Laurel smiled back, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice.
"What's that got to do with what we were talking about though?"
"I'm. . .I don't know." She shook her head and pulled away from Lisa. She
turned over and faced the window.
Lisa frowned and reached out tentatively for her shoulder. Laurel stiffened
at the touch, but Lisa didn't retract her hand. Instead, she began to rub
her back trying to sooth away what ever the other girl was fretting over.
"I can't help you. . .if you don't tell me what's wrong." She whispered.
They laid there like that for a few moments, then Lisa moved closer and
wrapped her arm around Laurel's waist.
Laurel looked down nervously at Lisa's arm there. Touching her. Wrapped
around her. She was scared, more scared than she'd ever been up against
anything else.
"You're right."
Laurel was broken from her inner struggle by Lisa's comment. "Wha?"
"It's. . .weird." She gave her a little squeeze. "But I was right too.
Good weird."
Laurel turned her head just enough to look at her. They were inches away.
She visibly gulped when Lisa's hand came up and touched her cheek, caressing
it softly. She smiled and relaxed considerably under her touch.
"Better?"
Laurel nodded. "Much." She closed her eyes instinctively when she saw the
other girl glance down at her lips.
"Laurel!" Footsteps resounded down the hall.
Within seconds, both girls were up and at opposite ends of the room as the
door opened. "Laurel?" Faith poked her head inside. "You up?"
"Uh, yeah, Faith. We're up."
Faith turned her head to see, Lisa next to the dresser. She waved at here
and smiled, and Faith smiled back. "B and I got up early and decided not to
wait. Why don't you two get dressed? Giles is making breakfast."
Laurel nodded, a bit too emphatically Faith noted, and reached over to start
going through her bags for something to wear. Automatically, Lisa did the
same. Faith smirked and closed the door behind her.
-------
The group sat around Giles' table eating breakfast. Buffy and Faith asked
Lisa all the usual questions about where she lived, went to school, and what
her hobbies were. The girl answered the questions gladly, even after Laurel
complained that they didn't need to give her the third degree.
"It's okay, Laurel. I don't mind." Lisa smiled at her.
Laurel looked up at Buffy and Faith. "She has a pulse and no record. Isn't
that good enough?"
"Laurel, they're simply curious about your friend. I've had the pleasure of
her company every weekend and this is the first time your mother and Faith
are meeting her." He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Humor the two
old ladies."
Laurel smirked and kissed him on the cheek. "Okay."
Buffy narrowed her eyes at Giles. "What was that all about?"
"It's between my granddaughter and I. If you don't mind?"
Buffy was about to say something, but Faith stopped her. "Anyone for more
juice?" She picked up the pitcher and began pouring. "So what do you two
have planned today?" She asked the teens.
Laurel shrugged. "I dunno. I was thinking we could go to the beach. .
.maybe?" She looked over at Lisa who nodded. "Then back here. We rented
some movies for tonight and we're gonna have a vid fest and stuff our faces
with popcorn." She smiled.
"Oohh! I know. . .we can stop at the mall before we get back and grab some
lunch then ice cream." Lisa responded.
"Yeah! That way by the time we get back and put the movie in, we'll be all
ready for the popcorn. Good idea, Li."
Lisa nodded. "Thanks, Lau-Lau."
Faith smirked again watching the banter between the two girls. They got up,
put their plates in the sink and headed off to their room to get ready for
their day.
Buffy watched Faith's expressions as the two girls planned their day. Once
they were out of the room, she turned to Faith. "Okay. What'd I miss?"
Faith shook her head and looked at Giles. He looked back at her and put his
hands up. "Well, don't look at me like that. I'm not getting into this."
"So you see it too then, G-man?"
Giles simply coughed and excused himself to go do the dishes.
"Faith?!" Buffy nudged her. The exasperation was clear in her voice.
"Your daughter's got it bad, B." Faith sat back with a self satisfied grin
on her face. She looked over at the blonde. "And don't give me 'for who'
either. We both saw that little glowy thing both of their faces did when
they looked at each other." She shook her head and mumbled. "And they said
it wasn't genetic."
Buffy opened her mouth to respond. . .only to shut it again with an audible
click. She shook her head and growled at Faith, which sent the Dark Slayer
into, of all things, a giggle fit. "I don't see how this is amusing."
Buffy pouted.
"Look at it this way, B." Faith slung her arm around Buffy's shoulder. "At
least you don't have to worry about her getting pregnant." She laughed
again.
"Oh, very funny. Ha ha. I'm so amused." Buffy tried to be mad, but a
little smile crossed her face. She laid her head on Faith's shoulder. "You
think they know?"
Faith nodded. "Oh, they know alright. When I went in there this morning,
they looked guilty as sin."
"What? What were they doing?" Buffy looked at her.
"Nothing as far as I can tell. Relax, Buff. I don't think they've even
kissed or anything yet. Not with as fidgety as they are around each other.
They're in the butterfly stage now. . .but believe me, with the way Laurel
looks at her, it won't last long."
Buffy sighed. "Why couldn't we have had a boy?"
Faith smiled and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You wouldn't trade
that kid for the world."
Buffy smiled at her and kissed her on the lips softly. "You're right."
--------
Laurel was on her way back down the hall to turn on the 'puppy dog face' and
beg her mom to let Faith drop them off at the beach on her motorcycle. She
stopped in her tracks and caught the tail end of their conversation.
<wouldn't trade that kid for the world.> <You're right.>
She stood stock still and gasped when she saw Buffy kiss Faith. She
couldn't believe it. In nearly three seconds she ran the gambit of
emotions; shock, then fear, then confusion then loathing firmly set in.
Her mother had been gone not even a year and there was Buffy, moving on
already. And with Faith! Laurel couldn't believe what she'd just seen.
She was angry that Buffy could forget about her mother so easily and just
move on as if. . .as if she'd never existed.
"Laurel?" Giles stood in the doorway concerned.
She turned to him, then glanced back at Buffy and Faith as they kissed
again, then headed back down the hallway without a backward glance.
"Oh, dear." Giles rubbed his temples.
------
"I think this is our best shot." Xander sat on the edge of a table outside
his home. He and Willow had been brainstorming what their course of action
should be.
"They're dead, Xander. How are they gonna help?"
"The Oracles are dead, Will. . .not the Powers That Be."
"Yeah, and it's even harder getting an audience with them than it was with
The Oracles. What about Anya? Did she come up with anything yet?"
Xander shook his head. "She wants to know why I'm asking all these
questions. She won't help unless I tell her."
They'd been avoiding telling Anya that Willow was 'existing' in Xander's
house. They thought that as soon as she knew, she'd go to Buffy and Faith
about it. Now it seemed like they had no choice." "Then tell her. It's
the only option we have right now. On top of trying to get me tangible, we
still have this damn prophesy to figure out. Has Giles made any headway on
it yet?"
"Not yet but he's got the council on it." Xander jumped off the table and
smiled at her. "You gonna be okay? I need to run and take care of some
business, but if you need me then,"
"No, Xander really. . .I'll be fine." She smiled. "I'm gonna keep looking
through your books in the study. I still can't believe you have them all
crated. Do you know how much easier this would be if they were on the
shelves where they belonged?"
"I know, I know. I'll get some of the staff to help you out. It'll go much
quicker that way. But I have to run now. My line of work really can't
wait. I'm sorry, Will."
She smiled at him again. "Don't use the puppy dog eyes on me and it's okay,
really. I'll manage."
----------------
Laurel and Lisa were lounging on the beach. They'd been there for almost
two hours and Laurel had hardly said a word since they left the house.
Buffy had even suggested that Faith drop them off on the motorcycle, but
Laurel declined and practically dragged Lisa out of the house with her.
"Laurel?" Lisa nudged her friend.
Laurel looked up and blinked. "Huh? Did I miss something?"
"Only the past two hours. You're in a fog. What's up?"
She shook her head and turned back to watching the waves. "Nothing."
Lisa studied her for a moment. She looked so sad and confused. "Did. .
.did I do something? Was it about this morning? Cause if it is then I'll
never, I mean I won't, you know. . ." She shrugged.
Laurel took her hand and squeezed it. "It's not you. I saw Faith and my
mom in the living room this morning. They didn't know I was standing there.
They. . .they were kissing."
"Is that all?"
"What do you mean is that all? She was kissing Faith! Mom hasn't even been
gone a year and she's already moving on and Faith and mom never got along
anyway. . .mom always thought that Faith was after Buffy and now that she's
gone the first thing that happens is that they get together and how can you
say is that all? That's a lot if you ask me."
Lisa withdrew her hand without a word and got up to walk down by the water.
There was a slight chill in the air and she could feel summer coming to a
close. Laurel's words hit close to home and stung. She really couldn't
blame her friend for reacting like that, but it still hurt none the less.
Lisa had been going though an inner struggle ever since she met Laurel and
found out who Buffy and Faith were. Now she was stuck and didn't know what
to do. She jumped a little when she felt a pair of hands settle on her
shoulders. She glanced back to see Laurel behind her and she could tell
she'd been crying.
"I'm sorry." Laurel stated as she brought the girl closer. She wrapped her
arms around her waist and settled her chin on her shoulder. "I was
surprised and hurt and confused. I never should have taken it out on you
like that."
"It's okay. That's what friends are for."
They stood there for a few moments enjoying the new and surprisingly
comfortable closeness. Lisa leaned back into Laurels arms and smiled a
little when she tightened her grip just a little.
"I just don't understand. How could she?" Laurel whispered.
"My dad. . .he raised me. My mom took off right after she had me. . .I
don't even think she stuck around to see my first tooth. Although I never
met her and I knew that she left me when I was a baby, I idolized her and
was always asking my dad questions about her so I could be like her. It was
kinda silly I suppose. Then two years ago he met a woman who knew my mother
when she was younger. Apparently they weren't the best of friends if you
know what I mean. Well, my dad got involved with her and I was really hurt
over it. I'll spare you the details but. . .after a long time I realized
that my dad deserved to be happy and that my mom was never coming back."
"What made you realize that?"
"My dad came to my room one night after a big fight we had. He said that if
it would make me happy, he's give her up and not be with her ever. . .just
because I asked him to. I realized right there how much he loved me. And
he loved my mom too. . .she was really the love of his life and I don't
think he'll ever get over her. Ever. But that doesn't mean that he can't
try to be happy with someone else. . .and who was I to deny him that?"
"And your mom?"
Lisa sighed and shook her head. "It's not important." She turned around to
face Laurel. "Not any more." She whispered.
Laurel took her hands in her own and gave her a half smile. "You know, you
say that a lot. 'It's not important.' Why?"
She shrugged. "Why do I say that or. . "
"You know perfectly what I mean, Li."
"I dunno. I guess. . .well, you've got stuff goin on and I just. . don't
want to bother you. . .ya know? I mean, my dad getting married kind of
doesn't measure up to, say, getting tackled by a mucus demon."
"Eww, don't remind me. Big oaf ruined my only pair of leather pants! Now I
have to save up and beg Faith to. . ." Laurel trailed off suddenly
remembering that she was angry at Faith. Or was she? Should she be? She
shook her head in confusion. "Wait. How'd we get back to me again?" Lisa
shrugged. "You sure know how to skirt the issue when you want to, missy."
"Yes, I most certainly can zig-zag with the best of them. Can't I?" She
gave Laurel a wry smile.
Laurel grinned mischievously. "Well, metaphorically of course. Physically
you'd be a late night snack."
"Hey!" Lisa slugged her playfully. "I resemble that comment. Uh. . .I
mean, resent, resent! Yeah, that's it!"
Both girls fell to the sand in a fit of giggles until they had to hold their
sides because it hurt so much. "Okay, okay. . enough of that for now. . .
for a week even. I don't remember the last time I had such a good laugh."
Lisa smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been a while for me too."
Laurel propped herself up on one elbow and looked over at Lisa. "And don't
think I've forgotten about what we were talking about, cause I haven't. I
want to know about you, Li. All about you."
"It's not imp---"
"And if you say it's not important one more time you'll become the next
hapless victim of *the* Slayer tickle machine. Got it."
Lisa gulped. She heard about the tickle fights Laurel had with Buffy and
Faith. . .and even Willow. Laurel always won.
-------
Buffy and Faith stood on the small boardwalk leading out to the beach.
They'd arrived a few moments ago to offer Laurel and Lisa a ride home, but
from the looks of things, they wouldn't want to leave anytime soon. Or be
interrupted for that matter.
"How'd she grow up so fast?" Buffy was leaning back into Faith's embrace.
"I dunno, B. Feels like I was runnin after her to keep her off my bike just
yesterday. Remember the first time she saw it?"
"God, yes." Buffy laughed. "She had to have been about six. Her eyes went
wide as saucers and she sprinted across the yard as soon as she saw you pull
up. I didn't think she could smile any wider until you put her on the
seat."
"She couldn't even reach the handlebars." Faith smiled at the memory. "And
she refused to get off. So you me and Red left her there and sat on the
porch."
Buffy smiled and nodded. "She fell asleep on it. I still have the picture
in her scrapbook."
Faith turned Buffy around and grinned. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise. Just come on." Faith tugged her towards the bike. A few
moments later they were set and rode off down the street.
--------
Laurel looked up in time to see Faith's bike pull away and frowned.
"I'm sure they were just here to offer us a ride home." Lisa commented.
"They know I have to patrol. Then we're goin to Papa's for the movie fest."
"Still, Lau-Lau, even if they were checking up on you. . .what's the harm?
You were kinda cold to them when we left. You didn't even say goodbye."
"I had every right to be pissed off!" Laurel stopped herself when she saw
Lisa wince at the tone and volume of her voice. She took a deep breath and
placed her hand on Lisa's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I've been doing that a lot
lately."
Lisa shrugged and mumbled. "It's okay."
Laurel shook her head and pulled herself up into a sitting position. She
beckoned for Lisa to do the same. When they were finally facing each other
she took Lisa's hand in her own and squeezed it. "It's not okay. I care
about you, I really do. . .but lately it seems like all I've been doing is
hurting you and that's not what I want. . .I want the exact opposite, Li.
I. . ."
Lisa looked up at her with the biggest brown eyes Laurel could ever recall
seeing in her life. "What?" She whispered. Tentatively, she reached over
and cupped the young Slayer's face with her hand.
Laurel closed her eyes and leaned into the touch.
"What are you thinking?" Lisa asked as she rubbed the pad of her thumb
lightly across Laurel's cheek.
She grinned a little. "I'm thinking that oxygen's becoming an issue right
now." She opened her eyes and regarded the girl before her. "Seriously,
I'm thinking that. . .that this is nice, better than nice and I don't want
it to stop. . .I don't want to ever *not* feel this way. . .and that scares
me to death."
Lisa dropped her hand from the other girls cheek and stood up. This gained a
curious look from Laurel but she smiled when Lisa put her hand out to help
her up. They stood face to face looking at each other, both unsure of what
was to happen next. Finally, Lisa stepped closer and put her arms around
the slightly taller girl's waist. She smiled when she felt Laurel's arms go
around her shoulders.
Laurel smiled and nuzzled Lisa's neck. . .placing feathery kisses on her
shoulder, neck then her cheek. She pulled back long enough to look into
Lisa's eyes just to make sure everything was okay. . .and she found that it
was so much more than okay when Lisa smiled right before leaning up and
kissing Laurel for the first time.
--------
{{"I'm no good for her. For anyone." She paused a moment. "I'm leaving."
"You've got to be kidding me! I thought you were gonna try and make this
work? I thought we were going to be a family? What the hell is going on?!"
"I can't! It's not what I'm about. It's not for me and I'm sorry I dragged
you into it, really, I just. . ."
"Not only did you drag me into it, you dragged a child into this world! How
can you be so selfish!"
"I know. . .I know how wrong it is. . .all of it, but believe me it's for
the best. She'll just wind up resenting me when she's old enough to know
how much of a freak her mother is and always will be."
"She'd love you, no matter what." He sighed. "Just like I do."
She shook her head. "Don't waste your time. . .you know it's not mutual."
He winced, but she continued. "Look, I packed last night so you don't have
to worry about me bothering you. I'll send you money for the kid every
month so you at least have one good thing to tell her about me. I have to
go."
"Please. . .why are you doing this? Talk to me." His eyes were wet. He
didn't care.
"No. Don't do this, J. You know I'm not gonna talk through it. . .work
through the pain. It's just not my gig." She grabbed her jacket.
"Goodbye." and closed the door behind her.
He dropped to his knees in front of the cradle that held their two month old
daughter, and cried.}}
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:21:38 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel (3)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel
AUTHOR: Kimber (kimbertvs@xxxxxxxxx)
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}}}
-----------
"Daddy?" Lisa stood in her living room with a very nervous Laurel at her
side. "You around?"
"Up here, princess!" Came the disembodied reply from the second floor.
"I'll be down in a minute!"
"Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea." Laurel said as she inched towards the
front door.
Lisa grabbed her arm. "Oh no you don't. It's only my dad. . .you nailed me
with Faith and Buffy at the same time. Payback sucks, doesn't it?" She
grinned.
"Oh, and, um. . .*princess*? Paybacks do suck, just you wait." Laurel
winked at her.
Before Lisa could respond, her father came down the stairs carrying a large
box. "How about a hand, princess? You're old man isn't as young as he used
to be."
Lisa went to him and helped him set the box down in the living room. "Don't
hand me that old man stuff, J. You've got a long time to go before
retirement and preparation H." She smirked at him.
"Well, what do we have here? You didn't tell me you brought company with
you. And here we are bantering back and forth. You're friend must think
we're nuts." He put his hand out to Laurel. "Hi, I'm Lisa's father, Jason,
but you can call me J if you'd like. My daughter seems to like it enough."
He glanced at her and winked.
Laurel smiled. "Nice to meet you, J. I'm Laurel Rosenberg."
"Laurel, huh? *The* Laurel Rosenberg I've heard so much about? It's nice
to see that Lisa finally decided to bring you home for a proper
introduction."
"Daddy!" Lisa blushed.
"What?" He looked at her innocently before kneeling down and opening the
box. "I was beginning to think you made her up, Li. I was sure someone
that wonderful couldn't possibly exist. . .especially in an *interesting*
town like Sunnydale."
Lisa shook her head and blushed again.
"So you've heard about me?" Laurel smiled. She had a feeling she was going
to get along with Lisa's father very well. She knelt down next to him and
helped empty the contents of the box. "So what else has she said? Did she
tell you about my little walking on water trick? Personally, I think that's
her favorite." She grinned up at Lisa.
"Walking on water? Hmm, let me see. . .no, no, I don't recall that, but I
do seem to remember her saying something about having a great set of. . "
"Daddy!!!" Lisa turned pale.
". . .eyes. Great big green ones in fact." He leaned closer to Laurel and
examined her face. "Yup, I'd have to agree with her on that one." He
nodded.
Laurel didn't know what to make of the exchange so she simply nodded and
smiled.
"I can't believe you." Lisa pouted. "Can't you ever behave yourself around
my friends?"
"Who me?" He looked up at her innocently. "I'm just being playful,
princess. I thought you liked having a hip dad?"
"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "Don't let him fool you, Lau-Lau. He
can be a geezery old man when he wants to be." She finally turned her
attention to the box they were unpacking. "God, what are you doing with
that old thing?"
"Your Aunt needs it." He smiled. "I'm gonna be an uncle! She's due in
February."
"That's great! I'll have to give her a call later on when I get back."
"Yes, well. . .I have to get my infant fix from someplace." He winked at
her. "God knows you're not gonna deliver anytime soon."
"Daddy!!" Lisa blushed even deeper than before. She didn't think it was
possible.
Jason laughed when he saw the expression on Laurel's face. "Don't worry,
Green Eyes, it's no secret to me that my daughter is 'differently
orientated'. We had a talk about it a long time ago." He smiled at Lisa
affectionately. "Like mother like daughter I suppose." He shrugged and
looked sad for a moment, but then suddenly he was back to smiling. "What do
you say I make us some iced tea?"
"We're not staying long. I just came by to grab some extra clothes and to
have you and Laurel meet."
"Jenna will be home in about an hour. It would be nice if you stuck around
long enough so that she can remind herself what you look like."
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine." She took Laurel's hand and headed to
the stairs. "We'll be down in a while. Save the iced tea for when Jenna
gets here." She turned to him. "Love you, daddy."
He smiled. "Love you too kiddo. Be good." He winked at Laurel.
-----------
Anya's eyes went wide. "You!"
Willow smiled despite being caught in Xander's library by the ex-vengance
demon. "And you." She nodded.
"You're dead."
"Am not! I'm just. . .broken." She smirked. "And it's nice to see you
too."
"Have you told Buffy? You must have been quite uncomfortable. Especially
since she and Faith are. . ."
"Stop!" Willow put her hand up in the air. "Too much information. I'm
well aware of the 'Buffy and Faith situation' thank you very much." She
rolled her eyes. "And how did you know about that anyway?"
"Xander told me. He said he thought you'd have a cow over it but. . ." She
shrugged. "The reference was lost on me I guess. I thought humans could
only give birth to other humans. Unless of course that has to do with you
being immortal and all."
Willow couldn't help but chuckle. Anya would never change, and for that she
was strangely grateful. Anya approached her and put her hand through
Willow's body. She did this several times until Willow backed away
giggling. "Cut it out! That tickles!"
"Sorry. How come you're transparent? Haven't you figured out how to fix
that yet?"
"That's what I'm trying to do now. Xander, being the lovable but lazy oaf
that he is, hasn't put all of his books away yet. So I sort of don't have
any real place to start looking."
"What about. . .?" Anya's eyes went wide and she stomped her foot. "Hey!
That's why he was asking me about the Powers That Be and all of that
temporal fold stuff!" She crossed her arms and pouted. "How long has he
been keeping you from me?"
Willow grinned sheepishly. "Uh, yeah, that's why." She thought for a
moment. "Not long. Only a few days or, um, maybe a week or so. But, Anya,
you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone in Sunnydale that I'm
here. I don't want to give them false hope about me coming back, seeing how
I don't know if that's actually possible yet."
"Fine. I promise." She turned and grabbed a few books and began putting
them on the shelf. "It's probably for the best that you not come back
anyway. It would really put a cramp in Buffy and Faith's relationship."
"Anya!" Willow rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm not mad about that. Buffy can
make her own decisions. Who am I to say that she can't move on? Especially
since she thinks I'm dead. I'd never begrudge her moving on and loving
someone else, even if it is Faith."
Anya thought for a moment. "So if you are able to go back, what then?
Aren't you just going to ruin what they have now by doing that? Faith never
struck me as one that shares very well with others."
Willow sat at the table and absorbed the little revelation Anya just made.
What would happen if she was able to go back? Buffy would be happy, but the
longer she was away, the harder it would be for Buffy and Faith to end what
they started. And who was to say that Buffy would be willing to end it
anyway? Who ever said that Buffy would definitely take Willow back?
Someone was going to get hurt either way. . .there was no way around it.
Unless. . .she never went back at all.
Willow sighed at all the information suddenly swimming around her head.
"Oh, God, I think I need to sit down."
"You're already sitting." Xander said from the doorway.
"Good for me." She commented before folding her arms on the desk and
burying her head there.
A book went sailing across the room and nailed Xander right in the forehead.
"Ouch!! Anya, what was *that* for?"
She stalked up to him. "You need to ask?" She gestured to Willow. "Why
didn't you tell me she wasn't dead?"
"Anya, honey. . ." He took her hand gently and walked her over to the table
so they could join Willow. "Willow asked me not to. At least not until we
figured out how permanent her condition is. We just didn't want to get
anyone's hopes up, that's all."
"Oh, Xander. . .all you had to do was tell me what was going on and I could
have helped with this mess right from the beginning. Going though musty old
books is *such* a waste of time."
He regarded her curiously. "And how could you possibly do anything that I
can't? I have all the resources of the living and the dead available to me
and still we've come up with nothing."
"I can get you an audience with The Powers." She said smugly. "They owe me
a few favors."
"What?" Willow looked up at her. "How can The Powers That Be possibly owe
you?"
"It's a long story. They weren't always omnipotent beings you know. They
were human once."
Xander shook his head and smiled.
"What?" Anya looked at him, annoyed.
"Nothing." He leaned over and kissed her. "I just love you, that's all.
And I'll never doubt you or keep anything from you again."
"Well good." She smiled.
"Okay, so when do we do this?" Willow asked. "But wait. Maybe it's not
such a good idea. I mean, Buffy. . .she's happy. . .right? I mean. .
.argh!. . .I don't know. Maybe we need to rethink this whole plan." She
got up and walked over to the window. "Maybe it's not such a good idea I go
back."
"Will." Xander walked up behind her. "What are you saying?"
"Maybe I'm here for a reason. Maybe Buffy and Faith. . .maybe they're
better off without me around." She shrugged.
"Five minutes with Anya and you're questioning your whole existence."
"Hey!" Anya yelled from behind them.
"No offense, hun." He smiled at her and turned back to Willow. "Look,
Will. We have a shot here at getting you circulated in the world again. . a
really good shot. Tell me you wouldn't do anything to hold Laurel again."
She turned to face him. "That's not fair, Xander."
"It is. You have to think about her too you know. Think about how much you
love her and miss her. How you always said you'd do anything for her to
make her happy. She's your life, Will."
Willow closed her eyes and thought about her daughter from the moment she
was just an idea in Willow's and Buffy's hearts, to when she was born, to
the first time she heard Laurel say 'mommy'. Every cut, bruise and bad
dream Willow either kissed away or did a spell for. Xander was right.
Laurel was everything.
"Will." Xander whispered. "Open your eyes."
She slowly opened her eyes and wiped the tears away she hadn't been aware of
shedding. "I love her more than my life. More than anything, Xander. You
know that."
He smiled. "I know." He reached out and touched her shoulder. She
startled a bit from the sudden 'solid' feeling of it and her eyes went wide
with surprise. "And that's what just brought you back together."
As soon as she realized what he was saying, she leapt into his arms and gave
him a crushing hug. "Oh my god!" A million thoughts entered her mind.
Getting back to Laurel, finding Buffy. . .making love to Buffy as many times
as they could before passing out. She blushed as she followed that thought
then suddenly found herself fall through Xander and to the ground.
He looked down at her and chuckled. "You have to concentrate, Will.
Otherwise you just go all fuzzy again."
She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. "How did you find out?"
He shrugged. "I went to an old friend and asked. I don't know why I didn't
do it in the first place." He smiled down at her. "Your dismount could use
a little work though."
Willow smirked. "Gee, thanks." She got up off the ground and dusted
herself off.
"So what now?" Anya asked.
"I don't know. I can imagine that having an audience with The Powers isn't
any kind of a picnic so for now, I think I should research my other
options."
"Will. . ." Xander hedged.
"Don't." She shook her head. "I need to think about this, Xander. There
are a lot of ramifications involved. Last time I went off without thinking
I wound up in a million little pieces."
He put his hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. Just. . .don't think about it
too long. I could use another hug like that very soon."
She smiled and nodded, then back to shelving the books.
---------
Buffy and Faith stood in Faiths apartment in L.A. Even though most of her
time was spent in Sunnydale, she just didn't have the heart to give it up.
It was the first place she was able to call home in the time that she was
working for Angel and Cordy.
Buffy had never been there before, so she was wandering around looking at
all the knick knacks Faith had scattered around. There were pictures of the
gang at various stages of their friendship, a picture of Angel and Cordelia
of all people, together on a rooftop and one lone wallet size baby picture
in a frame. Buffy picked it up and studied the child for a few moments.
The edges of the picture were dog eared and Buffy could imagine that it had
seen better days. The child was wrapped in a pink blanket and staring out
at her with haunting eyes - eyes that Buffy could swear she'd seen before.
"What cha doin?" Faith came up behind her.
"Who's this?" Buffy handed the framed picture to Faith.
"It's ah. . .no one really. Some kid I saved when I was working for Angel."
She shrugged. "The parents sent me a picture, so I kept it."
Buffy nodded in understanding. "Cool place." She looked around. "Very
Faith-like."
"You think?" The Dark Slayer smiled.
She nodded. "Yeah. So. . .why are we here?"
"I just thought a change of scenery would be nice. Plus you've never been
here before so. . ." She shrugged.
"Well, it was a great idea." Buffy smiled and put her arms around the
taller woman's shoulders. "No kids, no vamps, no Giles. . .what ever shall
we do?"
"Buffy," Faith removed Buffy's arms from around her and looked at her
seriously.
"Uh, oh. You never call me that."
"Yeah, I know. Look, I. . ." Faith walked away from her a few paces. She
just couldn't think when the blonde slayer was that close. "I don't know if
this is such a hot idea. I mean, what will Laurel think? And Red, she's
the love of your life and all. I just don't feel right about it. I've
tried but," She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry."
Buffy was crestfallen. "Faith, I need you."
The Dark Slayer shook her head. "No you don't, B. I'm not good for you,
for anyone."
"God, do you hear yourself!" Buffy stalked up to her, angrily. "Don't pull
that 'woe is me' shit, cause it's not gonna work. Not anymore. You are
good, Faith. You've atoned for all the crap in the past twice over. And if
you don't believe me just ask Laurel. She loves you just the way you are
and believe me, that's one perceptive kid we have there."
"You. You have there. She's not mine, B."
"She may as well be, Faith. Yours and mine and Willow's. Willow never
stopped Laurel from loving you or seeing you. The three of us raised her.
You have to know that."
Faith shook her head. "No, you raised her. You and Willow, I was just
there for the ride. I'm no good at the momming thing anyway, trust me on
*that* one."
"What the hell do you think you've been doing this past year? You've helped
me raise her, Faith. You've been there for her the way a parent is. Don't
you see that?" Buffy turned the Dark Slayer around to face her. Tears
rolled down her cheeks, and it took her by surprise. She reached up and
wiped them away. "What's this about?" He tone was more calm now, more
gentle. "I mean, really. I know it's not about Laurel, and it's not about
Willow because we climbed that mountain already, so what is it Faith? Tell
me what's wrong. Why are you doing this?"
Faith stepped away from her and walked over to where the pictures of the
gang were. She began re-arranging them for no particular reason. . .just
for something to do so she wouldn't have to answer Buffy or face her. She
was afraid, more afraid than she could ever remember being. One false move,
one well placed touch or kind word, and everything would come spilling out
with no stop in sight. That just couldn't happen. Not to Faith anyway.
Faith was strong and brave and lived on the edge of danger. . .she wasn't
some little wuss who cried over every little thing that went wrong, or
things she couldn't even begin to fix or make up for.
Buffy stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around Faith's waist.
"What ever it is, you can tell me. I won't judge you or turn you away. I
swear."
Faith shook her head. "I can't." She choked out. She took a deep breath
and turned to face Buffy. "God, look at me. This isn't what I brought you
here for. I wanted to stop in and grab a change of clothes and show you the
place."
Buffy smiled. "It's okay. I'm glad you did it. Bring me here I mean."
Faith nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. "Okay, so we should head
back. Laurel and Lisa are doing that movie thing tonight, but I thought
we'd take them out for iced cream before they settle in. Sound good?"
"Sounds like a fine plan to me. Let's go." Buffy grabbed her jacket and
followed Faith to the door. She turned her around and kissed her firmly.
"And don't think you just weaseled your way out of this discussion with
promises of chocolaty goodness. We talk later. Got it?"
Faith sighed, but nodded in agreement.
--------
Giles fumbled for the phone. "Hello?"
"Mr. Giles, sir, this is Quin Spencer from the council in England."
"Yes, I know who you are. What's the problem now?"
"We have some news, sir. Our research teams have come across a prophesy
involving your Slayer." He paused a moment. "I'm afraid it's not good
news."
"Let me guess. The world is to come to an end is it? And the Slayer is to
die?" Giles rolled his eyes.
"Yes, that's it sir. How did you know.?" The young watcher couldn't hold
back his surprise.
"How old are you, boy?"
"I-I'm twenty two sir. A novice for two years."
Giles shook his head. The least the council could do was to put someone
experienced on the phone. "Well let me tell you something Mr. Spencer, I've
had three Slayers in my charge and none of them have died yet from a
prophesy. Well, one of them did, but it was only for a moment. Now, unless
you have other pressing business to discuss with me, I would really like to
get back to work if you don't mind."
The man cleared his throat. "Yes, well, there is the matter of the Slayer
being assigned a Watcher. You have been retired for some years now and the
council would like to. . ."
"Mr. Spencer, do you know anything at all about the active Slayer?" Giles
was beginning to lose his patience.
"Well, yes of course. Small in stature, about 5'4", red hair, green eyes,
birthplace Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, birth mother is Willow Rosenberg a
witch, father is unknown. She is sixteen years of age, excels at her
lessons in secondary school. . .
"Her name, sir. Do you know her name?"
"The Chosen One of course."
Giles rolled his eyes. "Her birth name you ninny! Do you know the name by
which her friends and family call her?"
"I'm afraid I don't, sir." The novice watcher was at a loss for words.
"But I do know that she is Slayer number one thousand two." He offered
meekly.
"Her name is Laurel Summer Rosenberg you pillock! And for your information
she happens to be my granddaughter. I do not need a Watcher here for
supervision because I have two other Slayers, one of which is her other
mother, here to guide her. I'd suggest you do your research before
contacting me again. Oh, and she is Slayer number one thousand ten you
moron. There have been nine others before her in the past sixteen years."
He slammed the phone down.
------
"You told her?"
"No. Not really. I just. . .coached her a bit."
"I see."
"You told me not to tell her and I didn't. I know she has to find out for
herself, but I couldn't stand to see her give up."
"It's alright. You didn't break any rules and I'm not mad." She smiled.
"Leave it to you to find a back door."
He grinned. "Yeah, well, things should move a bit faster now. Don't you
think?"
She nodded. "Yes, they should. Though she's not going to be happy about
her destiny. She's going to fight it all the way until the last possible
second." She chuckled a little and shook her head. "Though it wouldn't be
Willow if she didn't do that. Now would it?"
"No. It definitely wouldn't." His expression grew serious. "If she finds
out. . ."
"She'll be mad, but. . .these things can't be avoided. You know that.
You're first allegiance is to your station. You accepted that and all the
responsibility that came with it when you became the Shadowman." She placed
her hand on his. "Don't worry. It'll all fall into place soon."
"I just hope you're right."
--------
"We've been waitin for ya." Faith said to Laurel and Lisa as they walked
through the door. "Buff and I wanted to take you guys for iced cream before
you start your movie fest. You game?"
Lisa looked nervously at Laurel for some indication. Her face was
unreadable.
"Sure." Laurel shrugged. She looked over at Lisa. "That good with you?"
"Uh, sure." She nodded and sighed in relief.
Laurel looked around Giles' apartment suspiciously. She could feel that
something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure what.
"What's wrong, Lau-Lau?" Lisa looked at her.
"I don't know. Something's. . .weird. My Slayer sense is doing double
time." Instinctively, she put Lisa behind her out of harms way.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Laurel. What exactly do you think is gonna jump out
and attack us in your grandfather's home with three Slayers here? Get a
grip, will ya."
Laurel tried to look at her menacingly, but it came off as an amused smirk.
"Oh, I'll get a grip alright." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Any suggestions
where to start?"
Lisa's eyes went wide when she saw Faith's jaw drop.
"Laurel?!" Faith said, surprised.
Buffy walked back into the room from the bathroom. "Hey. . .I thought I
heard you two come in. Iced cream? Chocolate? What are we waiting for?
Let's go." She headed toward the door. Laurel and Lisa made a hasty exit
and Faith followed shaking her head.
Giles sat passively at his desk watching the exchange. He wasn't surprised
at the development between Lisa and Laurel. He knew it was coming for quite
some time. There were more pressing matters to attend to right now other
than his granddaughter's love life. He turned his attention back to the
desk. In front of him, was the eighth volume of the Garzian texts. He took
his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Are you sure?"
>>From upstairs, a figure descended. "I'm sure."
"There's no room for mistakes with this."
The figure, a man, reached the landing and stood before him. "There's no
mistake. I never would have come if. . ."
Giles raised his hand and stopped him mid sentence. "I know." He rose from
his chair and closed the book. He turned around and regarded the man before
him. "What now?"
He shrugged. "It's a waiting game. The prophesy is clear, Giles. It's all
going to fall into place, we just don't know when."
"Bloody wonderful." Giles sighed. He looked up suddenly embarrassed. "I'm
sorry. It just such a. . .well, it's a paradox, really if you think about
it." He tried to smile despite the news. "While one person gains what they
most want in the world, one person loses what they love the most. And the
world will be safe forever."
"I know. Believe me, that's all I've thought about." He glanced towards
the window and sighed. "It's dark. I should go before they get back. They
don't need to see me yet." He nodded his head solemnly and without another
word, slipped out the door.
---------
She couldn't stand it anymore. It was pure torture. No, it was worse than
torture - she was almost positive of that fact. She'd never faced a demon
so disgusting or a vampire so tough - she was able to take them all down.
But this, this was different. She wasn't sure if she was gonna make it,
wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out. She was sure to snap any
second now. Any seco---
"Laurel!" Lisa waved her hand in front of her friends face.
Laurel snapped her head up. "Wha?" The four of them were sitting in the
local iced cream parlor. Faith sat next to Laurel and across from them were
Buffy and Lisa. Three sets of eyes regarded the young Slayer curiously.
"What?" She asked again.
"You're staring off into space like someone put a spell on you or something.
What's up?"
Laurel shrugged. "Nothing really, I'm kinda beat is all, and we still have
to go on patrol after this." She slumped back in her seat.
"We can cover it." Buffy looked over at Faith.
"We can?" Faith's eyebrows shot up in curiosity.
"Yeah. Why not? It'll be like old times. What was it you used to say?
'We're the chosen two, girlfriend'." Buffy smiled.
"It's covered." Laurel looked over at her mother.
"It's not a problem, Laurel, really. I was hoping to---"
"It's covered." Laurel said a little more evenly. She got up and turned
her gaze to Lisa. "Come on. Shouldn't take long then we'll go back to
Papa's." Lisa rose without a word. Laurel began to walk out but turned
back to them. "I know. I don't want to talk about it right now but, I
know."
Buffy looked at her, confused. "Laurel, what are you. . .?" A look of
realization crossed her face. "Oh."
"Laurel, wait." Faith stood and walked towards her.
"Stop right there." She put her hand up. "You may have been a Slayer
longer than I have but you're old and I can kick your ass."
"Laurel!" Lisa looked at her in shock.
"Come on." Laurel took Lisa's hand and pulled her out of the iced cream
shop.
Faith watched them walk off then turned around to look at Buffy.
"Don't say it." Buffy shook her head.
"I told you this was a bad idea."
"I told you not to say it."
"Doesn't make it any less true, B." Faith said sadly.
Buffy whispered. "I know."
--------
"I beg of you, please listen." She looked around. "Where ever you are."
She muttered.
Willow stood in a white marble chamber. It was spacious and windows lined
the walls from floor to ceiling. Through the windows was the great expanse
of space and nothing but space. Millions of stars twinkled in the inky
blackness. She stood in the chamber of The Powers That Be.
"It is you who does not understand, little one." A mist swirled around
Willow and gathered into solidity. Before Willow stood a young woman. Her
hair was the color of gold and she wore a cream colored tunic with a gold
rope wrapped around her slender waist. Her eyes were dark blue and it was
as if the tide rose and fell in them. She was by no means petite or
fragile. She smiled at Willow and wove her hands in front of them both.
Out of thin air, an intricate network of threads appeared. It stretched
from the floor through the ceiling with no end in sight. "I am Aisa, more
commonly known as Lachesis. I am the measurer of threads and am responsible
for allotting each being it's portion in life."
Another mist swirled around and out from Lachesis and another woman
appeared. She was middle aged, with light brown hair streaked with gray.
She wore the same tunic as Lachesis, only it was light brown and didn't
cling to her body. She could be described as Rubinesque and full figured
yet just as attractive as the young Lachesis. Her eyes were dark gold and
it was as if they were ever changing from gold to dark brown and back again.
She smiled warmly at Willow. "I am Moira or Clotho if you please. I spin
the thread of life which I gather from the abyss."
Lachesis gestured to the window and a thin strand of gold thread came
through it and across the room. The end of the thread hovered just above
Willow's eye level. "That is the beginning. Now, chose where the thread is
to end."
Willow looked at the woman in shock. "I can't. I have no right to decide
when someone's life will end. I'm no one really, I came here as a last
resort, to see if you could help me get back to my family. I---"
Clotho put her hand up to silence her. "Chose, child. Choose carefully.
Concentrate."
Willow gulped and took a deep breath. She looked intently at the thread and
images began to form in her mind. Female, two parents, middle class,
intelligent, well spoken. She realized that the thread was speaking to her,
telling her about it's life. She walked along the length of it and saw
portions of this soon-to-be persons' life. When she reached a point where
she thought the female would have been able to look back and say she had a
good life, she chose. "Here." Carefully she pointed to part of the thread
where it was to be cut.
Another mist swirled out of both woman and took form. This time, it was a
much older woman. Her hair was all gray and she was hunched over slightly.
She wore a tunic of black with a gold rope around her waist. Her eyes were
as black as night and there was no sign of movement in them - physically or
even emotionally. In her hand, she held a golden pair of cutting shears.
"I am Daimon, or Atropos. The 'lady of the shears' and it is my duty to
sever the thread of life at the appointed time." She walked slowly over to
Willow and handed her the shears. "I now give this responsibility to you."
Willow thought about protesting, but knew it wouldn't do her and good. She
carefully cut the thread where she'd chosen. The end of it retracted back
out the window, and the single thread hung in the air before her. She
handed the shears back to Atropos.
"Put your hands out, child." Lachesis said.
Willow obeyed and the thread floated slowly down to her hands.
In your hands, you hold one woman's thread of life." She pointed to the
network of threads. "Choose a beginning."
Willow was in awe. She looked down at the thread in her hands with
reverence, then back up to the network. How was she to decide where this
person's beginnings would be? Who was she to decide at all? She shook her
head. "I. . .I can't. I have no right."
"I'm giving you the right. For now." Lachesis gestured to the network
again. "Look carefully and choose."
Willow stepped up to the web and began to concentrate on it. She began to
understand where each thread began and each ended. Some began in isolation,
without any other threads near them, and ended where you could barely
distinguish the thread from the hundreds of others that surrounded it.
Others began with threads surrounding them, yet ended alone. She took a few
moments and pointed to a cluster of threads in the center. "There."
"Very well then." Lachesis smiled at her. The thread lifted up from
Willows hands and settled into the cluster she'd chosen. It snaked it's way
through the other threads to where it was indistinguishable.
Clotho and Atropos melted away into the mist they first appeared as and
gathered around Lachesis. The mist seemed to disappear into her. Lachesis
walked around the network and studied it. After a few moments, she turned
to Willow and smiled once again. "You've chosen wisely, little one. The
woman is to live a good life. She will grow and flourish in a wonderful two
parent home, never wanting, never deprived. She will live to be twenty."
Willow was smiling, but when she heard the age she gasped. "Twenty? That's
so young! I thought you said I chose wisely? I thought I gave her a good
life?"
"You did chose a good life for her." Lachesis stopped in front of the
network and pointed to a cluster of threads. "Here. She was on her way to
meet her fiancé in London. The plane was hijacked and because the two
governments could not concur on a solution, all of the passengers were
executed." Lachesis turned to Willow. "You see, no matter how well any
being plans their life and future, most if not all of them fail to factor in
one important thing."
Willow looked at her and understood. She nodded and smiled sadly. "The pat
h and fate of others."
Lachesis nodded. "No matter how well you plan, you cannot plan *through*
other people's lives. You must plan with them."
"But that's impossible. How are you supposed to know what every other
person you come in contact with is planning? How can you know what's the
right and wrong thing to do? How can you control it. . .any of it?"
"You can't, Willow. *You* can't control it or manipulate it or even change
it into anything other than what it was always meant to be. Something that
was always meant to be no matter how badly you didn't want it to happen."
Willow's eyes fell to the floor. She understood finally the lesson the
Powers were trying to teach her. She took matters into her own hands and
tried to change fate, tried to tempt it. Regardless of what happened to
her, fate kept plowing forward towards the end of the thread that was
chosen, measured, cut carefully, and placed among the others. Nothing
could change that. Not even Willow. "I understand." She whispered.
Lachesis approached her and placed her hand on Willow's shoulder. "Your
daughter's fate has been sealed since even before you were old enough to
daydream about holding her in your arms. She is the Chosen one. The one
girl in all the world who will bring peace to the earth. Her fate, her
thread of life is destined for this and nothing can or will change that."
"And what about me? What's to become of me and my life? Or even my current
state." Willow looked up at Lachesis with pleading eyes.
"You've tempted the fates, little one. That deed has not gone unpunished."
Lachesis saw Willow flinch, but continued on. "As I have said, we are all
destined to be something. Significant or not, we all have a purpose. You
must figure out what your purpose is now. Have you not looked upon your
current state as a blessing instead of a curse? Haven't you thought about
what it means to be who and what you are? There is reasoning behind
everything, little one. In order to see the reasoning, sometimes one must
think outside the box so to speak."
Willow smiled. "Little one." She whispered.
Lachesis looked at her curiously and waited for her to continue.
Willow's eyes went wide. "Little one. That's what Angel calls me. His
little one. I noticed you say it before but it didn't click at first." She
looked up at Lachesis who smiled knowingly. "Angel. This has to do with
the prophesy. He's a part of it. Why didn't I see it before?"
"Welcome," Lachesis gestured around the room. "To outside the box."
---------
He was talking to himself. He *never* talked to himself. That was
something crazy people did. . .or old people. Well, he was old in a
technical sort of way.
"Oh, great. Since when did I get blessed with Willow's babble tendency?"
He shook his head.
"Stop worrying and stop pacing. You're gonna wear a hole in the floor and I
just had it waxed."
Angel turned around and smiled. "Sorry, Cor."
"You'd think you never faced a prophesy before. God! It's not like you
didn't know this was coming."
"I didn't think it would be so soon. I mean, I'm ready for it, so ready,
but I'm afraid they aren't. Especially Laurel."
Cordelia looked up from her desk. "How do you know what she is and isn't
ready for? You haven't even met her yet." Angel shrugged and shoved his
hands in his pockets. "You didn't?" He shrugged again. "God! What is it
with you and the stalker thing? Haven't you learned your lesson by now?"
"Cordy, I have to keep my eye on her. I need to know how she is, how she
moves, the way she operates. We're supposed to do this thing together and
Buffy and Giles forbidding me from seeing her isn't gonna give us an edge."
He moved over to the window. The sun was just setting. He knew it without
even having to look. . .but it was still a habit of his. The powers he had
began to heighten over the years. His senses were stronger now and more
finely tuned to his surroundings.
"Angel. Are you afraid?"
He nodded and continued to stare out the window.
"You've never really been afraid going into a battle. Should I be worried?"
He turned to her. "Battle?" Angel shook his head. "I'm not scared of the
battle." He turned back to the window and placed his hand on the glass
right where his reflection would have been. "I was talking about becoming
human."
------
"Laurel. . ."
"No." The young Slayer spun around and drove her stake home into the newly
risen vamp. He'd barely even had the chance to dust himself off and Laurel
was on top of him. This was definitely not a night to mess with the Slayer.
Laurel walked over to the headstone Lisa was perched on and gave her a look.
*The Look*
Lisa put her hands in front of her face and cowered in fear. "God no!
Anything but that! I can't take it. . .I'm gonna die! Die I tell you,
right on the spot!" She slumped forward and fell at Laurel's feet.
Laurel crossed her arms in front of her and smirked at the girl on the
ground. "Okay, Drama Queen. Are you quite done now?"
Lisa rolled over on her back, put her hands behind her head, and smiled.
"Umm, yeah. I think so. How about you? Are you done being pigheaded and
stubborn? Cause I'll tell ya, if I wanted that then I'd be with a guy."
"Hey!" Laurel looked down, shocked. "I can't believe you said that!"
Lisa sat up and leaned back against the headstone. She motioned for Laurel
to join her. "Laurel, seriously, I think you need to give it a chance. I
mean, it's not like it's a shock at this point. You knew. You've known for
a while now."
Laurel shook her head. "Look, I really don't wanna talk about this right
now, but if we have to, can we save it for after patrol? I still have two
more places to cover. Why don't you head back to Papa's and I'll meet you
there in about an hour?"
Lisa shrugged. "Okay, but you promise we'll talk?"
"Promise."
----------
"What are we gonna do, Faith?"
Faith shrugged, then they both looked over to where the retired watcher was
sitting. Giles could tell they were both looking at him but chose to ignore
them and continue reading his paper. "Don't look at me. It's your mess,
not mine."
"Thanks, G-man. Could always count on you." Faith said sarcastically.
"I'm serious, Faith. You both chose to keep this from her and now you have
to deal with the ramnifications. You should have just told her in the first
place and allowed her to get used to the idea. It's not as if she doesn't
know your past history."
"That's Giles' way of saying 'I told you so', only more British." Buffy
made a face.
Giles looked up at them. "Yes, quite. Now if you don't mind, I have a
prophesy to research."
Lisa opened the door and walked into Giles' living room. Buffy shot out of
the chair and went over to her. "Where's Laurel? Is she okay? Did she
freak? Does she hate us? Come on, no holding out."
Lisa blinked at the barrage of questions the blonde had rattled off. "Now I
know where she gets it from." She commented before walking over to the
couch and sitting down next to Giles. She put her head on his shoulder and
looked up at him with concern. "How are you, Papa?"
Giles smiled affectionately at the girl. "I'm just fine."
"Take your pills?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"And the exercises? Did you do them this morning?"
He put his hand on hers. "Yes, Lisa. I've been doing everything I'm
supposed to. Now if you wouldn't mind, you really should answer Buffy
before she turns a few more shades of red than she already has."
Lisa looked over to where Buffy and Faith were sitting. They both had
matching 'unamused' expressions. "Sorry. Ummm. . .patrol, as well as can
be expected, kind of, and no." Lisa softened a little when she saw the hurt
expression on Buffy's face. "Look, she just needs some time right now. I'm
sure everything will be fine."
--------
Laurel moved through the graveyard quietly. Her eyes and ears were open and
she expanded her Slayer senses to encompass as much ground as she could
cover. She noticed that it had become easier each time she reached out.
Suddenly, she came to a stop near a mausoleum and smirked. "Oh, come on.
You can do better than that."
A figure stepped out from behind a tree, but still remained in the shadows.
"Slayer. I thought you'd never come."
Laurel pulled her 'special' stake out of her jacket. "Yeah, yeah. This is a
lovely chat we're having. Can we please fight?"
The vampire was momentarily confused but recovered quickly and put his 'game
face' on. He attacked with all the swiftness and ease of a master vampire -
having honed his skills over the years, he knew enough to try and wear her
down over time.
Laurel was immediately put on the defensive. <Damn him!> She blocked each
jab with relative ease and countered the blows each chance she had. He
attempted a long cross-hook which gave her enough time to duck and jab him
in the abdomen a few times.
He backed off and they both began to circle each other. "Bitch." He spat
out, obviously favoring his right side.
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" She smiled at him. "Tsk, tsk."
He grinned. "In a manner of speaking, yes. She tasted divine sliding down
my throat."
Laurel stopped in her tracks and, of all things, began to giggle
uncontrollably.
The vampire was not amused. He leaned back against the mausoleum and
crossed his arms in front of him waiting for her to be done.
"I'm sorry," She managed out between giggles. "But, 'she tasted divine'?
Couldn't you be a tad bit more original?"
"You know, I work long and hard on being intimidating, and what do you do?
You stand there and mock me." He smirked. "I'm hurt, really."
Laurel collected herself and walked over to him. "Yeah well, I'll let you
in on a secret." She moved in closer to him and whispered. "Work a little
harder next time."
"Oh, that's it, kid. You're goin down!" He grabbed her and they both fell
to the ground. Being much larger, he quickly gained the advantage and sat
on top of her, pinning her arms at her sides with her legs. "Now, what am I
gonna do with you?" He saw her open her mouth to respond, but stopped her
by putting his hand over her mouth. "Don't even *think* about answering
that question, young lady."
Seconds ticked by, then minutes. . .then the torture began.
He started to tickle her without mercy. "That'll teach you to mouth off to
me."
"Oh, god no," She gasped in between breaths. "I can't take it! Stop!
Stop!" She finally freed one of her hands, grabbed him and sent him flying
over her head, landing with a thud.
"Ouch." He rubbed his shoulder, which took most of the fall.
She flipped up and dusted herself off. "I told you *never* to do that."
She put her hand out to help him up. "But do you listen? Nooooooo, you
have to test the limits."
He took the hand offered him and stood up. "Yeah, well. . ." he shrugged.
"Not bad, kid. You're getting a lot better at finding me."
She smiled up at him. "Yeah? I thought I was pretty stealthy."
He laughed and put his arm around her shoulder and they began walking.
"Don't get all cocky on me now. I said better, not the best."
They reached the entrance of the cemetery and stopped. "Here's where I get
off. Gotta head back to Giles'" She reached up and gave him a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon?"
"Yes." He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. "And always when you
least expect to."
She stayed with her arms around his waist for a while, then begrudgingly
pulled away. Smiled up at him one last time, she began to walk away but
stopped and turned back around. "Hey, Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For this I mean. I know it's not what you're supposed to be doing
and. . ."
"Your mom would have my head for it?" He nodded and smiled. "I know. And
you're welcome. Now go."
"Bye." She waved and walked off.
--------
Laurel snuck into Giles' apartment. She was out training with Angel much
longer than she expected to be. Without making too much noise, she crept
into the room she was sharing with Lisa and put her pajama's on. She
slipped under the covers and settled in.
"Nice of you to join me, Lau-Lau."
"Hey, I didn't think you'd still be up. I tried to be quiet."
"I always wait up for you. You know that."
"I guess." Laurel whispered.
"They're worried about you."
"I know."
Lisa put her hand on the Slayer's shoulder. "What's going on with you?
You've been distant for a while now."
Laurel sighed. "I don't know. I'm just. . .going through some stuff."
"I know." Lisa nuzzled Laurel's neck. "Let me help." She kissed her
cheek. "Please? I can make it all go away. At least for a little while."
Laurel pushed her away. "No. . .just stop. Okay?" She got up, walked out
of the bedroom and closed the door. She leaned up against it and closed her
eyes. <God, what am I doing?>
--------
{{Mamma looked from me to Uncle Xander. He did that cute little innocent
face he's so good at and I knew she'd cave just as soon as I shifted into
'resolve face'.
"Fine. But not another word about it. Straight to bed with you."
I smiled and hugged her. "Okay. Not another word. I love you mamma." I
kissed her cheek and took off inside. I knew when to quit and besides,
tonight I had to patrol.
Yeah, yeah, I know. . .I'm not the Slayer. Not yet anyway. It's gonna
happen soon. I know it. I've been doing some research in Papa's library
and going through some of Mom's old papers I liberated from her room. I'm
*so* the research girl. Always have been really.
So here I am on patrol and there he is. . .in the shadows as usual. I told
him I'd go solo tonight but. . .does he listen to me? No, of course not.
"What are you doing here?" I ask in annoyance.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm patrolling parrot boy, what's it look like? Cause it's sure not a
manicure and face mask session." I smirk.
"Laurel, I worry about you. If you want to patrol, fine, but I'm gonna dog
you the whole way. You don't have the abilities yet, or the strength or. .
."
I drop quickly and do a simple leg sweep. He lands flat on his back. "Or
the speed? Is that what you were gonna say, Angel, cause, it doesn't seem
like a problem to me."
He looks up at me with all the annoyance he can muster up without actually
cracking a smile. "Yeah, well."
I put my hand out and help him up. We stare each other down for a bit then
we both break into smiles. I'm glad because arguing with Angel isn't
something I'm in the mood for tonight. I start to walk off then turn back
to him. "Coming? You may have forever but I sure don't." He smirks at me
and catches up.
It's a quick patrol and we dust a gang of four or five in no time. I got
gashed across the arm but it'll be gone by morning so I don't have to worry
about Buff goin all 'momish' on me. I'm sittin next to Angel and I look over
at him. "So, tell me what it's like."
He gives me his best confused look. "What's what like?"
"Being a vamp and dusting your own kind. Being a vamp in general and having
to live for so long. I read about you in the watcher diaries you know.
When Papa wasn't looking of course."
"Of course." He nodded and smiled.
"You were mean."
He looks off in the distance for a bit then, "Yeah, I was." He says flatly.
"But that was a long time ago. I'm atoning for everything I've done." He
looks over at me all serious. "Don't forget that, Laurel. Do something and
it may not have an immediate effect, but it will always catch up to you.
Good or bad."
I roll my eyes. "Thanks for the lesson, teach but," I roll over and
straddle his legs so I'm facing him in his lap. "I think I get enough
lessons like that from Papa, school, Buff and Faith." He's unreadable, a
total mask. So I put my arms around his shoulders and smile. "The lesson's
I'm looking to learn, you can't find in any book or get from your family
members."
He arches his eyebrows. "You've been hanging out with Faith way too much.
You know that?" He grabs me under my arms and lifts me off his lap with
ease. He rises and puts his hand out to help me up.
"I don't need to hang out with Faith to be bold." I cross my arms in front
of me. "I can do it just fine on my own." I look up at him and he's got
that disbelieving look on his face. I know what he's thinking. 'She's just
a kid.' I can almost hear him say it. So I kiss him, hard and fast but he
pushes me away.
"Laurel, we've talked about this." He wipes his mouth and tries to compose
himself but the effect the kiss had on him isn't lost. "It's impossible."
"Why? Cause you were with Buff? Cause you're a vampire? Or maybe it's
because I'm sixteen. Well, I'm an old sixteen you know."
"I know, Laurel." He paused a moment. "We just can't. It's not right. You
read the diaries, you know the consequences we face, you know what I was
like then and what I am now."
"Again? Oh, so you've dated me before, is that it?"
"Lau, don't do this." He really looked upset. "Even without all of that.
I love Cordy, you know that."
"Angel. . ." I reached for him and fell into a hug. A great big vampire
hug. Man I have it bad for this guy, but if all he's gonna give me is
friendship then I guess that's what I'll take. "I'm sorry, I just. . .I
don't know. You must think I'm a stupid kid."
He looks at me seriously again. "No, you're not stupid and you're
definitely not a kid." He strokes my cheek. "I can't. Do you understand
that?"
I nod. "Look, I gotta go. We're goin to the cemetary tomorrow and Papa's
gonna be there."
"Buffy finally broke, huh?" He smiled.
"Yeah, she couldn't resist my resolve face." I walked up to him and kissed
him softly on the cheek. "Night, Angel." I whispered and headed home.}}
----------
Laurel sat at Giles' desk and continued to read through the papers and books
she'd scattered there about an hour ago. It was no use, and she knew it the
minute she tried to sit down and concentrate. There was too much going on
in her mind. Having feelings for Angel, being in whatever she was in with
Lisa, trying to get mom back, worrying about Buffy and Faith's relationship,
Papa taking care of himself, the fullfilment of the prophesy. . .everything
was making her head spin, and it had been for weeks.
She got up and went to the kitchen to poke around the fridge. <One thing at
a time, kiddo.> She decided to have a glass of milk and an apple. As she
closed the door, she startled a bit at the sight of Lisa standing there.
"Hey. I didn't hear you."
"I noticed." She smirked.
They stood there and stared at each other for a few moments; not sure what
to say. Finally, Laurel broke the silence. "I don't want to shut you out."
She whispered. "But I have."
Lisa nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm just. . .not used to this, ya know? The whole sharing circle thing was
never my deal." She motioned for Lisa to follow her into the livingroom.
"That surprises me."
Laurel nodded. "Yeah, it should. Concidering that you're the one I'm
comfortable with. I mean, you know me. . .the real me. Not who my friends
think I am, or my mom, or Papa. . .even Faith doesn't get me sometimes, but
you. . ." She shrugged.
"It's scary."
"Yeah."
Lisa picked up a book and thumbed through it. "What are you up to, Laurel?
And I don't mean just now, I mean for a while. You sneak out at all hours.
I'm pretty sure your mom doesn't know that you've been partoling so much and
don't think *I* haven't noticed your recent fondness of musty old books. So
what gives?"
"I haven't been patroling as much as. . .training." She shrugged. "I'll
tell you but. . .you have to promise never to bring it up with anyone.
Ever." She waited for Lisa to nod. "Okay, well, I've been training. With
Angel."
It took a moment or two for what she said to sink in, then finally bells
went off in Lisa's head. Big, clanging 'can't-be-ignored-if-you-were-deaf'
bells. "Oh my god!!!"
Laurel quickly clamped her hand over Lisa's mouth. "Shhh! Papa's right
upstairs. Are you crazy?"
"Er ohh az E?"
"What?" She removed her hand.
"I said, are you crazy? Angel? Your mom's old vampire boyfriend? The one
that went all grr cause he got one moment of happiness? The one that. . ."
"Yes. Geez, relax. . .you know, that's the reaction I'd expect from my mom,
not you."
"Laurel, what am I supposed to say? I just don't get you sometimes."
"It has to do with the prophesy. I've been researching it on my own, with
Angel and Cordy's help and it all points to the same answer no matter how
you look at it. Angel and I are meant to fight, what ever we're gonna
fight, together. End of story. How can we rely on each other when Buff
doesn't even let me see him? I remember seeing him once when I was six but
my moms scooted me upstairs. I don't remember what was said but, I do
remember there was a lot of hushed yelling. You know the kind. When adults
don't want you to know they're fighting."
"Yeah, I know." Lisa thought for a few moments. "That's not all there is.
Is it?"
Laurel shook her head. "No." She got up and walked to the window.
Lisa walked up behind Laurel after a few moments and put her head on her
shoulder. "Lau, what is it? What's got you all tied up in knots?"
Laurel sighed, then turned to Lisa. "Mom's not dead. . .and I know how to
get her back."
----------
I love her.
Well, I think I do. No, wait. What am I saying? Of course I do. From the
minute we met it just worked. It was right and good and real and. .
.refreshing. That's what she is, and what she does to me. Refreshes me.
Remember when you were younger and your mom, or dad, would pull your
favorite blanket or sweater out of the dryer and give it back to you?
Remember putting it right up to your face and just inhaling until you felt
like your lungs would explode with that scent? It was refreshing.
I can't pinpoint when she started to mean to me what she does now. It was
gradual, a sort of learning process. Or, relearning if you look at it from
outside the box.
The realist part of me says that I've been graced with a wonderful gift of
sorts. Someone is now in my life that makes me feel the way I never thought
I would feel. . .and there can only be goodness there.
The fantastical part of me says that we've met again after a long time
apart. We've gone through a million small and big changes, lost ourselves,
lost each other, lost our lives at some point, but . . .our souls? Never.
Two individual souls finding each other in a sea of others. Never happen.
You know why? Because I don't have a soul. . I have half of one. And she's
got the other half and I just know with every fiber of my being that she's
the one. How crazy is that?
Not so crazy I tell you. Not at all. I know it like I know I'm gonna take
another breath, or blink; know it the way I know there's blood pumping
through my veins and that my heart is beating. It's just there like it's
always been there from before I was even born. Me, her. . .two parts of a
whole. It's just fact.
God, I gravitate to her like. . .like she's my magnetic north. I can't
explain it and I don't think I'd ever want to. To explain it would be to
have found the secret to it and some things are better off just being. Ya
know? To explain it, I think, would be to make it smaller. Even maybe
tarnish it a little. No, how it happened isn't important. It's important
that it happened at all.
I've lost a lot, and I've gained a lot too. As far as most lives go, I've
had a decent one so far but not too great. I know it's only just beginning.
I know what ever is going on now may be big now, but, when it all works out
and we can finally start our lives together it'll be well worth the wait.
I know what you're thinking. How can someone my age be *so* sure? I'll
tell you. I know it in the sadness of her voice when we have to part
because there's sadness in mine too. I know it in the way she looks at me,
and even when she doesn't. I know it in the way she says my name with such
satisfaction. . .just because it's my name she says and for no other reason
at all. I feel it in every nerve ending I have, and some I didn't even know
existed, when I hear her smile. And most importantly, I can feel it even
when she may say nothing at all.
Sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? I never really believed in fairytales
myself to tell you the truth. I thought it was some grand bunch of stories
adults made up to make kids get sleepy. No, this isn't a fairytale. It
isn't made up. I know it because I'm here. . .I feel it and know it and I'm
living it right now.
We've got some problems right now. Well, at least I think we do. We're not
communicating too well. She's got this stuff going on, and I'm not a part
of it. Yeah, I'm a little hurt, but what ever it is, I'm sure she'll tell
me in time. She may not even be able to put into words what she's feeling
right now and that's okay. That doesn't mean I still don't worry. Ahh,
what's a girl to do? Nothing I suppose.
That's the hardest part sometimes. The waiting and worrying. The more I
worry, the more insecure I get and there's just. . .badness there. Well,
that and being away from her. That's the killer. And it's not just the
distance in miles either. Sometimes it feels like there's a distance in
heartbeats; a missed beat or something. I don't know how to explain it
really. I'm pretty much grasping at straws here. Can you tell?
So she's out now, on patrol, and I feel. . .really scared. Like, we're on
the brink of something; on the fence so to speak. I don't like it only
because it could go either way. What ever this weirdness is between us, it
could bring us together or totally tear us apart.
Who knows. Maybe right now just isn't our time and we're trying to force
it. . .make it be our time because we've discovered something so precious
and new and amazing in each other that we didn't want to let it go. Or
maybe it is our time and everything else in our lives is getting in the way
and we're letting it. There's really no way to tell unless we just hang on
and ride out the storm.
That's the plan really. Ride out the storm until the sun decides to come
out again. If I lose her. . god, even the thought gives me chills. I mean,
what if it actually happened? What if this is too hard for her and she
decides that walking away is the best for both of us?
Well, then I guess I'd have to accept it. What other choice would I have?
If letting this go will make her life even remotely easier then I'd just let
her walk away. That's how much I love her. I love her enough to let her
go. I know there's a lesson in there somewhere and believe me, the irony of
it isn't lost. The best thing that's ever happened to me has the potential
to hurt me in the worst way possible. If that's not love then I don't know
what is.
She'll be back soon. She'll be tired and worn out and there may be a few
scars there that weren't before. All I want, all I've ever wanted since I
was gifted with her in my life, is for her to be safe and happy and just. .
content. I don't think that's too much to ask for really. Do you?
-------
Laurel closed the lid of the laptop and sighed. She looked over to the bed
where Lisa was still fast asleep. It wasn't even nine in the morning yet;
she wouldn't be up for at least two hours or so. She was grateful for that
because it gave her time to think. Think about what she read, and the fact
that she probably shouldn't have read it in the first place.
She crept out of the bedroom and padded to the kitchen in search of food.
She stopped short when she saw Faith and Buffy sitting on the couch talking
quietly. "Hey."
Buffy turned around, surprised. "Laurel? What are you doing up so early?"
"I usually get up around now. Well, out of bed anyway. Damn Slayer senses
have me up at the crack of dawn lately. What are you guys doing here?"
"Laurel, we need to talk." Faith looked at her seriously.
"Yeah? About what?"
"Laurel. Not funny." Buffy motioned for her to sit between them on the
couch.
She walked over and sat in Giles' recliner.
"Laurel, I'm sorry we didn't tell you but we just didn't know how. We've
been so worried about how you would react that we didn't even think about
letting you react. Or letting you know. We're sorry."
"Know what? What exactly is going on between you and Faith?"
"You sure don't beat around the bush, do you?" Buffy smirked. "Faith and
I. . .It's not that complicated really, but it is."
"Riddle me this, riddle me that." Laurel remarked and rolled her eyes.
"Can't you just be straight with me?" She looked between them then at
Buffy. "Do you love her?"
"Yes." Buffy didn't even hesitate. "But not the way I love Willow. I love
Faith as the person who's gotten me through this past year and helped me
deal with Willow's death, helped me with you, helped me see how pig headed I
was being about Giles. I love Faith in a way that goes past any kind of
definition. She's been there for me, Laurel, and she's been there for you.
Ever since Faith and I met, we've needed each other. We even needed to hate
each other for a while." Buffy looked over to Faith and took her hand.
"Are you in love?"
"No." Faith answered. "It's different, Laurel. So much more different
than anything we've ever had with anyone else. Much more different for me
because I really hurt your mom when we were younger. I hated her and her
friends and I tried to hurt them, even Willow. But no matter what I did,
Buffy still had that soft spot for me and didn't give up." Faith smiled at
her. "I need her in my life, always have. I guess it's a Slayer thing."
She shrugged. "The kissing, it's a comfort. . .a bonus of sorts." Faith
stood up and knelt in front of Laurel. "I miss your mom too, kid. But Buff
and I, we need each other. Not in the way your mom and her did but it's
still in an important way."
Laurel sat in silence and tried to process everything they said. Buffy and
Faith weren't in love. Buffy still loved Willow. They had a need for each
other's company that they tried to explain to her but, she knew they fell
short because it was so unique to them it was difficult to explain. She
knew the feeling.
"Laurel?" Buffy brought her out of her silent musings. She got up and knelt
down in front of her daughter and took both of her hands, squeezing them
gently. "I love you, so much. More than I ever thought was possible
because I thought that when Will and I were together, that was the greatest
love of all. But I was proven wrong when you came into our lives." Buffy
paused to gain some of her composure and try and get the rattle out of her
voice. "If this bothers you so much," She looked to Faith, who nodded in
agreement. "Then it ends now. Faith and I will go back to being just
friends and it'll never be brought up again." Buffy leaned down and kissed
Laurels hands, then got up and stood in front of her. "We came here to tell
you that. You don't have to talk about it now. When you're ready you know
where we are." She smiled, then she and Faith walked out the door.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 15
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:21:38 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel (3)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel
AUTHOR: Kimber (kimbertvs@xxxxxxxxx)
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}}}
-----------
"Daddy?" Lisa stood in her living room with a very nervous Laurel at her
side. "You around?"
"Up here, princess!" Came the disembodied reply from the second floor.
"I'll be down in a minute!"
"Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea." Laurel said as she inched towards the
front door.
Lisa grabbed her arm. "Oh no you don't. It's only my dad. . .you nailed me
with Faith and Buffy at the same time. Payback sucks, doesn't it?" She
grinned.
"Oh, and, um. . .*princess*? Paybacks do suck, just you wait." Laurel
winked at her.
Before Lisa could respond, her father came down the stairs carrying a large
box. "How about a hand, princess? You're old man isn't as young as he used
to be."
Lisa went to him and helped him set the box down in the living room. "Don't
hand me that old man stuff, J. You've got a long time to go before
retirement and preparation H." She smirked at him.
"Well, what do we have here? You didn't tell me you brought company with
you. And here we are bantering back and forth. You're friend must think
we're nuts." He put his hand out to Laurel. "Hi, I'm Lisa's father, Jason,
but you can call me J if you'd like. My daughter seems to like it enough."
He glanced at her and winked.
Laurel smiled. "Nice to meet you, J. I'm Laurel Rosenberg."
"Laurel, huh? *The* Laurel Rosenberg I've heard so much about? It's nice
to see that Lisa finally decided to bring you home for a proper
introduction."
"Daddy!" Lisa blushed.
"What?" He looked at her innocently before kneeling down and opening the
box. "I was beginning to think you made her up, Li. I was sure someone
that wonderful couldn't possibly exist. . .especially in an *interesting*
town like Sunnydale."
Lisa shook her head and blushed again.
"So you've heard about me?" Laurel smiled. She had a feeling she was going
to get along with Lisa's father very well. She knelt down next to him and
helped empty the contents of the box. "So what else has she said? Did she
tell you about my little walking on water trick? Personally, I think that's
her favorite." She grinned up at Lisa.
"Walking on water? Hmm, let me see. . .no, no, I don't recall that, but I
do seem to remember her saying something about having a great set of. . "
"Daddy!!!" Lisa turned pale.
". . .eyes. Great big green ones in fact." He leaned closer to Laurel and
examined her face. "Yup, I'd have to agree with her on that one." He
nodded.
Laurel didn't know what to make of the exchange so she simply nodded and
smiled.
"I can't believe you." Lisa pouted. "Can't you ever behave yourself around
my friends?"
"Who me?" He looked up at her innocently. "I'm just being playful,
princess. I thought you liked having a hip dad?"
"Yeah, right." She rolled her eyes. "Don't let him fool you, Lau-Lau. He
can be a geezery old man when he wants to be." She finally turned her
attention to the box they were unpacking. "God, what are you doing with
that old thing?"
"Your Aunt needs it." He smiled. "I'm gonna be an uncle! She's due in
February."
"That's great! I'll have to give her a call later on when I get back."
"Yes, well. . .I have to get my infant fix from someplace." He winked at
her. "God knows you're not gonna deliver anytime soon."
"Daddy!!" Lisa blushed even deeper than before. She didn't think it was
possible.
Jason laughed when he saw the expression on Laurel's face. "Don't worry,
Green Eyes, it's no secret to me that my daughter is 'differently
orientated'. We had a talk about it a long time ago." He smiled at Lisa
affectionately. "Like mother like daughter I suppose." He shrugged and
looked sad for a moment, but then suddenly he was back to smiling. "What do
you say I make us some iced tea?"
"We're not staying long. I just came by to grab some extra clothes and to
have you and Laurel meet."
"Jenna will be home in about an hour. It would be nice if you stuck around
long enough so that she can remind herself what you look like."
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine." She took Laurel's hand and headed to
the stairs. "We'll be down in a while. Save the iced tea for when Jenna
gets here." She turned to him. "Love you, daddy."
He smiled. "Love you too kiddo. Be good." He winked at Laurel.
-----------
Anya's eyes went wide. "You!"
Willow smiled despite being caught in Xander's library by the ex-vengance
demon. "And you." She nodded.
"You're dead."
"Am not! I'm just. . .broken." She smirked. "And it's nice to see you
too."
"Have you told Buffy? You must have been quite uncomfortable. Especially
since she and Faith are. . ."
"Stop!" Willow put her hand up in the air. "Too much information. I'm
well aware of the 'Buffy and Faith situation' thank you very much." She
rolled her eyes. "And how did you know about that anyway?"
"Xander told me. He said he thought you'd have a cow over it but. . ." She
shrugged. "The reference was lost on me I guess. I thought humans could
only give birth to other humans. Unless of course that has to do with you
being immortal and all."
Willow couldn't help but chuckle. Anya would never change, and for that she
was strangely grateful. Anya approached her and put her hand through
Willow's body. She did this several times until Willow backed away
giggling. "Cut it out! That tickles!"
"Sorry. How come you're transparent? Haven't you figured out how to fix
that yet?"
"That's what I'm trying to do now. Xander, being the lovable but lazy oaf
that he is, hasn't put all of his books away yet. So I sort of don't have
any real place to start looking."
"What about. . .?" Anya's eyes went wide and she stomped her foot. "Hey!
That's why he was asking me about the Powers That Be and all of that
temporal fold stuff!" She crossed her arms and pouted. "How long has he
been keeping you from me?"
Willow grinned sheepishly. "Uh, yeah, that's why." She thought for a
moment. "Not long. Only a few days or, um, maybe a week or so. But, Anya,
you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone in Sunnydale that I'm
here. I don't want to give them false hope about me coming back, seeing how
I don't know if that's actually possible yet."
"Fine. I promise." She turned and grabbed a few books and began putting
them on the shelf. "It's probably for the best that you not come back
anyway. It would really put a cramp in Buffy and Faith's relationship."
"Anya!" Willow rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm not mad about that. Buffy can
make her own decisions. Who am I to say that she can't move on? Especially
since she thinks I'm dead. I'd never begrudge her moving on and loving
someone else, even if it is Faith."
Anya thought for a moment. "So if you are able to go back, what then?
Aren't you just going to ruin what they have now by doing that? Faith never
struck me as one that shares very well with others."
Willow sat at the table and absorbed the little revelation Anya just made.
What would happen if she was able to go back? Buffy would be happy, but the
longer she was away, the harder it would be for Buffy and Faith to end what
they started. And who was to say that Buffy would be willing to end it
anyway? Who ever said that Buffy would definitely take Willow back?
Someone was going to get hurt either way. . .there was no way around it.
Unless. . .she never went back at all.
Willow sighed at all the information suddenly swimming around her head.
"Oh, God, I think I need to sit down."
"You're already sitting." Xander said from the doorway.
"Good for me." She commented before folding her arms on the desk and
burying her head there.
A book went sailing across the room and nailed Xander right in the forehead.
"Ouch!! Anya, what was *that* for?"
She stalked up to him. "You need to ask?" She gestured to Willow. "Why
didn't you tell me she wasn't dead?"
"Anya, honey. . ." He took her hand gently and walked her over to the table
so they could join Willow. "Willow asked me not to. At least not until we
figured out how permanent her condition is. We just didn't want to get
anyone's hopes up, that's all."
"Oh, Xander. . .all you had to do was tell me what was going on and I could
have helped with this mess right from the beginning. Going though musty old
books is *such* a waste of time."
He regarded her curiously. "And how could you possibly do anything that I
can't? I have all the resources of the living and the dead available to me
and still we've come up with nothing."
"I can get you an audience with The Powers." She said smugly. "They owe me
a few favors."
"What?" Willow looked up at her. "How can The Powers That Be possibly owe
you?"
"It's a long story. They weren't always omnipotent beings you know. They
were human once."
Xander shook his head and smiled.
"What?" Anya looked at him, annoyed.
"Nothing." He leaned over and kissed her. "I just love you, that's all.
And I'll never doubt you or keep anything from you again."
"Well good." She smiled.
"Okay, so when do we do this?" Willow asked. "But wait. Maybe it's not
such a good idea. I mean, Buffy. . .she's happy. . .right? I mean. .
.argh!. . .I don't know. Maybe we need to rethink this whole plan." She
got up and walked over to the window. "Maybe it's not such a good idea I go
back."
"Will." Xander walked up behind her. "What are you saying?"
"Maybe I'm here for a reason. Maybe Buffy and Faith. . .maybe they're
better off without me around." She shrugged.
"Five minutes with Anya and you're questioning your whole existence."
"Hey!" Anya yelled from behind them.
"No offense, hun." He smiled at her and turned back to Willow. "Look,
Will. We have a shot here at getting you circulated in the world again. . a
really good shot. Tell me you wouldn't do anything to hold Laurel again."
She turned to face him. "That's not fair, Xander."
"It is. You have to think about her too you know. Think about how much you
love her and miss her. How you always said you'd do anything for her to
make her happy. She's your life, Will."
Willow closed her eyes and thought about her daughter from the moment she
was just an idea in Willow's and Buffy's hearts, to when she was born, to
the first time she heard Laurel say 'mommy'. Every cut, bruise and bad
dream Willow either kissed away or did a spell for. Xander was right.
Laurel was everything.
"Will." Xander whispered. "Open your eyes."
She slowly opened her eyes and wiped the tears away she hadn't been aware of
shedding. "I love her more than my life. More than anything, Xander. You
know that."
He smiled. "I know." He reached out and touched her shoulder. She
startled a bit from the sudden 'solid' feeling of it and her eyes went wide
with surprise. "And that's what just brought you back together."
As soon as she realized what he was saying, she leapt into his arms and gave
him a crushing hug. "Oh my god!" A million thoughts entered her mind.
Getting back to Laurel, finding Buffy. . .making love to Buffy as many times
as they could before passing out. She blushed as she followed that thought
then suddenly found herself fall through Xander and to the ground.
He looked down at her and chuckled. "You have to concentrate, Will.
Otherwise you just go all fuzzy again."
She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. "How did you find out?"
He shrugged. "I went to an old friend and asked. I don't know why I didn't
do it in the first place." He smiled down at her. "Your dismount could use
a little work though."
Willow smirked. "Gee, thanks." She got up off the ground and dusted
herself off.
"So what now?" Anya asked.
"I don't know. I can imagine that having an audience with The Powers isn't
any kind of a picnic so for now, I think I should research my other
options."
"Will. . ." Xander hedged.
"Don't." She shook her head. "I need to think about this, Xander. There
are a lot of ramifications involved. Last time I went off without thinking
I wound up in a million little pieces."
He put his hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. Just. . .don't think about it
too long. I could use another hug like that very soon."
She smiled and nodded, then back to shelving the books.
---------
Buffy and Faith stood in Faiths apartment in L.A. Even though most of her
time was spent in Sunnydale, she just didn't have the heart to give it up.
It was the first place she was able to call home in the time that she was
working for Angel and Cordy.
Buffy had never been there before, so she was wandering around looking at
all the knick knacks Faith had scattered around. There were pictures of the
gang at various stages of their friendship, a picture of Angel and Cordelia
of all people, together on a rooftop and one lone wallet size baby picture
in a frame. Buffy picked it up and studied the child for a few moments.
The edges of the picture were dog eared and Buffy could imagine that it had
seen better days. The child was wrapped in a pink blanket and staring out
at her with haunting eyes - eyes that Buffy could swear she'd seen before.
"What cha doin?" Faith came up behind her.
"Who's this?" Buffy handed the framed picture to Faith.
"It's ah. . .no one really. Some kid I saved when I was working for Angel."
She shrugged. "The parents sent me a picture, so I kept it."
Buffy nodded in understanding. "Cool place." She looked around. "Very
Faith-like."
"You think?" The Dark Slayer smiled.
She nodded. "Yeah. So. . .why are we here?"
"I just thought a change of scenery would be nice. Plus you've never been
here before so. . ." She shrugged.
"Well, it was a great idea." Buffy smiled and put her arms around the
taller woman's shoulders. "No kids, no vamps, no Giles. . .what ever shall
we do?"
"Buffy," Faith removed Buffy's arms from around her and looked at her
seriously.
"Uh, oh. You never call me that."
"Yeah, I know. Look, I. . ." Faith walked away from her a few paces. She
just couldn't think when the blonde slayer was that close. "I don't know if
this is such a hot idea. I mean, what will Laurel think? And Red, she's
the love of your life and all. I just don't feel right about it. I've
tried but," She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry."
Buffy was crestfallen. "Faith, I need you."
The Dark Slayer shook her head. "No you don't, B. I'm not good for you,
for anyone."
"God, do you hear yourself!" Buffy stalked up to her, angrily. "Don't pull
that 'woe is me' shit, cause it's not gonna work. Not anymore. You are
good, Faith. You've atoned for all the crap in the past twice over. And if
you don't believe me just ask Laurel. She loves you just the way you are
and believe me, that's one perceptive kid we have there."
"You. You have there. She's not mine, B."
"She may as well be, Faith. Yours and mine and Willow's. Willow never
stopped Laurel from loving you or seeing you. The three of us raised her.
You have to know that."
Faith shook her head. "No, you raised her. You and Willow, I was just
there for the ride. I'm no good at the momming thing anyway, trust me on
*that* one."
"What the hell do you think you've been doing this past year? You've helped
me raise her, Faith. You've been there for her the way a parent is. Don't
you see that?" Buffy turned the Dark Slayer around to face her. Tears
rolled down her cheeks, and it took her by surprise. She reached up and
wiped them away. "What's this about?" He tone was more calm now, more
gentle. "I mean, really. I know it's not about Laurel, and it's not about
Willow because we climbed that mountain already, so what is it Faith? Tell
me what's wrong. Why are you doing this?"
Faith stepped away from her and walked over to where the pictures of the
gang were. She began re-arranging them for no particular reason. . .just
for something to do so she wouldn't have to answer Buffy or face her. She
was afraid, more afraid than she could ever remember being. One false move,
one well placed touch or kind word, and everything would come spilling out
with no stop in sight. That just couldn't happen. Not to Faith anyway.
Faith was strong and brave and lived on the edge of danger. . .she wasn't
some little wuss who cried over every little thing that went wrong, or
things she couldn't even begin to fix or make up for.
Buffy stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around Faith's waist.
"What ever it is, you can tell me. I won't judge you or turn you away. I
swear."
Faith shook her head. "I can't." She choked out. She took a deep breath
and turned to face Buffy. "God, look at me. This isn't what I brought you
here for. I wanted to stop in and grab a change of clothes and show you the
place."
Buffy smiled. "It's okay. I'm glad you did it. Bring me here I mean."
Faith nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. "Okay, so we should head
back. Laurel and Lisa are doing that movie thing tonight, but I thought
we'd take them out for iced cream before they settle in. Sound good?"
"Sounds like a fine plan to me. Let's go." Buffy grabbed her jacket and
followed Faith to the door. She turned her around and kissed her firmly.
"And don't think you just weaseled your way out of this discussion with
promises of chocolaty goodness. We talk later. Got it?"
Faith sighed, but nodded in agreement.
--------
Giles fumbled for the phone. "Hello?"
"Mr. Giles, sir, this is Quin Spencer from the council in England."
"Yes, I know who you are. What's the problem now?"
"We have some news, sir. Our research teams have come across a prophesy
involving your Slayer." He paused a moment. "I'm afraid it's not good
news."
"Let me guess. The world is to come to an end is it? And the Slayer is to
die?" Giles rolled his eyes.
"Yes, that's it sir. How did you know.?" The young watcher couldn't hold
back his surprise.
"How old are you, boy?"
"I-I'm twenty two sir. A novice for two years."
Giles shook his head. The least the council could do was to put someone
experienced on the phone. "Well let me tell you something Mr. Spencer, I've
had three Slayers in my charge and none of them have died yet from a
prophesy. Well, one of them did, but it was only for a moment. Now, unless
you have other pressing business to discuss with me, I would really like to
get back to work if you don't mind."
The man cleared his throat. "Yes, well, there is the matter of the Slayer
being assigned a Watcher. You have been retired for some years now and the
council would like to. . ."
"Mr. Spencer, do you know anything at all about the active Slayer?" Giles
was beginning to lose his patience.
"Well, yes of course. Small in stature, about 5'4", red hair, green eyes,
birthplace Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, birth mother is Willow Rosenberg a
witch, father is unknown. She is sixteen years of age, excels at her
lessons in secondary school. . .
"Her name, sir. Do you know her name?"
"The Chosen One of course."
Giles rolled his eyes. "Her birth name you ninny! Do you know the name by
which her friends and family call her?"
"I'm afraid I don't, sir." The novice watcher was at a loss for words.
"But I do know that she is Slayer number one thousand two." He offered
meekly.
"Her name is Laurel Summer Rosenberg you pillock! And for your information
she happens to be my granddaughter. I do not need a Watcher here for
supervision because I have two other Slayers, one of which is her other
mother, here to guide her. I'd suggest you do your research before
contacting me again. Oh, and she is Slayer number one thousand ten you
moron. There have been nine others before her in the past sixteen years."
He slammed the phone down.
------
"You told her?"
"No. Not really. I just. . .coached her a bit."
"I see."
"You told me not to tell her and I didn't. I know she has to find out for
herself, but I couldn't stand to see her give up."
"It's alright. You didn't break any rules and I'm not mad." She smiled.
"Leave it to you to find a back door."
He grinned. "Yeah, well, things should move a bit faster now. Don't you
think?"
She nodded. "Yes, they should. Though she's not going to be happy about
her destiny. She's going to fight it all the way until the last possible
second." She chuckled a little and shook her head. "Though it wouldn't be
Willow if she didn't do that. Now would it?"
"No. It definitely wouldn't." His expression grew serious. "If she finds
out. . ."
"She'll be mad, but. . .these things can't be avoided. You know that.
You're first allegiance is to your station. You accepted that and all the
responsibility that came with it when you became the Shadowman." She placed
her hand on his. "Don't worry. It'll all fall into place soon."
"I just hope you're right."
--------
"We've been waitin for ya." Faith said to Laurel and Lisa as they walked
through the door. "Buff and I wanted to take you guys for iced cream before
you start your movie fest. You game?"
Lisa looked nervously at Laurel for some indication. Her face was
unreadable.
"Sure." Laurel shrugged. She looked over at Lisa. "That good with you?"
"Uh, sure." She nodded and sighed in relief.
Laurel looked around Giles' apartment suspiciously. She could feel that
something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure what.
"What's wrong, Lau-Lau?" Lisa looked at her.
"I don't know. Something's. . .weird. My Slayer sense is doing double
time." Instinctively, she put Lisa behind her out of harms way.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Laurel. What exactly do you think is gonna jump out
and attack us in your grandfather's home with three Slayers here? Get a
grip, will ya."
Laurel tried to look at her menacingly, but it came off as an amused smirk.
"Oh, I'll get a grip alright." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Any suggestions
where to start?"
Lisa's eyes went wide when she saw Faith's jaw drop.
"Laurel?!" Faith said, surprised.
Buffy walked back into the room from the bathroom. "Hey. . .I thought I
heard you two come in. Iced cream? Chocolate? What are we waiting for?
Let's go." She headed toward the door. Laurel and Lisa made a hasty exit
and Faith followed shaking her head.
Giles sat passively at his desk watching the exchange. He wasn't surprised
at the development between Lisa and Laurel. He knew it was coming for quite
some time. There were more pressing matters to attend to right now other
than his granddaughter's love life. He turned his attention back to the
desk. In front of him, was the eighth volume of the Garzian texts. He took
his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Are you sure?"
>>From upstairs, a figure descended. "I'm sure."
"There's no room for mistakes with this."
The figure, a man, reached the landing and stood before him. "There's no
mistake. I never would have come if. . ."
Giles raised his hand and stopped him mid sentence. "I know." He rose from
his chair and closed the book. He turned around and regarded the man before
him. "What now?"
He shrugged. "It's a waiting game. The prophesy is clear, Giles. It's all
going to fall into place, we just don't know when."
"Bloody wonderful." Giles sighed. He looked up suddenly embarrassed. "I'm
sorry. It just such a. . .well, it's a paradox, really if you think about
it." He tried to smile despite the news. "While one person gains what they
most want in the world, one person loses what they love the most. And the
world will be safe forever."
"I know. Believe me, that's all I've thought about." He glanced towards
the window and sighed. "It's dark. I should go before they get back. They
don't need to see me yet." He nodded his head solemnly and without another
word, slipped out the door.
---------
She couldn't stand it anymore. It was pure torture. No, it was worse than
torture - she was almost positive of that fact. She'd never faced a demon
so disgusting or a vampire so tough - she was able to take them all down.
But this, this was different. She wasn't sure if she was gonna make it,
wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out. She was sure to snap any
second now. Any seco---
"Laurel!" Lisa waved her hand in front of her friends face.
Laurel snapped her head up. "Wha?" The four of them were sitting in the
local iced cream parlor. Faith sat next to Laurel and across from them were
Buffy and Lisa. Three sets of eyes regarded the young Slayer curiously.
"What?" She asked again.
"You're staring off into space like someone put a spell on you or something.
What's up?"
Laurel shrugged. "Nothing really, I'm kinda beat is all, and we still have
to go on patrol after this." She slumped back in her seat.
"We can cover it." Buffy looked over at Faith.
"We can?" Faith's eyebrows shot up in curiosity.
"Yeah. Why not? It'll be like old times. What was it you used to say?
'We're the chosen two, girlfriend'." Buffy smiled.
"It's covered." Laurel looked over at her mother.
"It's not a problem, Laurel, really. I was hoping to---"
"It's covered." Laurel said a little more evenly. She got up and turned
her gaze to Lisa. "Come on. Shouldn't take long then we'll go back to
Papa's." Lisa rose without a word. Laurel began to walk out but turned
back to them. "I know. I don't want to talk about it right now but, I
know."
Buffy looked at her, confused. "Laurel, what are you. . .?" A look of
realization crossed her face. "Oh."
"Laurel, wait." Faith stood and walked towards her.
"Stop right there." She put her hand up. "You may have been a Slayer
longer than I have but you're old and I can kick your ass."
"Laurel!" Lisa looked at her in shock.
"Come on." Laurel took Lisa's hand and pulled her out of the iced cream
shop.
Faith watched them walk off then turned around to look at Buffy.
"Don't say it." Buffy shook her head.
"I told you this was a bad idea."
"I told you not to say it."
"Doesn't make it any less true, B." Faith said sadly.
Buffy whispered. "I know."
--------
"I beg of you, please listen." She looked around. "Where ever you are."
She muttered.
Willow stood in a white marble chamber. It was spacious and windows lined
the walls from floor to ceiling. Through the windows was the great expanse
of space and nothing but space. Millions of stars twinkled in the inky
blackness. She stood in the chamber of The Powers That Be.
"It is you who does not understand, little one." A mist swirled around
Willow and gathered into solidity. Before Willow stood a young woman. Her
hair was the color of gold and she wore a cream colored tunic with a gold
rope wrapped around her slender waist. Her eyes were dark blue and it was
as if the tide rose and fell in them. She was by no means petite or
fragile. She smiled at Willow and wove her hands in front of them both.
Out of thin air, an intricate network of threads appeared. It stretched
from the floor through the ceiling with no end in sight. "I am Aisa, more
commonly known as Lachesis. I am the measurer of threads and am responsible
for allotting each being it's portion in life."
Another mist swirled around and out from Lachesis and another woman
appeared. She was middle aged, with light brown hair streaked with gray.
She wore the same tunic as Lachesis, only it was light brown and didn't
cling to her body. She could be described as Rubinesque and full figured
yet just as attractive as the young Lachesis. Her eyes were dark gold and
it was as if they were ever changing from gold to dark brown and back again.
She smiled warmly at Willow. "I am Moira or Clotho if you please. I spin
the thread of life which I gather from the abyss."
Lachesis gestured to the window and a thin strand of gold thread came
through it and across the room. The end of the thread hovered just above
Willow's eye level. "That is the beginning. Now, chose where the thread is
to end."
Willow looked at the woman in shock. "I can't. I have no right to decide
when someone's life will end. I'm no one really, I came here as a last
resort, to see if you could help me get back to my family. I---"
Clotho put her hand up to silence her. "Chose, child. Choose carefully.
Concentrate."
Willow gulped and took a deep breath. She looked intently at the thread and
images began to form in her mind. Female, two parents, middle class,
intelligent, well spoken. She realized that the thread was speaking to her,
telling her about it's life. She walked along the length of it and saw
portions of this soon-to-be persons' life. When she reached a point where
she thought the female would have been able to look back and say she had a
good life, she chose. "Here." Carefully she pointed to part of the thread
where it was to be cut.
Another mist swirled out of both woman and took form. This time, it was a
much older woman. Her hair was all gray and she was hunched over slightly.
She wore a tunic of black with a gold rope around her waist. Her eyes were
as black as night and there was no sign of movement in them - physically or
even emotionally. In her hand, she held a golden pair of cutting shears.
"I am Daimon, or Atropos. The 'lady of the shears' and it is my duty to
sever the thread of life at the appointed time." She walked slowly over to
Willow and handed her the shears. "I now give this responsibility to you."
Willow thought about protesting, but knew it wouldn't do her and good. She
carefully cut the thread where she'd chosen. The end of it retracted back
out the window, and the single thread hung in the air before her. She
handed the shears back to Atropos.
"Put your hands out, child." Lachesis said.
Willow obeyed and the thread floated slowly down to her hands.
In your hands, you hold one woman's thread of life." She pointed to the
network of threads. "Choose a beginning."
Willow was in awe. She looked down at the thread in her hands with
reverence, then back up to the network. How was she to decide where this
person's beginnings would be? Who was she to decide at all? She shook her
head. "I. . .I can't. I have no right."
"I'm giving you the right. For now." Lachesis gestured to the network
again. "Look carefully and choose."
Willow stepped up to the web and began to concentrate on it. She began to
understand where each thread began and each ended. Some began in isolation,
without any other threads near them, and ended where you could barely
distinguish the thread from the hundreds of others that surrounded it.
Others began with threads surrounding them, yet ended alone. She took a few
moments and pointed to a cluster of threads in the center. "There."
"Very well then." Lachesis smiled at her. The thread lifted up from
Willows hands and settled into the cluster she'd chosen. It snaked it's way
through the other threads to where it was indistinguishable.
Clotho and Atropos melted away into the mist they first appeared as and
gathered around Lachesis. The mist seemed to disappear into her. Lachesis
walked around the network and studied it. After a few moments, she turned
to Willow and smiled once again. "You've chosen wisely, little one. The
woman is to live a good life. She will grow and flourish in a wonderful two
parent home, never wanting, never deprived. She will live to be twenty."
Willow was smiling, but when she heard the age she gasped. "Twenty? That's
so young! I thought you said I chose wisely? I thought I gave her a good
life?"
"You did chose a good life for her." Lachesis stopped in front of the
network and pointed to a cluster of threads. "Here. She was on her way to
meet her fiancé in London. The plane was hijacked and because the two
governments could not concur on a solution, all of the passengers were
executed." Lachesis turned to Willow. "You see, no matter how well any
being plans their life and future, most if not all of them fail to factor in
one important thing."
Willow looked at her and understood. She nodded and smiled sadly. "The
path and fate of others."
Lachesis nodded. "No matter how well you plan, you cannot plan *through*
other people's lives. You must plan with them."
"But that's impossible. How are you supposed to know what every other
person you come in contact with is planning? How can you know what's the
right and wrong thing to do? How can you control it. . .any of it?"
"You can't, Willow. *You* can't control it or manipulate it or even change
it into anything other than what it was always meant to be. Something that
was always meant to be no matter how badly you didn't want it to happen."
Willow's eyes fell to the floor. She understood finally the lesson the
Powers were trying to teach her. She took matters into her own hands and
tried to change fate, tried to tempt it. Regardless of what happened to
her, fate kept plowing forward towards the end of the thread that was
chosen, measured, cut carefully, and placed among the others. Nothing
could change that. Not even Willow. "I understand." She whispered.
Lachesis approached her and placed her hand on Willow's shoulder. "Your
daughter's fate has been sealed since even before you were old enough to
daydream about holding her in your arms. She is the Chosen one. The one
girl in all the world who will bring peace to the earth. Her fate, her
thread of life is destined for this and nothing can or will change that."
"And what about me? What's to become of me and my life? Or even my current
state." Willow looked up at Lachesis with pleading eyes.
"You've tempted the fates, little one. That deed has not gone unpunished."
Lachesis saw Willow flinch, but continued on. "As I have said, we are all
destined to be something. Significant or not, we all have a purpose. You
must figure out what your purpose is now. Have you not looked upon your
current state as a blessing instead of a curse? Haven't you thought about
what it means to be who and what you are? There is reasoning behind
everything, little one. In order to see the reasoning, sometimes one must
think outside the box so to speak."
Willow smiled. "Little one." She whispered.
Lachesis looked at her curiously and waited for her to continue.
Willow's eyes went wide. "Little one. That's what Angel calls me. His
little one. I noticed you say it before but it didn't click at first." She
looked up at Lachesis who smiled knowingly. "Angel. This has to do with
the prophesy. He's a part of it. Why didn't I see it before?"
"Welcome," Lachesis gestured around the room. "To outside the box."
---------
He was talking to himself. He *never* talked to himself. That was
something crazy people did. . .or old people. Well, he was old in a
technical sort of way.
"Oh, great. Since when did I get blessed with Willow's babble tendency?"
He shook his head.
"Stop worrying and stop pacing. You're gonna wear a hole in the floor and I
just had it waxed."
Angel turned around and smiled. "Sorry, Cor."
"You'd think you never faced a prophesy before. God! It's not like you
didn't know this was coming."
"I didn't think it would be so soon. I mean, I'm ready for it, so ready,
but I'm afraid they aren't. Especially Laurel."
Cordelia looked up from her desk. "How do you know what she is and isn't
ready for? You haven't even met her yet." Angel shrugged and shoved his
hands in his pockets. "You didn't?" He shrugged again. "God! What is it
with you and the stalker thing? Haven't you learned your lesson by now?"
"Cordy, I have to keep my eye on her. I need to know how she is, how she
moves, the way she operates. We're supposed to do this thing together and
Buffy and Giles forbidding me from seeing her isn't gonna give us an edge."
He moved over to the window. The sun was just setting. He knew it without
even having to look. . .but it was still a habit of his. The powers he had
began to heighten over the years. His senses were stronger now and more
finely tuned to his surroundings.
"Angel. Are you afraid?"
He nodded and continued to stare out the window.
"You've never really been afraid going into a battle. Should I be worried?"
He turned to her. "Battle?" Angel shook his head. "I'm not scared of the
battle." He turned back to the window and placed his hand on the glass
right where his reflection would have been. "I was talking about becoming
human."
------
"Laurel. . ."
"No." The young Slayer spun around and drove her stake home into the newly
risen vamp. He'd barely even had the chance to dust himself off and Laurel
was on top of him. This was definitely not a night to mess with the Slayer.
Laurel walked over to the headstone Lisa was perched on and gave her a look.
*The Look*
Lisa put her hands in front of her face and cowered in fear. "God no!
Anything but that! I can't take it. . .I'm gonna die! Die I tell you,
right on the spot!" She slumped forward and fell at Laurel's feet.
Laurel crossed her arms in front of her and smirked at the girl on the
ground. "Okay, Drama Queen. Are you quite done now?"
Lisa rolled over on her back, put her hands behind her head, and smiled.
"Umm, yeah. I think so. How about you? Are you done being pigheaded and
stubborn? Cause I'll tell ya, if I wanted that then I'd be with a guy."
"Hey!" Laurel looked down, shocked. "I can't believe you said that!"
Lisa sat up and leaned back against the headstone. She motioned for Laurel
to join her. "Laurel, seriously, I think you need to give it a chance. I
mean, it's not like it's a shock at this point. You knew. You've known for
a while now."
Laurel shook her head. "Look, I really don't wanna talk about this right
now, but if we have to, can we save it for after patrol? I still have two
more places to cover. Why don't you head back to Papa's and I'll meet you
there in about an hour?"
Lisa shrugged. "Okay, but you promise we'll talk?"
"Promise."
----------
"What are we gonna do, Faith?"
Faith shrugged, then they both looked over to where the retired watcher was
sitting. Giles could tell they were both looking at him but chose to ignore
them and continue reading his paper. "Don't look at me. It's your mess,
not mine."
"Thanks, G-man. Could always count on you." Faith said sarcastically.
"I'm serious, Faith. You both chose to keep this from her and now you have
to deal with the ramnifications. You should have just told her in the first
place and allowed her to get used to the idea. It's not as if she doesn't
know your past history."
"That's Giles' way of saying 'I told you so', only more British." Buffy
made a face.
Giles looked up at them. "Yes, quite. Now if you don't mind, I have a
prophesy to research."
Lisa opened the door and walked into Giles' living room. Buffy shot out of
the chair and went over to her. "Where's Laurel? Is she okay? Did she
freak? Does she hate us? Come on, no holding out."
Lisa blinked at the barrage of questions the blonde had rattled off. "Now I
know where she gets it from." She commented before walking over to the
couch and sitting down next to Giles. She put her head on his shoulder and
looked up at him with concern. "How are you, Papa?"
Giles smiled affectionately at the girl. "I'm just fine."
"Take your pills?"
"Yes." He nodded.
"And the exercises? Did you do them this morning?"
He put his hand on hers. "Yes, Lisa. I've been doing everything I'm
supposed to. Now if you wouldn't mind, you really should answer Buffy
before she turns a few more shades of red than she already has."
Lisa looked over to where Buffy and Faith were sitting. They both had
matching 'unamused' expressions. "Sorry. Ummm. . .patrol, as well as can
be expected, kind of, and no." Lisa softened a little when she saw the hurt
expression on Buffy's face. "Look, she just needs some time right now. I'm
sure everything will be fine."
--------
Laurel moved through the graveyard quietly. Her eyes and ears were open and
she expanded her Slayer senses to encompass as much ground as she could
cover. She noticed that it had become easier each time she reached out.
Suddenly, she came to a stop near a mausoleum and smirked. "Oh, come on.
You can do better than that."
A figure stepped out from behind a tree, but still remained in the shadows.
"Slayer. I thought you'd never come."
Laurel pulled her 'special' stake out of her jacket. "Yeah, yeah. This is a
lovely chat we're having. Can we please fight?"
The vampire was momentarily confused but recovered quickly and put his 'game
face' on. He attacked with all the swiftness and ease of a master vampire -
having honed his skills over the years, he knew enough to try and wear her
down over time.
Laurel was immediately put on the defensive. <Damn him!> She blocked each
jab with relative ease and countered the blows each chance she had. He
attempted a long cross-hook which gave her enough time to duck and jab him
in the abdomen a few times.
He backed off and they both began to circle each other. "Bitch." He spat
out, obviously favoring his right side.
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" She smiled at him. "Tsk, tsk."
He grinned. "In a manner of speaking, yes. She tasted divine sliding down
my throat."
Laurel stopped in her tracks and, of all things, began to giggle
uncontrollably.
The vampire was not amused. He leaned back against the mausoleum and
crossed his arms in front of him waiting for her to be done.
"I'm sorry," She managed out between giggles. "But, 'she tasted divine'?
Couldn't you be a tad bit more original?"
"You know, I work long and hard on being intimidating, and what do you do?
You stand there and mock me." He smirked. "I'm hurt, really."
Laurel collected herself and walked over to him. "Yeah well, I'll let you
in on a secret." She moved in closer to him and whispered. "Work a little
harder next time."
"Oh, that's it, kid. You're goin down!" He grabbed her and they both fell
to the ground. Being much larger, he quickly gained the advantage and sat
on top of her, pinning her arms at her sides with her legs. "Now, what am I
gonna do with you?" He saw her open her mouth to respond, but stopped her
by putting his hand over her mouth. "Don't even *think* about answering
that question, young lady."
Seconds ticked by, then minutes. . .then the torture began.
He started to tickle her without mercy. "That'll teach you to mouth off to
me."
"Oh, god no," She gasped in between breaths. "I can't take it! Stop!
Stop!" She finally freed one of her hands, grabbed him and sent him flying
over her head, landing with a thud.
"Ouch." He rubbed his shoulder, which took most of the fall.
She flipped up and dusted herself off. "I told you *never* to do that."
She put her hand out to help him up. "But do you listen? Nooooooo, you
have to test the limits."
He took the hand offered him and stood up. "Yeah, well. . ." he shrugged.
"Not bad, kid. You're getting a lot better at finding me."
She smiled up at him. "Yeah? I thought I was pretty stealthy."
He laughed and put his arm around her shoulder and they began walking.
"Don't get all cocky on me now. I said better, not the best."
They reached the entrance of the cemetery and stopped. "Here's where I get
off. Gotta head back to Giles'" She reached up and gave him a hug and a
kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon?"
"Yes." He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. "And always when you
least expect to."
She stayed with her arms around his waist for a while, then begrudgingly
pulled away. Smiled up at him one last time, she began to walk away but
stopped and turned back around. "Hey, Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For this I mean. I know it's not what you're supposed to be doing
and. . ."
"Your mom would have my head for it?" He nodded and smiled. "I know. And
you're welcome. Now go."
"Bye." She waved and walked off.
--------
Laurel snuck into Giles' apartment. She was out training with Angel much
longer than she expected to be. Without making too much noise, she crept
into the room she was sharing with Lisa and put her pajama's on. She
slipped under the covers and settled in.
"Nice of you to join me, Lau-Lau."
"Hey, I didn't think you'd still be up. I tried to be quiet."
"I always wait up for you. You know that."
"I guess." Laurel whispered.
"They're worried about you."
"I know."
Lisa put her hand on the Slayer's shoulder. "What's going on with you?
You've been distant for a while now."
Laurel sighed. "I don't know. I'm just. . .going through some stuff."
"I know." Lisa nuzzled Laurel's neck. "Let me help." She kissed her
cheek. "Please? I can make it all go away. At least for a little while."
Laurel pushed her away. "No. . .just stop. Okay?" She got up, walked out
of the bedroom and closed the door. She leaned up against it and closed her
eyes. <God, what am I doing?>
--------
{{Mamma looked from me to Uncle Xander. He did that cute little innocent
face he's so good at and I knew she'd cave just as soon as I shifted into
'resolve face'.
"Fine. But not another word about it. Straight to bed with you."
I smiled and hugged her. "Okay. Not another word. I love you mamma." I
kissed her cheek and took off inside. I knew when to quit and besides,
tonight I had to patrol.
Yeah, yeah, I know. . .I'm not the Slayer. Not yet anyway. It's gonna
happen soon. I know it. I've been doing some research in Papa's library
and going through some of Mom's old papers I liberated from her room. I'm
*so* the research girl. Always have been really.
So here I am on patrol and there he is. . .in the shadows as usual. I told
him I'd go solo tonight but. . .does he listen to me? No, of course not.
"What are you doing here?" I ask in annoyance.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm patrolling parrot boy, what's it look like? Cause it's sure not a
manicure and face mask session." I smirk.
"Laurel, I worry about you. If you want to patrol, fine, but I'm gonna dog
you the whole way. You don't have the abilities yet, or the strength or. .
."
I drop quickly and do a simple leg sweep. He lands flat on his back. "Or
the speed? Is that what you were gonna say, Angel, cause, it doesn't seem
like a problem to me."
He looks up at me with all the annoyance he can muster up without actually
cracking a smile. "Yeah, well."
I put my hand out and help him up. We stare each other down for a bit then
we both break into smiles. I'm glad because arguing with Angel isn't
something I'm in the mood for tonight. I start to walk off then turn back
to him. "Coming? You may have forever but I sure don't." He smirks at me
and catches up.
It's a quick patrol and we dust a gang of four or five in no time. I got
gashed across the arm but it'll be gone by morning so I don't have to worry
about Buff goin all 'momish' on me. I'm sittin next to Angel and I look over
at him. "So, tell me what it's like."
He gives me his best confused look. "What's what like?"
"Being a vamp and dusting your own kind. Being a vamp in general and having
to live for so long. I read about you in the watcher diaries you know.
When Papa wasn't looking of course."
"Of course." He nodded and smiled.
"You were mean."
He looks off in the distance for a bit then, "Yeah, I was." He says flatly.
"But that was a long time ago. I'm atoning for everything I've done." He
looks over at me all serious. "Don't forget that, Laurel. Do something and
it may not have an immediate effect, but it will always catch up to you.
Good or bad."
I roll my eyes. "Thanks for the lesson, teach but," I roll over and
straddle his legs so I'm facing him in his lap. "I think I get enough
lessons like that from Papa, school, Buff and Faith." He's unreadable, a
total mask. So I put my arms around his shoulders and smile. "The lesson's
I'm looking to learn, you can't find in any book or get from your family
members."
He arches his eyebrows. "You've been hanging out with Faith way too much.
You know that?" He grabs me under my arms and lifts me off his lap with
ease. He rises and puts his hand out to help me up.
"I don't need to hang out with Faith to be bold." I cross my arms in front
of me. "I can do it just fine on my own." I look up at him and he's got
that disbelieving look on his face. I know what he's thinking. 'She's just
a kid.' I can almost hear him say it. So I kiss him, hard and fast but he
pushes me away.
"Laurel, we've talked about this." He wipes his mouth and tries to compose
himself but the effect the kiss had on him isn't lost. "It's impossible."
"Why? Cause you were with Buff? Cause you're a vampire? Or maybe it's
because I'm sixteen. Well, I'm an old sixteen you know."
"I know, Laurel." He paused a moment. "We just can't. It's not right. You
read the diaries, you know the consequences we face, you know what I was
like then and what I am now."
"Again? Oh, so you've dated me before, is that it?"
"Lau, don't do this." He really looked upset. "Even without all of that.
I love Cordy, you know that."
"Angel. . ." I reached for him and fell into a hug. A great big vampire
hug. Man I have it bad for this guy, but if all he's gonna give me is
friendship then I guess that's what I'll take. "I'm sorry, I just. . .I
don't know. You must think I'm a stupid kid."
He looks at me seriously again. "No, you're not stupid and you're
definitely not a kid." He strokes my cheek. "I can't. Do you understand
that?"
I nod. "Look, I gotta go. We're goin to the cemetary tomorrow and Papa's
gonna be there."
"Buffy finally broke, huh?" He smiled.
"Yeah, she couldn't resist my resolve face." I walked up to him and kissed
him softly on the cheek. "Night, Angel." I whispered and headed home.}}
----------
Laurel sat at Giles' desk and continued to read through the papers and books
she'd scattered there about an hour ago. It was no use, and she knew it the
minute she tried to sit down and concentrate. There was too much going on
in her mind. Having feelings for Angel, being in whatever she was in with
Lisa, trying to get mom back, worrying about Buffy and Faith's relationship,
Papa taking care of himself, the fullfilment of the prophesy. . .everything
was making her head spin, and it had been for weeks.
She got up and went to the kitchen to poke around the fridge. <One thing at
a time, kiddo.> She decided to have a glass of milk and an apple. As she
closed the door, she startled a bit at the sight of Lisa standing there.
"Hey. I didn't hear you."
"I noticed." She smirked.
They stood there and stared at each other for a few moments; not sure what
to say. Finally, Laurel broke the silence. "I don't want to shut you out."
She whispered. "But I have."
Lisa nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm just. . .not used to this, ya know? The whole sharing circle thing was
never my deal." She motioned for Lisa to follow her into the livingroom.
"That surprises me."
Laurel nodded. "Yeah, it should. Concidering that you're the one I'm
comfortable with. I mean, you know me. . .the real me. Not who my friends
think I am, or my mom, or Papa. . .even Faith doesn't get me sometimes, but
you. . ." She shrugged.
"It's scary."
"Yeah."
Lisa picked up a book and thumbed through it. "What are you up to, Laurel?
And I don't mean just now, I mean for a while. You sneak out at all hours.
I'm pretty sure your mom doesn't know that you've been partoling so much and
don't think *I* haven't noticed your recent fondness of musty old books. So
what gives?"
"I haven't been patroling as much as. . .training." She shrugged. "I'll
tell you but. . .you have to promise never to bring it up with anyone.
Ever." She waited for Lisa to nod. "Okay, well, I've been training. With
Angel."
It took a moment or two for what she said to sink in, then finally bells
went off in Lisa's head. Big, clanging 'can't-be-ignored-if-you-were-deaf'
bells. "Oh my god!!!"
Laurel quickly clamped her hand over Lisa's mouth. "Shhh! Papa's right
upstairs. Are you crazy?"
"Er ohh az E?"
"What?" She removed her hand.
"I said, are you crazy? Angel? Your mom's old vampire boyfriend? The one
that went all grr cause he got one moment of happiness? The one that. . ."
"Yes. Geez, relax. . .you know, that's the reaction I'd expect from my mom,
not you."
"Laurel, what am I supposed to say? I just don't get you sometimes."
"It has to do with the prophesy. I've been researching it on my own, with
Angel and Cordy's help and it all points to the same answer no matter how
you look at it. Angel and I are meant to fight, what ever we're gonna
fight, together. End of story. How can we rely on each other when Buff
doesn't even let me see him? I remember seeing him once when I was six but
my moms scooted me upstairs. I don't remember what was said but, I do
remember there was a lot of hushed yelling. You know the kind. When adults
don't want you to know they're fighting."
"Yeah, I know." Lisa thought for a few moments. "That's not all there is.
Is it?"
Laurel shook her head. "No." She got up and walked to the window.
Lisa walked up behind Laurel after a few moments and put her head on her
shoulder. "Lau, what is it? What's got you all tied up in knots?"
Laurel sighed, then turned to Lisa. "Mom's not dead. . .and I know how to
get her back."
----------
I love her.
Well, I think I do. No, wait. What am I saying? Of course I do. From the
minute we met it just worked. It was right and good and real and. .
.refreshing. That's what she is, and what she does to me. Refreshes me.
Remember when you were younger and your mom, or dad, would pull your
favorite blanket or sweater out of the dryer and give it back to you?
Remember putting it right up to your face and just inhaling until you felt
like your lungs would explode with that scent? It was refreshing.
I can't pinpoint when she started to mean to me what she does now. It was
gradual, a sort of learning process. Or, relearning if you look at it from
outside the box.
The realist part of me says that I've been graced with a wonderful gift of
sorts. Someone is now in my life that makes me feel the way I never thought
I would feel. . .and there can only be goodness there.
The fantastical part of me says that we've met again after a long time
apart. We've gone through a million small and big changes, lost ourselves,
lost each other, lost our lives at some point, but . . .our souls? Never.
Two individual souls finding each other in a sea of others. Never happen.
You know why? Because I don't have a soul. . I have half of one. And she's
got the other half and I just know with every fiber of my being that she's
the one. How crazy is that?
Not so crazy I tell you. Not at all. I know it like I know I'm gonna take
another breath, or blink; know it the way I know there's blood pumping
through my veins and that my heart is beating. It's just there like it's
always been there from before I was even born. Me, her. . .two parts of a
whole. It's just fact.
God, I gravitate to her like. . .like she's my magnetic north. I can't
explain it and I don't think I'd ever want to. To explain it would be to
have found the secret to it and some things are better off just being. Ya
know? To explain it, I think, would be to make it smaller. Even maybe
tarnish it a little. No, how it happened isn't important. It's important
that it happened at all.
I've lost a lot, and I've gained a lot too. As far as most lives go, I've
had a decent one so far but not too great. I know it's only just beginning.
I know what ever is going on now may be big now, but, when it all works out
and we can finally start our lives together it'll be well worth the wait.
I know what you're thinking. How can someone my age be *so* sure? I'll
tell you. I know it in the sadness of her voice when we have to part
because there's sadness in mine too. I know it in the way she looks at me,
and even when she doesn't. I know it in the way she says my name with such
satisfaction. . .just because it's my name she says and for no other reason
at all. I feel it in every nerve ending I have, and some I didn't even know
existed, when I hear her smile. And most importantly, I can feel it even
when she may say nothing at all.
Sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? I never really believed in fairytales
myself to tell you the truth. I thought it was some grand bunch of stories
adults made up to make kids get sleepy. No, this isn't a fairytale. It
isn't made up. I know it because I'm here. . .I feel it and know it and I'm
living it right now.
We've got some problems right now. Well, at least I think we do. We're not
communicating too well. She's got this stuff going on, and I'm not a part
of it. Yeah, I'm a little hurt, but what ever it is, I'm sure she'll tell
me in time. She may not even be able to put into words what she's feeling
right now and that's okay. That doesn't mean I still don't worry. Ahh,
what's a girl to do? Nothing I suppose.
That's the hardest part sometimes. The waiting and worrying. The more I
worry, the more insecure I get and there's just. . .badness there. Well,
that and being away from her. That's the killer. And it's not just the
distance in miles either. Sometimes it feels like there's a distance in
heartbeats; a missed beat or something. I don't know how to explain it
really. I'm pretty much grasping at straws here. Can you tell?
So she's out now, on patrol, and I feel. . .really scared. Like, we're on
the brink of something; on the fence so to speak. I don't like it only
because it could go either way. What ever this weirdness is between us, it
could bring us together or totally tear us apart.
Who knows. Maybe right now just isn't our time and we're trying to force
it. . .make it be our time because we've discovered something so precious
and new and amazing in each other that we didn't want to let it go. Or
maybe it is our time and everything else in our lives is getting in the way
and we're letting it. There's really no way to tell unless we just hang on
and ride out the storm.
That's the plan really. Ride out the storm until the sun decides to come
out again. If I lose her. . god, even the thought gives me chills. I mean,
what if it actually happened? What if this is too hard for her and she
decides that walking away is the best for both of us?
Well, then I guess I'd have to accept it. What other choice would I have?
If letting this go will make her life even remotely easier then I'd just let
her walk away. That's how much I love her. I love her enough to let her
go. I know there's a lesson in there somewhere and believe me, the irony of
it isn't lost. The best thing that's ever happened to me has the potential
to hurt me in the worst way possible. If that's not love then I don't know
what is.
She'll be back soon. She'll be tired and worn out and there may be a few
scars there that weren't before. All I want, all I've ever wanted since I
was gifted with her in my life, is for her to be safe and happy and just. .
content. I don't think that's too much to ask for really. Do you?
-------
Laurel closed the lid of the laptop and sighed. She looked over to the bed
where Lisa was still fast asleep. It wasn't even nine in the morning yet;
she wouldn't be up for at least two hours or so. She was grateful for that
because it gave her time to think. Think about what she read, and the fact
that she probably shouldn't have read it in the first place.
She crept out of the bedroom and padded to the kitchen in search of food.
She stopped short when she saw Faith and Buffy sitting on the couch talking
quietly. "Hey."
Buffy turned around, surprised. "Laurel? What are you doing up so early?"
"I usually get up around now. Well, out of bed anyway. Damn Slayer senses
have me up at the crack of dawn lately. What are you guys doing here?"
"Laurel, we need to talk." Faith looked at her seriously.
"Yeah? About what?"
"Laurel. Not funny." Buffy motioned for her to sit between them on the
couch.
She walked over and sat in Giles' recliner.
"Laurel, I'm sorry we didn't tell you but we just didn't know how. We've
been so worried about how you would react that we didn't even think about
letting you react. Or letting you know. We're sorry."
"Know what? What exactly is going on between you and Faith?"
"You sure don't beat around the bush, do you?" Buffy smirked. "Faith and
I. . .It's not that complicated really, but it is."
"Riddle me this, riddle me that." Laurel remarked and rolled her eyes.
"Can't you just be straight with me?" She looked between them then at
Buffy. "Do you love her?"
"Yes." Buffy didn't even hesitate. "But not the way I love Willow. I love
Faith as the person who's gotten me through this past year and helped me
deal with Willow's death, helped me with you, helped me see how pig headed I
was being about Giles. I love Faith in a way that goes past any kind of
definition. She's been there for me, Laurel, and she's been there for you.
Ever since Faith and I met, we've needed each other. We even needed to hate
each other for a while." Buffy looked over to Faith and took her hand.
"Are you in love?"
"No." Faith answered. "It's different, Laurel. So much more different
than anything we've ever had with anyone else. Much more different for me
because I really hurt your mom when we were younger. I hated her and her
friends and I tried to hurt them, even Willow. But no matter what I did,
Buffy still had that soft spot for me and didn't give up." Faith smiled at
her. "I need her in my life, always have. I guess it's a Slayer thing."
She shrugged. "The kissing, it's a comfort. . .a bonus of sorts." Faith
stood up and knelt in front of Laurel. "I miss your mom too, kid. But Buff
and I, we need each other. Not in the way your mom and her did but it's
still in an important way."
Laurel sat in silence and tried to process everything they said. Buffy and
Faith weren't in love. Buffy still loved Willow. They had a need for each
other's company that they tried to explain to her but, she knew they fell
short because it was so unique to them it was difficult to explain. She
knew the feeling.
"Laurel?" Buffy brought her out of her silent musings. She got up and knelt
down in front of her daughter and took both of her hands, squeezing them
gently. "I love you, so much. More than I ever thought was possible
because I thought that when Will and I were together, that was the greatest
love of all. But I was proven wrong when you came into our lives." Buffy
paused to gain some of her composure and try and get the rattle out of her
voice. "If this bothers you so much," She looked to Faith, who nodded in
agreement. "Then it ends now. Faith and I will go back to being just
friends and it'll never be brought up again." Buffy leaned down and kissed
Laurels hands, then got up and stood in front of her. "We came here to tell
you that. You don't have to talk about it now. When you're ready you know
where we are." She smiled, then she and Faith walked out the door.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 16
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:23:14 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: FIC: These Roads We Travel (4)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel
AUTHOR: Kimber (kimbertvs@xxxxxxxxx)
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}}}
-----------
"She's gonna get into big trouble, Xand. I just know it." Willow paced in
front of him again. "I mean, she's my daughter and Buffy's. . .how could
she not?"
Xander smirked. "Will, I'm sure she'll be fine. And besides, there's
really not a lot you can do right now."
She stopped and thought for a moment. Her expression suddenly turned
serious. "Xander, she's planning on trying to bring me back. She has it
all worked out and has been researching it for months. She went through my
drawers and papers and even liberated a few of Giles' books *I* wasn't even
allowed to look at until I got back from England." She paused and took a
deep breath, knowing that getting upset now wouldn't help matters any. "She
could do it, Xander." Willow whispered. "That's the scariest part. She
has the ability and knowledge and. . .she's a natural."
"Will, if she can bring you back then why isn't she telling us? I thought
she'd at least tell Faith or Lisa or. . ."
"Giles? Oh yeah, and he was so helpful when I wanted to do dangerous
spells." She smirked. "There's nothing we can do about it, Xand. She'll
be okay. Angel and Cordy are helping her, though I worry about her little
crush on him."
"On Angel???" Xander's jaw dropped. "What *is* it with that guy? Let me
tell you, Will, if he lays one clammy appendage on her I'll. . ."
"You'll do nothing, Xand." She said seriously. "He knows how to handle
her, trust me I've seen it. He loves Cordy. I know." She smiled, a little
sadly perhaps. "Xander, you have to promise me. If Laurel can pull this
off, you have to tell Giles and Buffy everything."
"Everything? I have to tell Buffy?" He gulped. Keeping secrets from Buffy
was hard. But telling Buffy you've been keeping secrets, well, that
required armor and something to defend yourself with. . .and quite possibly
a Slayer-proof cage.
"Yes, Everything I told you about Jesse all the way up till now.
Everything. It may just be the only way for them to help me. I don't
exactly know what condition I'll be returning in. . .if at all."
-------------
Laurel made her way to the center of Breakers Woods. Everything she needed
for the spell was packed tightly in her backpack. Thank goodness her mom
didn't cancel the running credit they had at the magic shop or she'd never
be able to pull this off.
She'd been out most of the morning and day preparing for this. She felt a
small twinge of guilt over not being around when Lisa woke up, but she knew
she'd understand how important this was.
Lisa. The computer, the things she wrote in it. Somehow, Laurel knew
everything she'd written was true because that's how she felt herself. She
just wasn't able to put it into words. Being articulate wasn't one of her
stronger points but what Lisa had written, that just summed everything up
for her. Sure they'd only kissed a handful of times so far, but that wasn't
really important. What was important was their ability to communicate with
each other and rely on the bond that had been formed between them. The bond
that was quite possibly there from before either of them was born. That
should have been a scary thought but it wasn't really. It was oddly
comforting to her, and she could imagine it was to Lisa also.
Laurel's last thoughts before she set to her task were of Lisa. <Hold on,
Li, we'll make it. . I'll make it. I promise.>
------
"She never leaves without telling us where she's going. Don't you think
that's weird?"
"Lisa, I told you Buffy and Faith were here this morning to talk to her.
She may just need some time to digest everything. I wouldn't worry." Giles
smiled up at her.
"Papa," Lisa sat next to him and took a deep breath. "I think there's
something you need to know. . ."
---------
<<Hold on
Hold on to yourself
for this is gonna hurt like hell>>
Willow was shelving the books in Xander's library when she felt it. Her
stomach lurched and she lost her balance. "Xander!" She yelled out.
"Will! What is it?" He reached for her but he knew it was no use. He
couldn't touch her. Helpless wasn't even close to how he was feeling right
now.
She closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness hit her hard. "Laurel."
She managed to whisper. A few moments ticked by then she looked up at him.
"Get Buffy and Faith. . .Breakers Woods. . .go!"
-------
<< Hold on
Hold on to yourself
you know that only time will tell>>
Laurel sat cross legged in the middle of a pentagram circle. She'd been
there nearly an hour mixing herbs and different ingredients together. She'd
been in such a deep concentration, she didn't realize it was becoming colder
out. . .bitterly cold. The ingredients were mixed and placed accordingly,
the charms she bought dangled from the bare tree branches. . the incense was
lit and a warm, comforting smell filled the air.
Laurel took one last look around and began to walk around the pentagram
counter clockwise. She remembered the words had been indelibly marked in
her brain for weeks now, the words she hoped with all her heart and soul
would bring her mother back to her. . .to all of them.
"Let the body join with the soul. Let her once again be whole."
"Let the body join with the soul. Let her once again be whole."
"Let the body join with the soul. Let her once again be whole."
"Let the body join with the soul. Let her once again be whole."
She began to chant faster and faster as she sank deeper into a meditative
state. The winds picked up and blew her hair around and the sun was close
to setting. Thunder claps could be heard in the distance.
-----------
<<What is it in me that refuses to believe
this isn't easier than the real thing
My love
you know that you're my best friend
you know I'd do anything for you>>
"I'm sorry, Papa. I should have told you sooner."
Giles placed his free hand on hers. With his other hand, he steered the
beaten up old red convertible towards Buffy's home. "It's okay, Lisa. You
didn't know she was planning to do it so soon. I just pray she's alright."
They both startled as a streak of lightening flew across the sky.
Giles stepped on the gas pedal harder and Lisa prayed to whatever gods were
listening at the moment to keep Laurel safe and have her hold on till they
got there.
------------
<< My love
let nothing come between us
My love for you is strong and true
Am I in heaven here or am I...
at the crossroads I am standing>>
"You think she'll come?" Faith was looking out on the woods from Buffy's
back deck. It was a beautiful night, although uncharacteristically chilly,
and all the stars were out. She could hear the wind blowing through the
trees.
Buffy came up behind her and wrapped her arms around the dark Slayer's
waist. "I don't know what my daughter is thinking these days, Faith."
"You think Laurel understood what we were trying to tell her? About us I
mean."
"I hope so." Buffy turned her around so they were face to face. "I don't
even think we understand it sometimes, but that's okay. At least we were
able to work through it to where you and I are okay. That's what matters.
My daughter is important to me, Faith, but so are you. If the three of us
aren't okay soon. . ."
Faith placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead. "I know, B. I know. We just have
to hold on." They both hugged a little tighter as a sudden wind picked up
from no where. "Where'd that come from?"
"I don't know." Buffy walked away from Faith's embrace and looked out off
of the deck. She opened her Slayer senses and didn't like what she felt.
"Come here, Faith."
Faith walked up next to her and took Buffy's hand in her own. Noting the
look of concentration on her face, she opened her senses also and a chill
went right through her. "I don't like this, B. Something big is going
down."
"As much as I'd like to say you're wrong," Giles said from behind them.
They turned around and he continued. "You're not."
Buffy and Faith looked at Lisa, who was clinging to Giles' arm with the most
terrified expression on her face.
<< Oh god if you're out there won't you hear me
I know that we've never talked before
oh god the one I love is leaving
won't you take them when they come to your door>>
---------
"What can I do!" Anya yelled over the sound of the wind blowing through the
trees. Scared wasn't the word for what the ex-vengeance demon was feeling.
Especially since she was standing in Xander's library where there weren't
any trees. . .or windows for that matter.
Willow shook her head. There was nothing Anya could do, or anyone else for
that matter. She knew what was happening. The cell explosion process she
went through was reversing itself. . .only much slower this time. She was
becoming whole again.
Willow laid on the floor curled up in the fetal position. Pain shot through
every limb, every fiber of her being. Her nerves screamed out in sweet
agony. . and all she could do was hold on.
--------
"Why are you doing this!? She's gonna die!"
"It's not my doing, Alexander. You must realize that there are things that
are even beyond *my* control." She smiled.
"I never should have agreed. I never. . ."
"You know the consequences." Her expression grew serious. "You must let it
be and allow the cards to fall where they may. It is fate."
He grabbed his head and fell to his knees, sobbing. "This never should have
happened."
She knelt beside him and stroked his hair, attempting to comfort him. "You
didn't do anything to help or hurt the situation any, you've merely been an
observer. She was meant to do this, you must understand. Realizing how to
become whole again was only the beginning. Yes you helped, but
inadvertently."
"She has a destiny, I know." He wiped the tears from his eyes and became
calm again. Her voice was always able to do that. "But why does it have to
be so damn hard?" He gave her an impish grin. "I love her. She's my best
friend. I worry."
"You'll understand in due time. I promise everyone will." She rose and
walked away, lost in thought for a few moments. "I just hope she's able to
forgive us." She looked up into the mirror that hung on the marble wall in
her chamber. In almost twenty years, she hadn't changed. Hadn't aged or
gotten gray hairs; not a wrinkle could be seen on her face. Her hair was
still a soft blonde and her eyes were as blue as the day she was born, and
they were the only part of her body that betrayed her. There was a knowing
there, an infinite knowing of everything and so much more that she couldn't
even hide from Willow all those years ago.
------
Laurel knelt in front of the circle. She was rocking back and forth in a
trance. The wind whipped around her and screamed through the trees. She
didn't even notice.
Thunder cracked above her and lightening streamed across the sky. A
darkness descended upon the small clearing in Breakers Woods, and the only
light that could be seen was the one that shone from her eyes.
"Gods above, Gods that save, into the arms of the babe. Give her safe
passage back to me, hear me now, so mote it be."
Laurel took a small bottle and threw it into the middle of the pentagram. A
blinding blue light erupted.
"Gods above, Gods that save, into the arms of the babe. Give her safe
passage back to me, hear me now, so mote it be."
She took another bottle and did the same. This time a purple light erupted
and merged with the blue. They both hovered in the air.
"Gods above, Gods that save, into the arms of the babe. Give her safe
passage back to me, hear me now, so mote it be."
---------
Willow's entire body went rigid and she gasped for air. Anya rushed to her
side. She was solid, but not moving. Her eyes were fixated and she was
sweating. Suddenly a loud thunder clap sounded inside the room and a
blinding blue/purple light engulfed Willow. Anya fell backwards startled.
When the light cleared, Willow was gone.
--------
"Giles. . ." Buffy looked over at him in shock.
He just kept on driving. "I know."
"But, Giles. . ."
"Buffy, I know. And believe me, it's not normal." He looked up as
snowflakes began to fall on them in the car.
Faith looked over to Lisa. "You okay, kid?" Lisa nodded somewhat stiffly
and Faith put her arm around her. "Don't worry. She'll be okay." She
whispered. "After you're done yelling at her for being so incredibly
pigheaded and stupid, B and I will take you out for iced cream and you can
tell us all about your relationship."
Lisa looked up at her in shock, but smiled a little. "If the weather keeps
up, I think we'd prefer hot chocolate."
Faith took her leather jacket off and put it around Lisa's shoulders.
"Deal." She looked up at Giles. "You sure you know where you're going,
G-man?"
"Yes, Faith. Breaker's Woods."
"Where we lost Willow." A shiver ran through Buffy's body. "God please
don't let me lose my daughter too." She whispered.
------
Laurel slowly came to consciousness. She opened one eye, then the other and
looked around at her surroundings. She was covered in snow and freezing.
Slowly she lifted herself off the ground and blinked once. . .then twice. .
then three times. There must have been three feet of snow on the ground.
<Wow. Did I do that?> She shook her head as if to clear the cobwebs then
decided that wasn't such a good idea since it felt like it was going to
explode. . .she could feel the pounding in her ears.
Slowly, with every ounce of strength she had, Laurel crawled to the center
of what she thought was the pentagram circle and collapsed.
Willow was no where in sight.
"It didn't work." She sobbed. "I'm sorry mom. I'm so sorry."
-------
Buffy and Faith raced ahead of Lisa and Giles to the clearing in Breakers
Woods.
"Laurel!!" Buffy screamed out. "Answer me!"
Faith came up beside Buffy a few moments later. "Nothing by the caves."
"She's not here either." Buffy broke. "God, Faith, if I lose her. . ."
Faith grabbed her by the shoulders. "Listen to me, Buffy. You're not going
to lose her, *we're* not going to lose her. She has to be here somewhere.
We're just not looking hard enough." Faith walked away a few paces and
called out. "Laurel! Where are you? Come on, kid. . it's not time for
hide and. . ." She didn't finish her sentence. Faith fell head first into
the snow. She turned over. "What the. . . ?"
Buffy rushed over to her and they both noticed the mound of something Faith
tripped over. They began digging and saw some red hair poking out in stark
contrast of the white snow all around them. "Laurel!! God, Laurel, no!!"
Lisa ran over towards Buffy and Faith and knelt down beside them. She felt
helpless. Looking around she noticed a green backpack. . .Laurel's
backpack. She crawled over to it and found Laurel face up next to it with
snow all around her just five feet away from where Buffy and Faith were.
She pulled Laurel up gently and began rocking her. "God, Laurel, no. No!
What have you done?" She stroked the Slayer's face. "Papa, come quick!"
Buffy and Faith froze when they turned Laurel over and wiped the snow off of
her face. They didn't notice Lisa close by. . .didn't hear her call out for
Giles. Didn't see her cradling Laurel in her arms.
"Oh my God." Buffy whispered, taking the lifeless body into her arms and
holding on with all her heart and soul. "Willow."
------
Pace. Pace. Pace. Pace. Stop. Turn. Pace. Pace. Pace. Pace. Stop.
Turn. Pace. Pace. Pace. Pace.
"Lisa! You're gonna wear a track in the carpet if you don't stop." Buffy
smirked at her.
Lisa shrugged, took two steps to the left, and continued to pace.
"She's as bad as you. Ya know that?" Buffy looked over to Faith.
"You know, B, we've been here for almost an hour, and no one's come to tell
us about Red or Laurel."
"And?"
"You're taking it kinda well. I mean, you're calm. It's new." Faith
shrugged.
"Right now all I know is that my daughter and my Willow are being taken care
of. . .and they both have pulses. That's what counts." Buffy rolled her
eyes when she saw Faith's disbelieving look. "Okay, okay. . .freaked isn't
the word for what I am right now," Buffy stood up and looked down the long
white corridor again. "But turning psycho isn't gonna help matters. . .not
yet anyway. I'm trying to be level headed here. And so far it's working
so don't rock the boat."
Faith nodded and looked up at Lisa who was still covering the length of the
waiting room like a champ. "Li, come sit, will ya? You're makin me dizzy."
Lisa shook her head no and continued to walk.
Faith got up and stood in her path. The girl literally ran into the dark
Slayer. She looked up at Faith with unshed tears. "Tell me she's okay."
She said in a tiny voice. "Tell me she'll be alright." She wiped at her
eyes in annoyance. "I don't cry, ya know. It's just not something I do. I
mean, things tend to not effect me much and as far as effects go . . .God,
Faith, what if she's not okay? What if. . ." Lisa was unable to finish the
sentence. She leaned into the Slayer and began to sob.
---------
Giles walked over to where Buffy was standing in the hallway. She looked up
and gave him a weak smile. "You okay, Giles?"
He nodded and smiled warmly. "I was about to ask you the very same
question."
"I think I've been better." She was quiet for a few moments. "Yeah, I've
given it a lot of thought. I've been *so* much better than this."
"Have you had time to digest everything? A lot has happened, Buffy, and I'm
just concerned you'll. . ."
"Ignore it till it goes away like I do everything else?"
He smiled. "Well, I wouldn't have put it that way but, yes."
She turned to him in shock suddenly as if noticing where she was for the
first time.
"Buffy, what is it?"
"She's not dead, Giles." She covered her mouth in shock. "Willow's not
dead. Oh my God! She's in there. . .not twenty feet away from me. She's
not dead."
Giles sighed and hugged her. "I know, Buffy, I know."
------
Faith looked up over Lisa's head and saw Giles comforting Buffy. She smiled
at him as she stroked the young girls hair. It was strange, being needed,
being a comfort to someone, but Faith decided she kind of liked it. It felt
nice that she could do this with Lisa. . .be there for her. Poor kid had a
rough life as far as she knew. Raised by her father, doesn't know who her
mother is or where she is for that matter. And just as she and Laurel found
each other and were just starting out, Laurel gets hurt.
"Is the Rosenberg family here?" A doctor walked into the waiting room.
"Yes!" Buffy rushed to him, followed closely by Faith, Lisa and Giles.
"I'm Willow Rosenberg's partner, and Laurel is our daughter. What's going
on? Are they okay? What's taking so long?" She folded her arms in front
of her. "Well?"
"Buffy, give the man half a chance." Giles placed his hand on her shoulder
then turned to him. "Well? She asked for an answer, man."
"Willow is doing as well as can be expected. I don't know what she's been
through. She has hypothermia and frostbite, we were able to save her limbs,
though she will have to go through extensive physical therapy because of the
rigidity that will have set in when she wakes up. That is if she wakes up
at all."
"If?" Buffy said in disbelief. "If she wakes up? Be straight with us.
What do you mean if?"
"There was a lot of damage done by the frostbite, but that's not even the
worst part of it. There is some brain swelling and her bones are brittle so
we had to be very careful in trying to treat her. What ever this woman has
been through, it's amazing she's come this far. She's malnourished and
severely dehydrated, her white count is almost unreadable and she could
quite possibly be in a coma for some time. All of her systems have shut
down."
"But she's alive." Buffy stated.
"She's alive." The doctor nodded. "And so is your daughter. She's very
weak, but there isn't any physical damage that we can tell right now. I've
seen this before, it's almost as if she's been up for a week straight
without sleep. She'll be fine, she just needs some rest."
"Can we see her? Them? Both of them?" Buffy asked hopefully.
"Willow is in ICU right now. We have an oxygen tent on her and she's in a
private room with a nurse stationed there round the clock. I can let you
in, but not for long. As for Laurel, she's in a regular room and you can
see her, but visiting hours end at nine."
--------
Buffy walked into Willow's hospital room and looked over at the nurse who
walked over to her and smiled. "If you need anything I'll be right outside.
There's a zipper on the side of the tent where you can go in and sit on the
bed with her. Be sure to zip it up behind you."
Buffy nodded at the instructions and began to walk over. From behind her
the nurse commented. "She's a lucky woman. We almost lost her a few times
but she's a real fighter."
"I know." Buffy whispered. She turned back to the tent and unzipped it
slowly, then stepped inside. She zipped it back up and sat down on the bed.
Willow had a breathing tube in her mouth. Her whole head was wrapped up in
a white bandage and there were cuts and bruises all over her face. She
looked like she lost at least twenty pounds, and Willow was petite to begin
with. Her hands were a bluish color, probably from the frostbite, and you
could almost see the outline of the bones in her arms. Over all she was a
mess, but Buffy didn't care. Buffy cared that she was home, safe and alive
and as far as she was concerned, Willow looked as beautiful as the day they
vowed to love each other for the rest of their lives.
Gently, she reached over and picked up Willows hand. She brought it to her
mouth and kissed it and all the anger and frustration and sadness rushed out
of her. She was touching Willow, Willow was *right* in front of her, Willow
would get better, *had* to get better.
Buffy reached up and touched Willow's cheek. "Hey. . ." she took a deep
breath. "You know, that's the part where you usually say, 'hey, yourself'.
. .but I can wait for that. I can wait for everything. The only thing that
matters is I've got you here in front of me and I'm never letting you out of
my sight again." She smiled. "That's some daughter we've got there, Will.
I told her recently that I thought I had found the love of my life in you,
but I was wrong. She's the love of my life too in so many ways. She's the
only thing that kept me going when you were dea. . .gone. So now you have
to get better really quickly, okay? This mom stuff is a lot harder than it
looks. You always made it seem so easy, but then again you are such a
natural at taking care of people." She paused a moment, then. "Look, I'll
make you a deal; wake up and let me see those green eyes and I'll take you
and Laurel to England. Remember we always said we wanted to take her to
where we fell in love? But we kept putting it off. Well, no more. The
minute you're okay to fly we're going, and that's the end of it." Buffy
kissed her hand again. "God, Will. . .I love you so much it hurts, and when
I lost you. . .I lost a part of me. Wake up, Will. Please wake up soon."
Buffy laid her head on Willow's chest and sobbed softly, then smiled. Her
heartbeat. . .she could hear Willow's heart beating steadily and feel her
chest rising and falling with every breath. It was the sweetest sound in
the world.
-----
"Are you alright?" Giles asked gently.
Faith shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, we've all gained something tonight. But you've lost something too."
"It's five by five, G." Faith managed to smile and turn to him. "Red's
back, Laurel's going to be okay. . .well, I think she will be until Lisa
gets her hands on her. Then she's in trouble. And me? Well, I'll be just
fine by myself." She turned back and continued to look out the window. "I
always am." Faith heard Giles walk away down the hall. She waited till she
knew he was gone, then pulled a picture out of her back pocket. It was the
same picture she kept on her bookcase at home. She smiled at it fondly and
played with one of the tattered edges. "Or maybe I'm not okay by myself
anymore. What do you think, little one?" She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Maybe it's time I find you." She opened her eyes again and smiled at the
picture. "My Hope." She whispered.
----
Laurel opened her eyes slowly and tried to adjust to the light. She knew
she was in a hospital because of the annoying 'fluorescent bright eye
hurting' light. "Ungh. . ." she blinked a few times. She looked down and
saw Lisa slumped over forward on the bed. Her top half was across her lap,
and her bottom half somehow managed to stay in the chair. She smiled and
reached over to touch the girl's face. <She must have been here all night.>
Lisa stirred a bit and yawned. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up at
Laurel. "Hey you."
"Hey yourself danger-girl. What's your next trick gonna be? Pull a rabbit
out of your ear?" She sat up and smirked. "Or maybe have lightening shoot
out your. . ."
"Lisa, please," Laurel rolled her eyes. "Slayer in pain here? Coddling
and cooing, not finger shaking and berating. Who taught you your bedside
manners?"
Lisa sighed. "I can't believe you did that last night." She got up and
began to pace. "Do you have any idea how dumb it was? You could have
gotten hurt," She stopped and put her hands on her hips, "What am I saying?
You *did* get hurt and it could have been worse than a bump on the head and
being tired." She began to pace again. "Do you have any idea what you put
everyone through?"
Laurel sat up. "Li, come here." She patted the side of the bed. "Come
on." Lisa sat down and crossed her arms in front of her. "Look, Li. . .I
don't expect you to understand what I did last night." Laurel thought for a
moment. "Or maybe I do. What would you do if you knew there was a chance
you could get your mother back? How far would you go and how much danger
would you put yourself in if there was even a possibility?"
"That's not fair. . .and how do you know I'm not looking for my mother?"
"I don't. You never told me."
"You never told me either. I can't believe you kept something so important
from me."
"I told you about it. . .after I was sure about what I was gonna do."
"You forgot to include the life threatening danger parts of it."
Laurel sighed. "Yeah, I did. And I'm sorry." She reached for Lisa's hand.
"You don't know how crazy I went, how crazy your family was." Lisa looked
up at her. "I could have lost you." She whispered.
Laurel tugged on Lisa's arm until she gave in and scooted over next to her
on the bed. She wrapped her arm around her and gave a soft squeeze. "But
you didn't." She kissed her on the head. "I'm here. If I have anything
to say about it, I won't be going anywhere for a long time."
Lisa looked up at her. "Promise?"
"Promise." Laurel looked down at her. "Hey. Is that Faith's jacket?"
"Yeah, why?"
Laurel smirked. "She never even lets *me* wear her jacket. What'd you do
to get on her good side?"
Lisa smiled. "Well, we found some common ground."
"Yeah, what's that?"
"We both care about someone very special. . . .speaking of Faith, I should
go see how she's holding up. Along with Papa and Buffy too. God, Laurel,
what you did last night. . .it was just amazing. . .incredibly stupid, yet
amazing. You're amazing. I don't think I would ever have the courage to
do that. I mean, I don't know the first thing about magic but you. . .you
seem to know everything. You just. . .God, I can't even begin to tell you
how great you are and how much I care about you. Do you have any idea?"
Lisa sat quiet for a few moments and then looked up at Laurel. . .who was
fast asleep. She sat up quietly and kissed her on her forehead. "Figures.
I wanna tell you everything I feel for you, everything that's been running
around in my brain these past few weeks. . .and you hit the snooze button."
She shook her head then quietly slipped out the door.
------
"It's the second sign of the prophesy."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I know it. . . .her strength, stamina, her magic center, they're all
increasing. It's only a matter of time now."
Giles turned to him and studied him for a few moments. "And how would you
know about her strength and stamina?"
Angel paled. . .if that was at all possible.
Giles nodded. "I see. How long?"
"A few months."
"Really? Care to calculate that again? Because according to my records
it's been almost a year now."
"How did you. . .?"
"I'm retired, Angel, not dead. . .as much as I disapprove of your methods,
it seems that you've worked out a solid arrangement in training Laurel. .
.minus the, um, kissing of course."
"Giles, I. . ."
"Save it." His face grew more serious, then he turned around to look out
the window. "You hurt her, you distract her, you put her through even one
one-hundredth of what Buffy went through with you and I swear I'll stake you
myself. Are we clear?"
"Yes." Angel responded solemnly.
"Good. Now get the hell out of here before anyone sees you." When he
turned back around, Angel was gone.
------
Lisa was standing in front of the vending machine trying to make a decision.
Health bar or chocolate. <What am I thinking? There's no competition.>
She smiled. Realizing that she didn't have any change on her, she started
fishing through the pockets of Faith's jacket. "I'll pay her back later."
She mumbled. "Chocolate should never be denied to. . ." She stopped when
she pulled out a bunch of papers from the inside pocket.
Lisa leaned against the wall and tried to keep upright. She couldn't
believe it. In her hand she held her past, present and possibly her future.
There was an envelope and it was addressed simply to "J" with her house
address on it, and no return address.
She closed her eyes and remembered when she was very small and the postman
handed her the mail like a 'grown up'. It was a game she would play with
her father to see who could get to the mail first. As she grew older, she
realized that at the beginning of the month, one letter came with her
father's name on it, in the same handwriting, with no return address.
That's how she started calling him J, because of the mysterious letter.
After she asked him about it, the mail game stopped and her father met the
postman at the door.
Lisa had gotten hold of the envelope one more time and looked inside it.
There was a money order made out to her father and on the memo line was
written, "For Hope."
Slowly, Lisa opened the envelope she'd found in Faith's pocket. She knew it
was wrong but it wasn't going to stop her. She pulled out the exact same
kind of money order she remembered seeing all those years ago. . .and it had
the same words written on it. "For Hope."
Giles turned the corner and Lisa practically ran him over. "Lisa, what's
the rush?"
"Papa, I'm sorry. . .I just. . .I have to get home. Like *now*."
"Is everything okay? Laurel, is she. . ."
"Fine, Papa. I can't talk. Laurel is sleeping. . .I gotta go see. . ." she
took a deep breath and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I just gotta
go." She took of down the hallway at top speed and through the double doors
leading to the street.
-----
Lisa was on her knees in her attic. There were papers strewn everywhere
from one end of the room to the other. She'd been there for about an hour
and a half and came up with nothing. She heard her father put his keys on
the table and she launched down the stairs to see him. "Dad!!"
"Whoa there, Princess. Where's the fire?" He smiled at her.
"Where's my birth certificate?"
He shrugged and began to walk towards the kitchen. "I'm not really sure.
Why?"
"I need it."
"Mind telling me what for?"
"School project. I need to know what my mother's name is."
Jason turned around and looked at his daughter. "Now why don't I believe
that?"
"Dad. . ."
"What's going on, Lisa?"
"What's my mother's name?" She crossed her arms in front of her and put on
her best resolve face.
"You've gone seventeen years without knowing. Why is it so important now?"
Lisa looked at her father disbelievingly. "You're not going to tell me. .
.are you?"
Jason thought for a moment. "No. No I'm not. It's not important."
"Dad. . ."
"No. Can we not? We've been through this before. I raised you, I took
care of you and your mother left you. The only thing she ever did for you
was send money."
Lisa stormed out of the house.
"Lisa wait!"
She turned around and looked at him for a moment. "I'm going to see Laurel.
She got hurt last night and she's in the hospital." She paused a moment.
"If you care at all that is."
-------
"Hey there kiddo." Faith sat on the edge of Laurel's bed and smiled. "You
gave us a big scare. . .you know that?"
"Sorry."
"Well, your safe now so." She shrugged. "Where's Lisa?"
"She was gone when I woke up."
"She really cares about you. You know? She was wicked scared something bad
happened to you."
"I know." Laurel pulled at her blankets. "Faith, can I ask you a
question?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"Well, say you like this person a lot and you hang out without anyone
knowing cause some people just wouldn't understand the relationship you have
and you've kissed a few times, but that's all. So the relationship changes
and you're friends now, which is cool, but then this other great person
comes into your life and totally changes it for the good. Should you tell
the second person about the first?"
Faith shook her head a few times. "You do have your mother's gift of
babble. Do they know each other?"
"No."
"Did they overlap?"
"You mean was I with them both at one time?" Faith nodded. "Then yeah.
But that doesn't mean anything. . .right?"
Faith took her hand. "Well, the new person might feel like you were just
using them if it wasn't working out with the first."
"But it was never gonna work out with him, he's a . . ." Laurel looked up.
"Never mind."
"He? He's a what?" Faith looked at her curiously.
"Nothing."
"Laurel. . .if you're anything like either of your mothers, there's
something supernatural involved." Laurel's eyes widened and Faith shook her
head. "God. What is it with you three? So what is he? Demon? Werewolf?
Robot?"
"Robot?"
"Never mind about that. Red was young and. . .oh no." Faith looked at her
in shock. "You wouldn't." She stood up. "He's a vampire, isn't he?"
Laurel's head dropped. "Well. . ."
"Nothing but trouble there, kiddo. Soulless bastards every one of them. I
can't believe you got involved with a vampire!"
"Faith. Don't 'mom' me. Please. This is why I tell you these things and
not momma. She's been 'momming' me double time this past year and you two
may be involved but that doesn't mean you and I have to change. Does it?"
Faith immediately realized something as soon as Laurel said that. No one
told her about Willow. No one told her the spell worked and her mother was
two floors away from her in ICU. "I gotta go, Lau."
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"No. I just. . .I have to go get Buffy. I'm sure she wants to see you.
We'll be right back. Okay?"
"You won't tell her. . .will you?"
Faith shook her head. "No. It's between you and me. Promise. I'll be
back."
------
Buffy woke and blinked a few times. She looked up and saw Willow there and
almost started to cry all over again. "It wasn't a dream." She whispered.
"No it wasn't."
She turned around and Giles was on the other side of the tent. She unzipped
it carefully and stepped out to stretch. "Giles. How long have you been
here?"
"Since about the second time the nurse came in to wake you up. I decided to
stick around and make sure you weren't disturbed." He smiled. "How is
she."
"The same but," Buffy looked back at the bed. "She's here."
"Yes she is." He nodded.
"B. We gotta talk." Faith stood in the doorway.
"What's wrong? Did something happen to Laurel?" Buffy walked over to her.
"No, nothing like that. It's just, well. . .in all the excitement, have you
told her about Red being here?"
Buffy gasped. "Oh God, no. I haven't even seen Laurel yet." She turned to
Giles. "What am I gonna do?"
Giles rose from the chair and walked to them. He placed his hand on her
shoulder and smiled. "You're going to go tell your daughter that her mother
is alive."
-------
He stood in the hallway and immediately spotted who he was looking for.
Rupert Giles, the watcher that legends were made of. While he was a
delinquent in his youth, he was rumored to be the bravest of all the
watchers in the council. He fought next to his Slayer in almost every
battle. . .not cowering behind a tree letting her fend for herself.
He took a deep breath and walked up to him. "Mr. Giles."
Giles looked up and nodded. "Yes."
He put his hand out. "I'm Jason, Lisa's father."
"Yes. Oh, well, it's quite nice to finally meet you. Lisa speaks very
highly of you." Giles took his hand. "Are you looking for her?"
"No, I know she went to visit Laurel. I was actually looking for you. I
think it's time you know a few things. I'm tired of the lies."
"Well, um, why don't we go to the cafeteria then. For coffee."
Jason nodded and followed him down the hall.
----------
"I need your help. Badly." Lisa walked into Laurel's room lugging her
laptop with her.
"Um, yeah. Nice to see you too, Li. I'm fine. Still a little sore."
Laurel smirked.
Lisa put the laptop down and sat on the bed. "I'm sorry. I just. . .I
found something out a few hours ago. Something about my mother, and it's
really got me freaked, I mean, if it means what I think it means then it'll
be okay. . .I think, but if it doesn't mean what I think it means or what I
want it to mean then. . ."
"Li, slow down." Laurel chuckled. "You're going at warp speed here."
"I need to see my birth certificate. I have to know my mothers name and my
dad won't tell me. Can you get to it? On the net I mean?"
Laurel grabbed the laptop off the chair and booted it up. "Birth
certificate? Piece of cake." She smiled.
Lisa sighed in relief. "Good. If this is what I think it is. . ."
"This is big. Isn't it?"
"Yeah. Like life changing big."
Laurel connected the phone line and typed a few commands onto the keyboard.
In a flash she was on the net. "Just give me a few minutes."
The minutes ticked by like hours for Lisa. Each second was torture.
"Anything?"
Laurel shook her head. "It's odd. You're here, but," She furrowed her
brow. "Your mom's name isn't on here."
"What?" Lisa scooted over next to Laurel. "Lemme see." She checked the
screen. "I can't believe it. The records are sealed!"
"The only way they'd be sealed is if you were adopted or," Laurel shook her
head. "No, that can't be it."
"What?"
"Well, if you were adopted, which we know you weren't or, if your name was
changed. If that's the case, then the records can't be opened until you're
eighteen."
-------
"She was all fire and brimstone when I arrived. There was a huge chip on
her shoulder, though from what I understand, not as big as in her youth."
He smiled. "We clashed immediately and fought constantly but that wasn't
going to stop me. The council wanted to make amends for what they'd done to
her and I was there to do a job. Well, in the beginning it was a job."
"It was about a year after I'd arrived. She really opened up about you,
Buffy, the 'scooby gang' as she called them. There was so much hurt inside
of her. . .all I wanted to do was take it away. That's when I realized I'd
fallen in love with her. I fell in love with everything about her, even the
badness, because if that wasn't there, then it wouldn't be her. We're all
made up of good and not so good things, you have to learn how to accept it
as a whole, and that's exactly what I did. Accepted her for who she was.
I'd refused her advances before because of our working relationship but. .
.I'm only human I suppose. . .and she's got such a fire within her."
Giles nodded. "Yes, yes she does."
"There was such passion there. I gave in and nothing was the same after
that. She moved in shortly after we got involved, the council found out and
fired me. It didn't bother me that much, you know how it is working for the
Watchers Council and I was probably better off without them." He took a sip
of his coffee and shook his head sadly. "I really thought it would work
out. You know? I thought I'd finally reached her and that she'd worked
through all the issues from her childhood and her time in prison. I wanted
a life with her but. . .she didn't want one with me."
"I was careless. . .she was careless and we got pregnant. It was hard at
first but we finally agreed that we'd keep the baby. Abortion was never an
option. Hope was born, my family was ecstatic. . .but something was missing
for her. Something I don't even think she could describe or put her finger
on. I think everything came rushing at her at once from her past and how
she was raised. She was afraid that she'd turn out to be just like her own
mother. The night we had Hope christened, she left. No warning, no clue,
no nothing. She packed up and walked out of our lives and I haven't seen
her since. My daughter is seventeen now and every month like clockwork, I
get a check in the mail from her."
"I moved to England of all places when she was four months old. The council
gave me my job back, and I changed her name to Lisa when she was six months
old. I suppose I needed to make her just mine. . .not mine and Faith's but,
there are some things you can't change. I can't change the fact that she's
her mother and she gave birth to her. That will be there for the rest of
our lives. Lisa is starting to ask questions now and I can't put her off
any longer. If I don't tell her, she's bound to find out and I don't want
it to happen like that. If it's going to happen, if Faith is going to see
her daughter again, I wanted to have some control over it."
Giles thought for a few moments about everything Jason told him. He'd known
through the council files that Faith had a child, but the details were vague
and now he knew why. She'd had a child with one of the council's
psychologists. "You want Lisa to know Faith is her mother?"
"No, but. . .there's no avoiding it now. Lisa has been with Laurel for
months now and sees Faith practically every day." He shrugged. "Maybe it's
for selfish reasons I didn't want her to know. I've had Lisa to myself for
seventeen years. . .I don't want to lose her to Faith. . the way I lost
myself."
"You really love her. Don't you?"
"Yes. I'm married now. Jenna is wonderful and loves Lisa as if she were
her own. And I love Jenna with all my heart and soul. . .but Faith gave me
my daughter and because of that she'll always have a piece of me."
"I understand. I had no idea, really. I know Lisa's been looking for her
mother, but the last person I thought it would be is Faith."
"J."
Jason looked up and saw Faith standing right behind Giles. He stood up.
"Faith. It's been a long time."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Giles stood up and turned to her. "Faith. . ."
"No, Giles. You don't understand. . ." Her voice cracked. "He's. . .he's.
. ."
Giles put his hand on her shoulder. "I know, Faith. I know."
She looked at him with tears in her eyes then looked back at Jason. She
grabbed onto Giles' arm for support. "I want to see my daughter." She
wiped at the tears. "I want to see Hope."
--------
"Am I interrupting?"
Laurel looked up and smiled. "Mamma!" She put her arms out and Buffy
walked up to her and hugged her.
"God, you feel good." Buffy stroked her hair. "I thought I'd lost you,
Lau."
"I'm sorry, mamma, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." Buffy pulled away and looked at her. She tucked some hair
behind Laurel's ear and smiled. "God, you look just like Willow."
Laurel smiled. "I love it when you say that. It makes me feel like she's
still here."
Buffy looked over at Lisa and smiled. "How are you holding up, kiddo?"
"I'm okay." She shrugged.
"Good." Buffy turned back to Laurel. "Lau, I have something to tell you
and there's no easy way to do it."
"Oh no. What's wrong? Did something happen to Faith? Or Papa? Did Papa
get hurt again?" She got a panicked look on her face.
"No, no. Nothing like that. They're both fine." Buffy took a deep breath
and took her daughter's hands in her own. "Lau, it's about Will---"
"Daddy?" Lisa looked to the door where her father was standing with Faith
and Giles behind him. She stood up. "What are you doing here?"
Faith gasped and reached over for Giles. "Oh my God." She whispered.
-----
Lisa was sitting on the edge of the couch in a private waiting room. Giles
had made arrangements with one of the administrators so they could all have
some privacy. Next to her, holding her hand was Laurel. Her father was
sitting across from her and Faith was standing at the window.
"Daddy, what's going on?" She gripped Laurel's hand tighter. "I've seen
that look before. Something terrible is gonna happen, isn't it?"
Jason shook his head. "No. Not at all, princess. There are just some
things that I need to tell you. I think it's time." He sat back and
gathered his thoughts carefully. "You've questioned me about your mother
ever since I can remember. I want you to know that there are reasons I've
kept information from you, very important reasons, but it seems to me that
those reasons are of no consequence now." He sighed and finally looked up
at her. "Are you sure you're ready for this? Because this. . .this is
everything. It's everything you ever wanted to know. . .and maybe even some
things you didn't. To tell you, I'd have to tell you everything."
Lisa looked over at Laurel and the Slayer smiled at her. "It's up to you,
Li."
She turned back to her father and nodded her head.
Jason sat forward and took a deep breath. "No matter what, I did things the
way I did them for your own good. You need to understand that. I was
scared and young and I may have made mistakes but, my intention was always
to keep you safe." He glance over to Faith, who had not moved since they
arrived. "I was twenty-five when I was working in England as a psychologist
for a private firm. That's how I met your mother. She was one of my
patients. I was sent to the states to take care of her, help her heal and
get a second chance at life, the chance she so desperately deserved and
needed."
"It was strictly business for the first year, but slowly I fell in love with
her. How anyone couldn't is a mystery to me. She was so full of life and
her eyes. . .well, in her eyes you could see to the soul of her if you
looked close enough. We decided not to get married but still raise you on
our own without anyone's help. I was almost twenty-seven when you were
born. . .right in this hospital on the eighth floor. As soon as the firm
found out about us, I was fired. It was difficult in the beginning, but I
got a great job at a local hospital and we were making due - we were okay."
He smiled. "But then your mother got a phone call on the night of your
christening. She was called away on business and wasn't sure if she'd make
it back alive. She was in a very dangerous line of work. So the night of
your christening, she left and I haven't seen her since."
Jason closed his eyes and tried to keep his voice steady. "I didn't know
about the phone call until recently. I didn't know she got called away,
that she *had* to go. All these years I thought she left you and me and
didn't think twice about us, but now I know the opposite was true. She
cared and she loved and she went off to work in order to protect us - to
protect everyone." He sighed. "All those years I didn't know."
Lisa watched her father as he spoke. She saw the subtle changes in his
face, the rise and fall of his voice, the hand gestures he made when he was
nervous. She'd never seen him cry until now. "Daddy. . ."
Jason opened his eyes and smiled at his daughter. "I'm okay, princess. I
need to do this." He sat back and continued. "After your mother left, I
moved you to England where I was accepted back at the firm. I was hurt and
angry and bitter. I wanted to erase any sign of her in your life, so I
changed your name and burned all the pictures of us. We stayed in England
until you were ten years old and I met Janna, who was a friend of your
mothers. You know the rest of the story from there. We moved back to the
states, to Sunnydale, and here we are."
Tears fell silently from Lisa's eyes. "You burned the pictures? Is that
why I could never find any?" Jason nodded. "Daddy, how could you?"
"I was angry, Lisa. Angry and hurt and I wanted to start my life fresh with
you. It was us against the world, kiddo." He reached into his back pocket
and pulled out his wallet. "I burned them all to try and get rid of her. I
thought that if I erased any trace of her in my life, that I'd feel better
but," He shook his head. "Every time I looked at you, all I'd see was
her." He opened his wallet and pulled out a dog eared picture. He handled
it reverently and stroked the faces that looked up at him. "I burned them
all but one. This was taken the day you were born. The first time your
mother ever held you." He whispered.
Lisa looked at the picture in his hands. That was it. That was what she'd
sought out for sixteen years. Proof of who her mother was, of what she
looked like, how she smiled, how she wore her hair. . .everything. Her
father held the key to all her questions in his hand. She stared at it as
the tears fell from her eyes, but didn't move.
Jason held out the picture to her. She could almost make out the tiny baby
in the faceless woman's arms. She could almost see her face and the pure
joy that was radiating from her. Almost.
"Lisa." Jason pleaded. "Take it, it's yours."
She looked up at him with a sadness in her face that can't be described.
It's the kind of sadness that puts a lump in your throat, makes your voice
hitch in your throat and sends a shiver down your spine from simply looking
at the person who has been afflicted with such an expression. She shook her
head no.
Jason looked at her quizzically and was about to say something, but stopped
when he saw his daughter rise from the couch and walk over to Faith.
Faith continued to stare out the window at nothing in particular. She knew
Lisa was standing next to her but didn't dare turn around. Her face never
changed, she never moved a muscle and the only way you could tell there was
a real person standing in front of the window, was through the tears that
flowed freely from her eyes. Tears she shed without shame and without
hiding. She simply stood there and let them stream down her face. Finally,
she took a deep breath. "Did you ever feel like you needed something, but
wasn't sure what it was? I mean, you'd feel empty and hollow in this one
spot deep down, but didn't know why? I searched and destroyed, I fought and
I cried, I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but I still couldn't find
that one thing that was missing from my life. I beat the hell out of every
demon and vampire that crossed my path and on the inside, maybe I felt like
they had what I wanted. . .like they were keeping it from me or they knew
the secret to getting it. I didn't even know what it was until," Faith's
voice cracked and she paused a moment gathering all the courage she had.
Slowly she turned to look at Lisa. "Until I held her in my arms," Faith
reached up and touched her cheek. They both gasped at the initial contact.
"Until I touched her baby soft skin and looked into her eyes. I didn't know
what I was missing," Faith unclenched her other hand to reveal a faded baby
picture and held it up to Lisa. "Until I held Hope."
Lisa let out the breath she was holding in one loud sob. She collapse into
Faith's arms and they both went to the ground, crying openly. Faith stroked
her daughter's hair and rubbed her back. "It's okay, Li." She whispered
and looked up at Jason. "It's finally okay."
-----
Buffy stood in the doorway and watched the scene before her unfold. She
looked to Laurel, who was also a bit weepy and smiled.
Laurel got up and walked to Buffy, putting her arms around her waist. "I
love you mom."
Buffy kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, kiddo. More than I can
even say sometimes."
Laurel looked up at her and smiled sadly. "I miss my mom." She whispered.
"I miss her so much and it never gets easier or better and that's why I did
the spell and I'm sorry that I made you scared and that you thought
something happened to me but you have to understand that I'd do anything to
get her back." Laurel sobbed. "I'd even risk my life if there was a chance
she could be here with me, with us." She buried her head in Buffy's
shoulder and cried.
"God, Laurel." Buffy whispered. "Come on." She took her daughter's hand
and began to lead her out of the room. "There's something we need to do."
"Wait. What about Lisa?" She looked back at Faith and Lisa who had since
stopped crying and were whispering to each other. "What if she needs me?"
"I'm okay, Lau-Lau." Lisa looked at Faith then at Laurel. "Really."
"Maybe we should go with them." Faith said to her daughter as she wiped the
tears away from her cheeks. She gave Lisa a 'knowing' look.
Lisa nodded and they both got up off the floor. "Okay. Family trip." She
walked over to Laurel and hugged her. "We're in this together. Everything,
all of it, I'm here for you, Lau. You know that, right?"
What are you guys being so cryptic about?" She looked at the three of them.
"What's going on?"
"You'll see." Buffy smiled and tucked some hair behind Laurel's ear. "Soon
enough, you'll see. Come on."
-----
"How is she?" Xander walked up to Giles in the waiting room.
"The same." He smiled wearily. "She's bruised everywhere, malnourished,
frostbitten. . ."
"Wait. Frostbite? From what, the complete lack of snow we have in
California?"
"I don't know, Xander. All I know is that she's alive. . .barely." Giles
looked up as Faith and Lisa entered with Buffy and Laurel trailing behind.
"Faith, I trust everything is,"
"Everything is fine, G-man." Faith smiled and put her arm around Lisa's
shoulder. "Right as rain."
"Everything's so not fine." Laurel pouted and walked over to Giles.
"Something's going on, Papa, and they won't tell me what it is." She leaned
up against him. "And it's very annoying."
Giles looked up at Buffy. "You haven't, I mean you didn't. . ."
Buffy shook her head. "No. Not yet."
"You too?" Laurel looked up at him. "Geez, it's a conspiracy."
"Hardly." Lisa smirked at her. She looked over to Buffy who nodded her
head, then looked at Laurel again. "Lau, you were with me during the most
important time of my life just now. And now, I'm going to be there for the
most important time of your life." Lisa put her hands out in front of her
and Laurel grasped them. "I want you to come with me, I want you to *not*
ask questions, "She smiled. "and I want you to promise me you're not gonna
pass out or anything."
"That's a tall order despite the fact I have no idea what's going on."
"I know but. . .trust me?"
Laurel smiled and leaned her forehead against Lisa's. "With my life. You
know that." She whispered.
Lisa reached up and cupped Laurel's face with her hands. "I love you." She
whispered.
Laurel smiled. "I love you too, Li." She leaned in and kissed her softly.
Lisa kept her eyes closed after Laurel broke away. "I can't believe we just
did that in front of our parents."
"Uh huh. Me either."
"They're still standing there. Right?"
Laurel opened one eye then quickly closed it. "Uh huh."
"We'll talk about that later." Buffy looked at them. "After you two get
back from where you're going. Now."
Lisa took Laurel's hand and ushered her out of the room quickly.
Buffy watched them leave and turned to Faith. "I can't believe. . ."
"It was like we weren't even in the same room." Faith smiled. " That was
so. . .amazing, B. Do you realize what we just witnessed? Wow, Laurel's
got it bad."
"And so does Lisa." Buffy smirked at first, then her expression changed to
one of shock. "Oh my God. . . oh my God."
"What is it, B? What's wrong?"
Buffy shook her head as if she were trying to get rid of the cobwebs. It
wasn't working. "the first 'oh my God', well, that was for the fact that
our daughters are dating and the second one was me actually realizing you
have a daughter at all."
"What?" Xander looked at both of them.
Faith smiled broadly. "Yeah. . .our daughters are dating." She laughed.
"That's wicked cool."
-----
Jason watched as the two girls walked down the corridor hand in hand. He
sighed to himself and smiled. Finally, after all these years, things just
might be okay. Everything just *might* work out in the end the way it was
supposed to.
After all, this was what he'd worked for all his life. . .to ensure that the
prophesy would *never* come true.
"Things are beginning to look up." He whispered to himself in his native
British accent, then turned his attention to the group of people in the
waiting room, focusing on one in particular. "But not long for you." He
smiled widely, and reached into the collar of his shirt. He pulled on his
skin and literally pulled it off. He threw the face mask in the trash on
his way down the hall and chuckled to himself. "Well now, isn't this an
interesting twist of events?" He pushed through the double doors leading
outside, snickering to himself all the way.
-----
Lisa stood at the end of the hall, away from Willow's room. This was a
private moment for Laurel and she didn't want to intrude. She'd taken the
news very well. At first she was shocked, then elated, then she couldn't
stop talking and crying. Lisa smiled at the thought of Laurels fondest wish
coming true - she had her mom back.
And so did Lisa. It was all so much to take in at once. She felt like she
was living in a dream and never wanted to wake up. She had begun to suspect
Faith being her mother not too long ago, but before she got a chance to look
into it further, her father came to her and told her the truth. That was a
shock itself because her father had always been so guarded about any
information about her mother. It struck her as being odd that he was
suddenly so forthcoming, but wasn't about to question it.
Lisa was brought out of her silent musings when she saw the door to Willow's
room open and Laurel emerge from it. She watched her walk down the hall
with a smile on her face and decide that, for as long as she lived, she'd
make sure Laurel smiled like that at least once a day. If anyone deserved
it, she did.
Confusion set in when Laurel walked right past her. Lisa got up and turned
around, noticing for the first time that there was a tall man in a black
trench coat leaning against the wall about ten feet from her - and Laurel
fell into his arms.
"She's alive, Angel." Laurel sobbed. "Really alive."
"I know." He stroked her hair. "I'm proud of you, Slayer."
"Thanks, Vampire." She looked up at him and smirked. "But what are you
doing here? Mom would have a cow if she knew."
"I know, but I was worried." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
"I don't believe it."
Laurel and Angel looked up to see Buffy, Faith and Giles standing in the
corridor.
"Oh, no. Mom." Laurel whispered.
"How long?" Buffy looked at them both with anger in her eyes.
"Buffy, listen. It's not what you think. We train together. Nothing
more." Angel protectively placed Laurel behind him and stepped up in front
of her. "You can't ignore a prophesy, Buffy. We both know that."
Buffy looked at Laurel then to Angel. "How long?" She said evenly.
"A year." He shrugged. "Maybe less."
"Wait a minute." Faith walked up next to Buffy and looked at Laurel, then
settled her gaze on Angel. "A year?" She looked back at Laurel who had the
most frightened look on her face.
"Faith, please." Laurel pleaded.
"Oh, God." Lisa watched the whole exchange and was finally putting two and
two together. "You've got to be kidding me." She looked over at Laurel.
"Tell me you didn't."
"Li. . ." Laurel approached her. "Please."
"Tell me you did *nothing* with him in the entire time that we've known each
other. . .or even been together, at least tell me that." Tears were falling
silently down her cheeks. "Tell me."
Laurel looked over at Angel then back to Lisa. She couldn't speak, the
words were caught in her throat. She pleaded with her eyes, pleaded with
Lisa to let this go for now so they could talk alone.
Lisa shook her head then broke into a sprint down the hall before anyone had
a chance to do or say anything.
"Lisa!" Faith ran after her.
"God, no." Laurel finally broke down and cried openly. "I can't loose her,
I can't." She turned around and instead of going to Buffy for comfort, she
fell into Angel's arms. "I didn't want to talk about this now, I didn't
want her to know." She hiccupped and sniffled. "I have to make her
understand, Angel."
"I know, Lau." He cradled her in his arms. "I know." He looked up at
Buffy. "Nothing happened, Buffy. . .you know I'd never jeopardize mine and
Cordy's relationship. She. . .she needed to train, she needed to fight and
I helped her. But she also needed a friend and someone to talk to. I'm
sorry we went behind your back, all of you, but it had to be done. You
weren't training her and there was no other way. Not if she's to survive
this."
Buffy was at a loss. Normally, she would have flown off the handle and
screamed at him, at both of them, but that wasn't going to help matters any.
She knelt down beside Angel and reached out to stroke Laurel's hair. "You
need to go after her." Buffy whispered. She waited until Laurel's sobs
subsided some before continuing. "I let your mom go once and I thought I
lost her for good. It took us a long time to get back to where we were
suppose to be in the first place. It was time that could have been spent
happy together, and we'll never get it back."
Laurel sniffled and looked up at her. "You're not mad?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that." Buffy smirked. "But I think you need to get
your priorities straight and you're first priority is to have no festering
in your relationship. You need to be fester free." Buffy squeezed her
daughter's hand. "Go after her. Before it's too late." She whispered.
"Thanks mom." Laurel hugged her. "I love you." She got up and took off
down the hall.
-----
"Hey there, Will. You look. . .well, you've looked better." Xander
whispered to his best friend.
He took her hand gently and rubbed it with the pad of his thumb. "I need
you to come out of this, Will. I need you, Laurel needs you and Buffy.
Besides, if you don't wake up soon they're all gonna have my hide for sure
this time. This is big, Willow, really big. I kept your secret. I didn't
tell anyone you were around and I helped you. Now you have to keep your
promise to me. Come back to us." Tears fell from his eyes. "I love you.
You're my best friend."
Giles stood in the doorway and observed Xander talking with Willow. True,
they should all be mad at him for not coming forward sooner. But it was
more important to him to keep his word to Willow. It was a selfless act,
and he risked all of their wraths to keep that promise. It truly proved how
much he valued her in his life. So as not to intrude further, he slipped
away silently.
-----
"Well?"
"They bought it."
He rose from his chair. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. They were all riveted to their chairs by my wonderful tale of
selflessness and how I was looking out for my 'daughter's' best interest."
Ethan smiled. "Fools."
"No!" Jason screamed hoarsely.
Ethan crossed the room and back handed him across the mouth. Blood trickled
down and stained his already blood stained shirt. "Shut up, shut up, shut
up! Haven't you learned by now that we cannot be stopped? We cannot be
defeated? There are forces at work here boy that were put into place even
before you screwed that whore of a Slayer."
Quentin walked over and put his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Take it easy.
We still need him for the last part of the plan." He looked down at the
beaten man and smiled. "Then you can kill him."
-----
"Faith." Laurel approached the Slayer cautiously.
"She disappeared." Faith turned around and looked at the girl in front of
her. "He's who you were talking about last night. Isn't he? When you said
you had feelings for two people at the same time."
"I never said. . ."
"Save it kid. Hypothetical or not, we both know you were talking about him.
How could you, Laurel? He's your mom's ex-boyfriend for Christ sake!"
"Don't yell at me! I didn't do anything wrong! I can't help the way I felt
about him any more than you can help how you feel about mom."
Faith approached her. "That's not fair and you know it. Your mom and I
have a history."
"You save it, Faith." Laurel bit out angrily. "You think I want to feel
this? Don't you think I considered the total ick factor of liking my mom's
ex-boyfriend? Do you think I expected to feel the way I do about Lisa? She
just came into my life out of no where and everything got turned upside down
and backwards and I don't know what I'm doing anymore! I never asked for
this. I never asked to like Angel or be the Slayer who's to save the world
by sacrificing my life, I never asked to fall in love with Lisa. Do you
know how much pain and anguish I went through over our first kiss? Do you?"
She took a deep breath and wiped the hot tears away from her face. "Most
kids my age don't have to go through that."
"I know, Lau." Faith approached her. "Believe me, I know. But you have to
understand that this is new for her too. Everything in the past twenty four
hours is new. I'm not claiming to know her, though I wish I did, but I do
know what you're going through." Faith touched her cheek to make Laurel
look up at her. "I just want to help you, and Lisa, and I don't want either
one of you to get hurt."
"I'm not sure how possible that is at this point." Laurel responded
sullenly. "She must hate me for sure now."
"She doesn't hate you, kiddo, and neither do I. You need to talk to her and
explain things. Don't let it go."
"I know." Laurel looked around. "So, where'd she go?"
"Try the roof. I'm gonna head back and see if I can't do some damage
control with your mom."
"Thanks, Faith."
"Anytime."
-------
"Buffy. . ."
"Don't." She turned to him. "Don't try and convince me that it was
anything other than it is, Angel."
"And what do you think it was? A game? A chance to get even with you?
Because it wasn't any of those things. It was training. Pure and simple.
And you of all people should know that you can't control your feelings for
someone, even though you know how wrong it is and that it will all just go
to hell in the end." Angel shoved his hands in his coat pockets and walked
away a few paces. "Above all, she needed someone to talk to and before you
even ask, I don't know why she didn't go to you in the first place. I care
for your daughter, Buffy, and I would walk into the sun before I hurt her
intentionally. She's like a daughter to me and I know that's probably not
what you want to hear right now, but it's the truth."
"Am I interrupting?" Xander walked up to the group.
"No." Angel looked at Buffy. "I think we're done here." He turned and
walked out the double doors towards the exit of the hospital.
"Looks like I missed something."
"Plenty." Buffy sighed and smiled at him. "Did you see Willow?"
"Yeah." He said quietly.
"She looks like hell. But at least we can look at her. She's right there,
Xand, not thirty feet away from where we're standing."
"I know, Buff." He nodded. "Look, there's something you need to know."
"Xander, why don't you go get us all some coffee and tea? It looks to be a
long night and we could all use the refreshment." Giles interrupted and
pulled some money out of his pocket.
"Sure, G, I just want to talk to Buffy first."
"I know, Xander." Giles looked at him for a moment and smiled sadly. "I
know, but I think it can keep. Don't you?"
Xander was dumbstruck. He took the money from Giles' hand and nodded.
"Yeah, sure, what ever you say, Giles." He walked off to find the
cafeteria.
-----
Lisa was standing on the roof of the hospital looking down at the town
below. "God, what am I gonna do?" She whispered to herself.
"Shouldn't I be asking that question?"
Lisa startled and turned around to see Laurel standing behind her. She
tried to walk past her, but Laurel just sidestepped and got in her path.
They went on like this for a few minutes until Lisa relented and turned her
back to the slayer.
"Look, I know you probably don't want to see me right now, but. . "
"You've got that right." Lisa bit out angrily.
Laurel sighed. "I deserved that. Look, it's not what you think, or maybe
it is, I don't know. I'm gonna explain things right now and you can either
accept my explanation or not, that's up to you." Laurel waited a few
moments to see if she'd protest, then began to speak.
"All my life, I've known I was different. Hell, I've known that this town
is different. It was kinda hard not to when you're mom is a slayer of
vampires and your other mom was, is, a witch. I accepted a lot of things
without question and I thought that I was better off for it. I know my
family life is different than most, even in this day and age. I have two
moms, which isn't that uncommon now, but it's still not fully accepted and
that hurts me. That makes me all the more different than I already was,
never mind not having a dad. Try explaining that one at school." Laurel
sighed and walked up next to Lisa.
"When I met you online, it was like. . .it was like a part of me that I was
always afraid existed was given validation. It wasn't something that was
easily ignored or pushed to the back of my mind any more. I was scared and
that was about the time I started training with Angel. I didn't want you to
be someone that understood me, or got what I said as convoluted as it came
out half the time, I didn't want you to say sweet things to me and encourage
me and flirt with me. I didn't want it because it made me feel good,
special. . .like I've never had anyone my age make me feel before, so I
started to flirt with Angel. I knew it was wrong, I mean. . .he's mom's
ex-boyfriend, that fact alone could have sent me into therapy till I was
fifty."
"You scared the hell out of me, Lisa. You really did. So I did the only
thing any sixteen year old would do, I rebelled against what I was feeling
and pushed Angel more. I even kissed him. All of this was before we met.
Sure I think he's a great guy, I mean he's legendary for gods sake. . .he's
in the watchers diaries for the past two hundred fifty years. . but I don't
love him and I can't be with him, even if I wanted to - which I don't."
"What's your point?" Lisa looked over at her angrily. "You expect me to
feel sorry for you? 'Poor, Laurel, look at all she's gone through.' Well
excuse me if I don't have an ounce of sympathy for what you're going through
with this. Think of what I'm going through and what you've put me through
for the past few months, Lau. Think about that."
"I have." Laurel raised her voice. "Don't you think I have? I've been
stand offish and running hot and cold with you since we met. I'm scared,
Li, I really am. If I acted on my feelings alone then I'd never be able to
let you go. . .I'd never be able to live without you and that scares me.
I'm acting totally opposite of how I feel because I'm afraid that you don't
feel the same way, I'm afraid of you leaving me, I'm afraid sometimes to
wake up in the morning because I'll find that you're not there."
Laurel paused and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I don't want to be
any different than I already am and I'm sorry if my insecurities hurt you,
sorry that you had to find out about Angel this way but I'm not perfect.
I'm sixteen and I almost died trying to save my mom and do you know what I
thought about when I first woke up? You. If you were okay and not too
worried about me and when I'd get to see you. All I think about is you and
as scary as that is I don't wanna stop. I don't wanna stop loving you. .
.it's the one thing that I've been really really good at in a long time."
Lisa continued to look out at the city below. Everything looked so peaceful
from up there. She knew as well as anyone else that it was anything but
peaceful sometimes. She sighed and turned to Laurel. "I hate how I felt
when I put everything together about you and Angel downstairs, I hate that
you still can't trust me and I hate that you got hurt and I felt so
helpless. With all of those things I hate, and all of them have to do with
you. . .I just can't stop myself from loving you either. And maybe that's
the one thing I hate most of all. . .not being in control of how I feel and
how I hurt right now. It hurts so badly, Lau, because I love you so much.
Do you get that at all?"
Laurel nodded. "I do." She whispered. "I really do." She took a
tentative step towards Lisa and put her arms out. Lisa hesitated only a
moment then allowed herself to be enveloped in a hug. "We'll make it, I
promise."
------
"Hey, Red." Faith whispered. "Been a while." Cautiously, she took
Willow's frail hand and clasped it between her own. She took a few moments
to study her condition and sadness overwhelmed her. "Looks like you went
through hell and back a hundred times to get back to us. People say that
when someone's in a coma, you should talk to them. You know, make like they
can still hear ya. I know you can hear me, Red, so you gotta listen close.
Buffy needs you and so does Laurel. They've both practically fallen apart
since you've been gone and I don't know how much longer I could have tried
to keep them together."
Faith sighed and squeezed her hand. "I love, B, sure. . .I mean, you've
always known that, right? You gotta know that I've done my best, but now's
the time for you to take over. I have my own stuff goin on that needs to be
taken care of. Things like getting to know my daughter. Yeah, that's right,
me, a mom. Can you believe it? I can't, not yet anyway. So we need you to
come back to us real quick. There's a lot of people around that love you
and need you. I kinda got a soft spot for ya myself." Faith smiled. "Just
come back." She bowed her head down to Willow's hand and placed it against
her cheek.
"Faith?"
Faith looked up and was met with a very confused pair of green eyes.
Willow's eyes. "Uh, not to sound ungrateful or anything but, did I miss
something? I mean, you're practically kissing my hand and while that's
nice and all, don't get me wrong, I just think it's really kinda strange,
not that you're strange of course but, well. . .there was that whole leather
pants phase you went through. . . "
"Red!" Faith yelled. "You're up and awake and. . ." She stopped and
laughed. "And just as babbley as ever! I have to go get, B!" She got up
and ran towards the door but turned back and pointed her finger at Willow.
"Don't go *anywhere*. You hear me, Red?" Willow nodded, which seemed to
satisfy Faith and she took off out the door and down the hall.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 17
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 12:26:19 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: These Roads We Travel (5)
TITLE: These Roads We Travel (20/?)
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 was sitting on the edge of the couch in a private waiting room. Giles
had made arrangements with one of the administrators so they could all have
some privacy. Next to her, holding her hand was Laurel. Her father was
sitting across from her and Faith was standing at the window.
"Daddy, what's going on?" She gripped Laurel's hand tighter. "I've seen
that look before. Something terrible is gonna happen, isn't it?"
Jason shook his head. "No. Not at all, princess. There are just some
things that I need to tell you. I think it's time." He sat back and
gathered his thoughts carefully. "You've questioned me about your mother
ever since I can remember. I want you to know that there are reasons I've
kept information from you, very important reasons, but it seems to me that
those reasons are of no consequence now." He sighed and finally looked up
at her. "Are you sure you're ready for this? Because this. . .this is
everything. It's everything you ever wanted to know. . .and maybe even some
things you didn't. To tell you, I'd have to tell you everything."
Lisa looked over at Laurel and the Slayer smiled at her. "It's up to you,
Li."
She turned back to her father and nodded her head.
Jason sat forward and took a deep breath. "No matter what, I did things the
way I did them for your own good. You need to understand that. I was
scared and young and I may have made mistakes but, my intention was always
to keep you safe." He glance over to Faith, who had not moved since they
arrived. "I was twenty-five when I was working in England as a psychologist
for a private firm. That's how I met your mother. She was one of my
patients. I was sent to the states to take care of her, help her heal and
get a second chance at life, the chance she so desperately deserved and
needed."
"It was strictly business for the first year, but slowly I fell in love with
her. How anyone couldn't is a mystery to me. She was so full of life and
her eyes. . .well, in her eyes you could see to the soul of her if you
looked close enough. We decided not to get married but still raise you on
our own without anyone's help. I was almost twenty-seven when you were
born. . .right in this hospital on the eighth floor. As soon as the firm
found out about us, I was fired. It was difficult in the beginning, but I
got a great job at a local hospital and we were making due - we were okay."
He smiled. "But then your mother got a phone call on the night of your
christening. She was called away on business and wasn't sure if she'd make
it back alive. She was in a very dangerous line of work. So the night of
your christening, she left and I haven't seen her since."
Jason closed his eyes and tried to keep his voice steady. "I didn't know
about the phone call until recently. I didn't know she got called away,
that she *had* to go. All these years I thought she left you and me and
didn't think twice about us, but now I know the opposite was true. She
cared and she loved and she went off to work in order to protect us - to
protect everyone." He sighed. "All those years I didn't know."
Lisa watched her father as he spoke. She saw the subtle changes in his
face, the rise and fall of his voice, the hand gestures he made when he was
nervous. She'd never seen him cry until now. "Daddy. . ."
Jason opened his eyes and smiled at his daughter. "I'm okay, princess. I
need to do this." He sat back and continued. "After your mother left, I
moved you to England where I was accepted back at the firm. I was hurt and
angry and bitter. I wanted to erase any sign of her in your life, so I
changed your name and burned all the pictures of us. We stayed in England
until you were ten years old and I met Janna, who was a friend of your
mothers. You know the rest of the story from there. We moved back to the
states, to Sunnydale, and here we are."
Tears fell silently from Lisa's eyes. "You burned the pictures? Is that
why I could never find any?" Jason nodded. "Daddy, how could you?"
"I was angry, Lisa. Angry and hurt and I wanted to start my life fresh with
you. It was us against the world, kiddo." He reached into his back pocket
and pulled out his wallet. "I burned them all to try and get rid of her. I
thought that if I erased any trace of her in my life, that I'd feel better
but," He shook his head. "Every time I looked at you, all I'd see was
her." He opened his wallet and pulled out a dog eared picture. He handled
it reverently and stroked the faces that looked up at him. "I burned them
all but one. This was taken the day you were born. The first time your
mother ever held you." He whispered.
Lisa looked at the picture in his hands. That was it. That was what she'd
sought out for sixteen years. Proof of who her mother was, of what she
looked like, how she smiled, how she wore her hair. . .everything. Her
father held the key to all her questions in his hand. She stared at it as
the tears fell from her eyes, but didn't move.
Jason held out the picture to her. She could almost make out the tiny baby
in the faceless woman's arms. She could almost see her face and the pure
joy that was radiating from her. Almost.
"Lisa." Jason pleaded. "Take it, it's yours."
She looked up at him with a sadness in her face that can't be described.
It's the kind of sadness that puts a lump in your throat, makes your voice
hitch in your throat and sends a shiver down your spine from simply looking
at the person who has been afflicted with such an expression. She shook her
head no.
Jason looked at her quizzically and was about to say something, but stopped
when he saw his daughter rise from the couch and walk over to Faith.
Faith continued to stare out the window at nothing in particular. She knew
Lisa was standing next to her but didn't dare turn around. Her face never
changed, she never moved a muscle and the only way you could tell there was
a real person standing in front of the window, was through the tears that
flowed freely from her eyes. Tears she shed without shame and without
hiding. She simply stood there and let them stream down her face. Finally,
she took a deep breath. "Did you ever feel like you needed something, but
wasn't sure what it was? I mean, you'd feel empty and hollow in this one
spot deep down, but didn't know why? I searched and destroyed, I fought and
I cried, I screamed until my voice was hoarse, but I still couldn't find
that one thing that was missing from my life. I beat the hell out of every
demon and vampire that crossed my path and on the inside, maybe I felt like
they had what I wanted. . .like they were keeping it from me or they knew
the secret to getting it. I didn't even know what it was until," Faith's
voice cracked and she paused a moment gathering all the courage she had.
Slowly she turned to look at Lisa. "Until I held her in my arms," Faith
reached up and touched her cheek. They both gasped at the initial contact.
"Until I touched her baby soft skin and looked into her eyes. I didn't know
what I was missing," Faith unclenched her other hand to reveal a faded baby
picture and held it up to Lisa. "Until I held Hope."
Lisa let out the breath she was holding in one loud sob. She collapse into
Faith's arms and they both went to the ground, crying openly. Faith stroked
her daughter's hair and rubbed her back. "It's okay, Li." She whispered
and looked up at Jason. "It's finally okay."
-----
Buffy stood in the doorway and watched the scene before her unfold. She
looked to Laurel, who was also a bit weepy and smiled.
Laurel got up and walked to Buffy, putting her arms around her waist. "I
love you mom."
Buffy kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, kiddo. More than I can
even say sometimes."
Laurel looked up at her and smiled sadly. "I miss my mom." She whispered.
"I miss her so much and it never gets easier or better and that's why I did
the spell and I'm sorry that I made you scared and that you thought
something happened to me but you have to understand that I'd do anything to
get her back." Laurel sobbed. "I'd even risk my life if there was a chance
she could be here with me, with us." She buried her head in Buffy's
shoulder and cried.
"God, Laurel." Buffy whispered. "Come on." She took her daughter's hand
and began to lead her out of the room. "There's something we need to do."
"Wait. What about Lisa?" She looked back at Faith and Lisa who had since
stopped crying and were whispering to each other. "What if she needs me?"
"I'm okay, Lau-Lau." Lisa looked at Faith then at Laurel. "Really."
"Maybe we should go with them." Faith said to her daughter as she wiped the
tears away from her cheeks. She gave Lisa a 'knowing' look.
Lisa nodded and they both got up off the floor. "Okay. Family trip." She
walked over to Laurel and hugged her. "We're in this together. Everything,
all of it, I'm here for you, Lau. You know that, right?"
What are you guys being so cryptic about?" She looked at the three of them.
"What's going on?"
"You'll see." Buffy smiled and tucked some hair behind Laurel's ear. "Soon
enough, you'll see. Come on."
-----
"How is she?" Xander walked up to Giles in the waiting room.
"The same." He smiled wearily. "She's bruised everywhere, malnourished,
frostbitten. . ."
"Wait. Frostbite? From what, the complete lack of snow we have in
California?"
"I don't know, Xander. All I know is that she's alive. . .barely." Giles
looked up as Faith and Lisa entered with Buffy and Laurel trailing behind.
"Faith, I trust everything is,"
"Everything is fine, G-man." Faith smiled and put her arm around Lisa's
shoulder. "Right as rain."
"Everything's so not fine." Laurel pouted and walked over to Giles.
"Something's going on, Papa, and they won't tell me what it is." She leaned
up against him. "And it's very annoying."
Giles looked up at Buffy. "You haven't, I mean you didn't. . ."
Buffy shook her head. "No. Not yet."
"You too?" Laurel looked up at him. "Geez, it's a conspiracy."
"Hardly." Lisa smirked at her. She looked over to Buffy who nodded her
head, then looked at Laurel again. "Lau, you were with me during the most
important time of my life just now. And now, I'm going to be there for the
most important time of your life." Lisa put her hands out in front of her
and Laurel grasped them. "I want you to come with me, I want you to *not*
ask questions, "She smiled. "and I want you to promise me you're not gonna
pass out or anything."
"That's a tall order despite the fact I have no idea what's going on."
"I know but. . .trust me?"
Laurel smiled and leaned her forehead against Lisa's. "With my life. You
know that." She whispered.
Lisa reached up and cupped Laurel's face with her hands. "I love you." She
whispered.
Laurel smiled. "I love you too, Li." She leaned in and kissed her softly.
Lisa kept her eyes closed after Laurel broke away. "I can't believe we just
did that in front of our parents."
"Uh huh. Me either."
"They're still standing there. Right?"
Laurel opened one eye then quickly closed it. "Uh huh."
"We'll talk about that later." Buffy looked at them. "After you two get
back from where you're going. Now."
Lisa took Laurel's hand and ushered her out of the room quickly.
Buffy watched them leave and turned to Faith. "I can't believe. . ."
"It was like we weren't even in the same room." Faith smiled. " That was
so. . .amazing, B. Do you realize what we just witnessed? Wow, Laurel's
got it bad."
"And so does Lisa." Buffy smirked at first, then her expression changed to
one of shock. "Oh my God. . . oh my God."
"What is it, B? What's wrong?"
Buffy shook her head as if she were trying to get rid of the cobwebs. It
wasn't working. "the first 'oh my God', well, that was for the fact that
our daughters are dating and the second one was me actually realizing you
have a daughter at all."
"What?" Xander looked at both of them.
Faith smiled broadly. "Yeah. . .our daughters are dating." She laughed.
"That's wicked cool."
-----
Jason watched as the two girls walked down the corridor hand in hand. He
sighed to himself and smiled. Finally, after all these years, things just
might be okay. Everything just *might* work out in the end the way it was
supposed to.
After all, this was what he'd worked for all his life. . .to ensure that the
prophesy would *never* come true.
"Things are beginning to look up." He whispered to himself in his native
British accent, then turned his attention to the group of people in the
waiting room, focusing on one in particular. "But not long for you." He
smiled widely, and reached into the collar of his shirt. He pulled on his
skin and literally pulled it off. He threw the face mask in the trash on
his way down the hall and chuckled to himself. "Well now, isn't this an
interesting twist of events?" He pushed through the double doors leading
outside, snickering to himself all the way.
-----
Lisa stood at the end of the hall, away from Willow's room. This was a
private moment for Laurel and she didn't want to intrude. She'd taken the
news very well. At first she was shocked, then elated, then she couldn't
stop talking and crying. Lisa smiled at the thought of Laurels fondest wish
coming true - she had her mom back.
And so did Lisa. It was all so much to take in at once. She felt like she
was living in a dream and never wanted to wake up. She had begun to suspect
Faith being her mother not too long ago, but before she got a chance to look
into it further, her father came to her and told her the truth. That was a
shock itself because her father had always been so guarded about any
information about her mother. It struck her as being odd that he was
suddenly so forthcoming, but wasn't about to question it.
Lisa was brought out of her silent musings when she saw the door to Willow's
room open and Laurel emerge from it. She watched her walk down the hall
with a smile on her face and decide that, for as long as she lived, she'd
make sure Laurel smiled like that at least once a day. If anyone deserved
it, she did.
Confusion set in when Laurel walked right past her. Lisa got up and turned
around, noticing for the first time that there was a tall man in a black
trench coat leaning against the wall about ten feet from her - and Laurel
fell into his arms.
"She's alive, Angel." Laurel sobbed. "Really alive."
"I know." He stroked her hair. "I'm proud of you, Slayer."
"Thanks, Vampire." She looked up at him and smirked. "But what are you
doing here? Mom would have a cow if she knew."
"I know, but I was worried." He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
"I don't believe it."
Laurel and Angel looked up to see Buffy, Faith and Giles standing in the
corridor.
"Oh, no. Mom." Laurel whispered.
"How long?" Buffy looked at them both with anger in her eyes.
"Buffy, listen. It's not what you think. We train together. Nothing
more." Angel protectively placed Laurel behind him and stepped up in front
of her. "You can't ignore a prophesy, Buffy. We both know that."
Buffy looked at Laurel then to Angel. "How long?" She said evenly.
"A year." He shrugged. "Maybe less."
"Wait a minute." Faith walked up next to Buffy and looked at Laurel, then
settled her gaze on Angel. "A year?" She looked back at Laurel who had the
most frightened look on her face.
"Faith, please." Laurel pleaded.
"Oh, God." Lisa watched the whole exchange and was finally putting two and
two together. "You've got to be kidding me." She looked over at Laurel.
"Tell me you didn't."
"Li. . ." Laurel approached her. "Please."
"Tell me you did *nothing* with him in the entire time that we've known each
other. . .or even been together, at least tell me that." Tears were falling
silently down her cheeks. "Tell me."
Laurel looked over at Angel then back to Lisa. She couldn't speak, the
words were caught in her throat. She pleaded with her eyes, pleaded with
Lisa to let this go for now so they could talk alone.
Lisa shook her head then broke into a sprint down the hall before anyone had
a chance to do or say anything.
"Lisa!" Faith ran after her.
"God, no." Laurel finally broke down and cried openly. "I can't loose her,
I can't." She turned around and instead of going to Buffy for comfort, she
fell into Angel's arms. "I didn't want to talk about this now, I didn't
want her to know." She hiccupped and sniffled. "I have to make her
understand, Angel."
"I know, Lau." He cradled her in his arms. "I know." He looked up at
Buffy. "Nothing happened, Buffy. . .you know I'd never jeopardize mine and
Cordy's relationship. She. . .she needed to train, she needed to fight and
I helped her. But she also needed a friend and someone to talk to. I'm
sorry we went behind your back, all of you, but it had to be done. You
weren't training her and there was no other way. Not if she's to survive
this."
Buffy was at a loss. Normally, she would have flown off the handle and
screamed at him, at both of them, but that wasn't going to help matters any.
She knelt down beside Angel and reached out to stroke Laurel's hair. "You
need to go after her." Buffy whispered. She waited until Laurel's sobs
subsided some before continuing. "I let your mom go once and I thought I
lost her for good. It took us a long time to get back to where we were
suppose to be in the first place. It was time that could have been spent
happy together, and we'll never get it back."
Laurel sniffled and looked up at her. "You're not mad?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that." Buffy smirked. "But I think you need to get
your priorities straight and you're first priority is to have no festering
in your relationship. You need to be fester free." Buffy squeezed her
daughter's hand. "Go after her. Before it's too late." She whispered.
"Thanks mom." Laurel hugged her. "I love you." She got up and took off
down the hall.
-----
"Hey there, Will. You look. . .well, you've looked better." Xander
whispered to his best friend.
He took her hand gently and rubbed it with the pad of his thumb. "I need
you to come out of this, Will. I need you, Laurel needs you and Buffy.
Besides, if you don't wake up soon they're all gonna have my hide for sure
this time. This is big, Willow, really big. I kept your secret. I didn't
tell anyone you were around and I helped you. Now you have to keep your
promise to me. Come back to us." Tears fell from his eyes. "I love you.
You're my best friend."
Giles stood in the doorway and observed Xander talking with Willow. True,
they should all be mad at him for not coming forward sooner. But it was
more important to him to keep his word to Willow. It was a selfless act,
and he risked all of their wraths to keep that promise. It truly proved how
much he valued her in his life. So as not to intrude further, he slipped
away silently.
-----
"Well?"
"They bought it."
He rose from his chair. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. They were all riveted to their chairs by my wonderful tale of
selflessness and how I was looking out for my 'daughter's' best interest."
Ethan smiled. "Fools."
"No!" Jason screamed hoarsely.
Ethan crossed the room and back handed him across the mouth. Blood trickled
down and stained his already blood stained shirt. "Shut up, shut up, shut
up! Haven't you learned by now that we cannot be stopped? We cannot be
defeated? There are forces at work here boy that were put into place even
before you screwed that whore of a Slayer."
Quentin walked over and put his hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Take it easy.
We still need him for the last part of the plan." He looked down at the
beaten man and smiled. "Then you can kill him."
-----
"Faith." Laurel approached the Slayer cautiously.
"She disappeared." Faith turned around and looked at the girl in front of
her. "He's who you were talking about last night. Isn't he? When you said
you had feelings for two people at the same time."
"I never said. . ."
"Save it kid. Hypothetical or not, we both know you were talking about him.
How could you, Laurel? He's your mom's ex-boyfriend for Christ sake!"
"Don't yell at me! I didn't do anything wrong! I can't help the way I felt
about him any more than you can help how you feel about mom."
Faith approached her. "That's not fair and you know it. Your mom and I
have a history."
"You save it, Faith." Laurel bit out angrily. "You think I want to feel
this? Don't you think I considered the total ick factor of liking my mom's
ex-boyfriend? Do you think I expected to feel the way I do about Lisa? She
just came into my life out of no where and everything got turned upside down
and backwards and I don't know what I'm doing anymore! I never asked for
this. I never asked to like Angel or be the Slayer who's to save the world
by sacrificing my life, I never asked to fall in love with Lisa. Do you
know how much pain and anguish I went through over our first kiss? Do you?"
She took a deep breath and wiped the hot tears away from her face. "Most
kids my age don't have to go through that."
"I know, Lau." Faith approached her. "Believe me, I know. But you have to
understand that this is new for her too. Everything in the past twenty four
hours is new. I'm not claiming to know her, though I wish I did, but I do
know what you're going through." Faith touched her cheek to make Laurel
look up at her. "I just want to help you, and Lisa, and I don't want either
one of you to get hurt."
"I'm not sure how possible that is at this point." Laurel responded
sullenly. "She must hate me for sure now."
"She doesn't hate you, kiddo, and neither do I. You need to talk to her and
explain things. Don't let it go."
"I know." Laurel looked around. "So, where'd she go?"
"Try the roof. I'm gonna head back and see if I can't do some damage
control with your mom."
"Thanks, Faith."
"Anytime."
-------
"Buffy. . ."
"Don't." She turned to him. "Don't try and convince me that it was
anything other than it is, Angel."
"And what do you think it was? A game? A chance to get even with you?
Because it wasn't any of those things. It was training. Pure and simple.
And you of all people should know that you can't control your feelings for
someone, even though you know how wrong it is and that it will all just go
to hell in the end." Angel shoved his hands in his coat pockets and walked
away a few paces. "Above all, she needed someone to talk to and before you
even ask, I don't know why she didn't go to you in the first place. I care
for your daughter, Buffy, and I would walk into the sun before I hurt her
intentionally. She's like a daughter to me and I know that's probably not
what you want to hear right now, but it's the truth."
"Am I interrupting?" Xander walked up to the group.
"No." Angel looked at Buffy. "I think we're done here." He turned and
walked out the double doors towards the exit of the hospital.
"Looks like I missed something."
"Plenty." Buffy sighed and smiled at him. "Did you see Willow?"
"Yeah." He said quietly.
"She looks like hell. But at least we can look at her. She's right there,
Xand, not thirty feet away from where we're standing."
"I know, Buff." He nodded. "Look, there's something you need to know."
"Xander, why don't you go get us all some coffee and tea? It looks to be a
long night and we could all use the refreshment." Giles interrupted and
pulled some money out of his pocket.
"Sure, G, I just want to talk to Buffy first."
"I know, Xander." Giles looked at him for a moment and smiled sadly. "I
know, but I think it can keep. Don't you?"
Xander was dumbstruck. He took the money from Giles' hand and nodded.
"Yeah, sure, what ever you say, Giles." He walked off to find the
cafeteria.
-----
Lisa was standing on the roof of the hospital looking down at the town
below. "God, what am I gonna do?" She whispered to herself.
"Shouldn't I be asking that question?"
Lisa startled and turned around to see Laurel standing behind her. She
tried to walk past her, but Laurel just sidestepped and got in her path.
They went on like this for a few minutes until Lisa relented and turned her
back to the slayer.
"Look, I know you probably don't want to see me right now, but. . "
"You've got that right." Lisa bit out angrily.
Laurel sighed. "I deserved that. Look, it's not what you think, or maybe
it is, I don't know. I'm gonna explain things right now and you can either
accept my explanation or not, that's up to you." Laurel waited a few
moments to see if she'd protest, then began to speak.
"All my life, I've known I was different. Hell, I've known that this town
is different. It was kinda hard not to when you're mom is a slayer of
vampires and your other mom was, is, a witch. I accepted a lot of things
without question and I thought that I was better off for it. I know my
family life is different than most, even in this day and age. I have two
moms, which isn't that uncommon now, but it's still not fully accepted and
that hurts me. That makes me all the more different than I already was,
never mind not having a dad. Try explaining that one at school." Laurel
sighed and walked up next to Lisa.
"When I met you online, it was like. . .it was like a part of me that I was
always afraid existed was given validation. It wasn't something that was
easily ignored or pushed to the back of my mind any more. I was scared and
that was about the time I started training with Angel. I didn't want you to
be someone that understood me, or got what I said as convoluted as it came
out half the time, I didn't want you to say sweet things to me and encourage
me and flirt with me. I didn't want it because it made me feel good,
special. . .like I've never had anyone my age make me feel before, so I
started to flirt with Angel. I knew it was wrong, I mean. . .he's mom's
ex-boyfriend, that fact alone could have sent me into therapy till I was
fifty."
"You scared the hell out of me, Lisa. You really did. So I did the only
thing any sixteen year old would do, I rebelled against what I was feeling
and pushed Angel more. I even kissed him. All of this was before we met.
Sure I think he's a great guy, I mean he's legendary for gods sake. . .he's
in the watchers diaries for the past two hundred fifty years. . but I don't
love him and I can't be with him, even if I wanted to - which I don't."
"What's your point?" Lisa looked over at her angrily. "You expect me to
feel sorry for you? 'Poor, Laurel, look at all she's gone through.' Well
excuse me if I don't have an ounce of sympathy for what you're going through
with this. Think of what I'm going through and what you've put me through
for the past few months, Lau. Think about that."
"I have." Laurel raised her voice. "Don't you think I have? I've been
stand offish and running hot and cold with you since we met. I'm scared,
Li, I really am. If I acted on my feelings alone then I'd never be able to
let you go. . .I'd never be able to live without you and that scares me.
I'm acting totally opposite of how I feel because I'm afraid that you don't
feel the same way, I'm afraid of you leaving me, I'm afraid sometimes to
wake up in the morning because I'll find that you're not there."
Laurel paused and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "I don't want to be
any different than I already am and I'm sorry if my insecurities hurt you,
sorry that you had to find out about Angel this way but I'm not perfect.
I'm sixteen and I almost died trying to save my mom and do you know what I
thought about when I first woke up? You. If you were okay and not too
worried about me and when I'd get to see you. All I think about is you and
as scary as that is I don't wanna stop. I don't wanna stop loving you. .
.it's the one thing that I've been really really good at in a long time."
Lisa continued to look out at the city below. Everything looked so peaceful
from up there. She knew as well as anyone else that it was anything but
peaceful sometimes. She sighed and turned to Laurel. "I hate how I felt
when I put everything together about you and Angel downstairs, I hate that
you still can't trust me and I hate that you got hurt and I felt so
helpless. With all of those things I hate, and all of them have to do with
you. . .I just can't stop myself from loving you either. And maybe that's
the one thing I hate most of all. . .not being in control of how I feel and
how I hurt right now. It hurts so badly, Lau, because I love you so much.
Do you get that at all?"
Laurel nodded. "I do." She whispered. "I really do." She took a
tentative step towards Lisa and put her arms out. Lisa hesitated only a
moment then allowed herself to be enveloped in a hug. "We'll make it, I
promise."
------
"Hey, Red." Faith whispered. "Been a while." Cautiously, she took
Willow's frail hand and clasped it between her own. She took a few moments
to study her condition and sadness overwhelmed her. "Looks like you went
through hell and back a hundred times to get back to us. People say that
when someone's in a coma, you should talk to them. You know, make like they
can still hear ya. I know you can hear me, Red, so you gotta listen close.
Buffy needs you and so does Laurel. They've both practically fallen apart
since you've been gone and I don't know how much longer I could have tried
to keep them together."
Faith sighed and squeezed her hand. "I love, B, sure. . .I mean, you've
always known that, right? You gotta know that I've done my best, but now's
the time for you to take over. I have my own stuff goin on that needs to be
taken care of. Things like getting to know my daughter. Yeah, that's right,
me, a mom. Can you believe it? I can't, not yet anyway. So we need you to
come back to us real quick. There's a lot of people around that love you
and need you. I kinda got a soft spot for ya myself." Faith smiled. "Just
come back." She bowed her head down to Willow's hand and placed it against
her cheek.
"Faith?"
Faith looked up and was met with a very confused pair of green eyes.
Willow's eyes. "Uh, not to sound ungrateful or anything but, did I miss
something? I mean, you're practically kissing my hand and while that's
nice and all, don't get me wrong, I just think it's really kinda strange,
not that you're strange of course but, well. . .there was that whole leather
pants phase you went through. . . "
"Red!" Faith yelled. "You're up and awake and. . ." She stopped and
laughed. "And just as babbley as ever! I have to go get, B!" She got up
and ran towards the door but turned back and pointed her finger at Willow.
"Don't go *anywhere*. You hear me, Red?" Willow nodded, which seemed to
satisfy Faith and she took off out the door and down the hall.
-----
The sun rose up into the blue sky. Birds came out of their nests, ready to
face a brand new day and the world was alive again. Things have a way of
changing, literally, overnight. The night holds secrets and sadness and
shadows of the unknown. But when the sun lifts itself up into the sky, it
all disappears and fades as if it never existed.
Buffy Summers sat in an empty room adjacent to Willow's room. The doctors
had been in there for over two hours, examining her. Two hours ago, Faith
came tearing down the hall screaming that Willow was awake. Since then, her
family and friends had gathered in the room and waited. And waited. And
waited.
"I'm gonna snap." Buffy finally said. "What the hell are they doing in
there?"
"Buffy, Willow has been through a very traumatic experience. We have to be
patient and let them check her over thoroughly." Giles placed his hand on
hers. "If they don't come out here in two minutes, I'm going in." He
deadpanned.
Buffy couldn't help but smile.
Just then, the door opened. "Miss Summers?"
Buffy rose to her feet. "Yes? How is Willow? Can I see her? What's going
on? Is she okay? There isn't any memory loss, is there? Cause, I've heard
about that kind of thing. Makes people devolve."
The doctor laughed. "Slow down. She's fine. As fine as can be expected
for now. She's awake and alert and very evolved, I assure you." He smiled
at Buffy and looked around the room until his gaze settled on one particular
person. "She's asking for you and Buffy to come in now."
Laurel looked over at Buffy, and she nodded. She got up, took Buffy's hand,
and they walked into the room together.
-----
"Hey."
Lisa turned around to see Faith standing behind her. "Hey back."
"How come you're not with the others? I was looking for ya."
Lisa shrugged. "Needed some thinking time. Things are moving kinda quick
and I feel like I can't catch my breath."
Faith nodded in understanding. She walked over next to Lisa by the window
in the waiting room and looked out. "Seems so different. Doesn't it? We
live our lives in the darkness, patrolling, fighting the baddies, but then
you look at something like this and it's just amazing." Faith looked over
at Lisa and smiled. "It'll be okay, you know. Everything with you and
Laurel. You two have been through a lot and I think that there's plenty of
sunshine ahead for ya."
"Since when do you work for Hallmark?" Lisa smirked.
"Very funny. Come on. Let's go see what's going on. I hope Buffy was able
to see Red by now. She was going crazy before."
"Faith?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. I mean, I am and I'm not. Laurel has her mom back and that's
so amazing, but.. ."
"Hey, don't worry about me, kid. I'll be just fine. I'm not losing
anything with Buffy. We have a . . .special relationship, one that Red has
encouraged herself over the years. That doesn't just go away. There may
not be the whole physical part of it, but, I'm not losing any of the
emotional. And that's what's great about B. She's really something."
-----
Willow Rosenberg sat in silence in her bed in Sunnydale Memorial Hospital.
She was bruised all over her body, and felt like she'd been hit by a mack
truck that came back for more at least three times; but at least she was
alive and solid.
It was all thanks to her daughter, Laurel. Laurel, who, was being told
right now that her mother was alive and wanted to see her. Laurel who had
gone through so much in her sixteen years. But isn't that the way it always
goes with slayers? They live an amazing and intense roller coaster ride of
a life because precedence has shown that their time on this earth isn't very
long.
Willow looked up as she heard the door open slowly. This was it. She
finally, after all this time, would get to see Buffy and Laurel.
Buffy pushed the door open slowly and settled her eyes on the person sitting
up in the bed not ten feet away. Her hair was jostled, her skin paler than
she'd ever seen in her life. There were bruises evident all over her face
and arms, and she could only imagine the black and blue welts that were
covered by the hospital gown. She looked at her and decided that she was
the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen in her entire life.
She and Laurel walked slowly over to the bed, trying to absorb the moment
and savor it. Long before she even touched her hand to the door knob, tears
began to stream down Buffy's cheeks, and now they were flowing even more
freely.
She reached the side of the bed. Willow had much the same expression on her
face as Buffy did. Tears of joy, of loss, and of immense relief coupled
with the biggest goofiest grin both of them could possibly have plastered on
their faces.
"Hey." Willow croaked out between tears. She lifted her arms and opened
them wide.
"Hey, yourself." Buffy managed to say before falling gently into those
arms. The arms she'd dreamed about for over a year. And it was so much
better than she'd dreamed because it was real. This was Willow, alive. It
felt like her, smelled like her, and she could hear her heart beating and it
was the most amazing sound she'd heard since Willow had an ultra sound
almost seventeen years ago and they heard Laurel's heartbeat for the first
time.
"Laurel." Willow whispered and reached over to her daughter, their
daughter.
Laurel reached her hand out and touched her mother's for the first time in
over a year. Everything hit her all at once, and she finally broke down and
sobbed.
Buffy managed to catch her and put her on the bed next to Willow. Laurel
looked up and reached a tentative hand out to Willow's face. As she made
contact, she gasped. "Momma."
"Hey there, little one." Willow said in a voice thick from emotion. "It's
been a while." She looked up at Buffy and smiled. "Too long a while."
Buffy nodded and moved around to the other side of the bed. "Much too long,
Will." She climbed in gently and sat beside her. "But that's all in the
past now. Now, you're here."
Willow nodded and absently stroked her daughter's hair. "Yeah. I'm finally
home."
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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________________________________________________________________________
Message: 18
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 16:44:49 -0000
From: Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
Subject: FIC: Immortal Pair ch97
title: Immortal Pair
author: Hhdouglas
feedback: buffywantswillow or email Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
postings: buffywantswillow
summary: multi crossover
spoilers: none
disclaimers: I do not own the rights to the shows i am just using
them in a fanfic story with characters of my own creation.
warning: this chapter is rated pg13
age warning: for those 17 and over who have an open mind.
When Willow walked into their bedroom she walked over to the middle
of the dresser and picked up a picture of her parents.Willow walked
over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it before looking down at
the picture and tears started rolling down her face.
As Buffy walked into their bedroom she saw Willow sitting on the bed
crying while looking down at what she assumed to be a picture of
Willow's parents.Buffy walked over to the bed and she sat down next
to Willow.Buffy slid as close to Willow as she could and she put her
arms around Willow to comfort her.Willow wiped her tears from her
eyes and she said I'm sorry Buffy i know this must he hard on you as
well.Buffy said yes it is but we will get through this together and
she kissed Willow on the cheek.Buffy looked down at the picture of
Willow's parents and she said dont worry Willow we will get them away
from Spike and the others i promise you we will.Willow looked at
Buffy and she said i know we will i just hate that Spike and the
others grabbed them deliberately to lead us into a trap and then she
put her arms around Buffy and gave her a hug.After a few moments of
quiet Willow said Buffy what i really regret is that we could have
prevented this from happening.Buffy looked at Willow and said what do
you mean.Willow said Spike's group would have never been able to get
a hold of them if we had told them that vampires and demons really
exist.Buffy laid her chin on Willow's right shoulder and she said
Willow none of them would have believed us and they most likely would
have tried to have us commited to some psychiatric hospital or
something thinking that we are crazy or messing around with
drugs.Willow said your absolutely right that is exactly what my
parents would have thought and Buffy said i thought it might and my
father would definitely have me placed into a psychiatric hospital
and it would be easy for him since he is a lawyer.Willow said Buffy
how do you think that Spike's group was able to capture your father
and my parents without us knowing or finding out about it.Buffy
thought for a few seconds and then said i bet they had Crimson and
Dragonness pretend to be us and led all three of them into a
trap.Willow said damn they didnt have the slightest inkling that they
were in trouble before it was too late.Buffy said no they didnt and
none of us ever considered that they might try something like this or
we would have taken steps to prevent it from happening.Willow said
how are we going to get my parents and your father away from Spike
and the others.Buffy said i really dont know how we are going to do
it because the threesome of the dragonness,this unknown Ahriman
dude,and the iron golem makes Spike's group a whole lot tougher than
they have ever been before.Willow said your right so we will have to
carefully make up our plans on how we are going to approach Alcatraz
as well as take down Spike's group down.Buffy said the smart thing to
do is to plan out a strategy on how to take on each individual in
Spike's group and put them down for the count quickly and with the
least amount of injury to our group.Buffy continued on by saying but
the biggest problem i can think of right now is how to get our group
to Alcatraz with the weapons we are going to need to take on Spike's
group and get them back.Willow said Buffy thats not a problem we can
use the hovercraft to get to Alcatraz.Buffy said damn i forgot all
about the hovercraft you bought and it will definitely be big enough
for all of us and whatever weapons we take with us.Willow said dont
forget about the weapons its already equipped with.Buffy said yes
those weapons will make short work of any vampires or demons that
Spike and the others have patrolling the shoreline.Willow said yes
and hopefully the iron Golem will be out there as well or Spike sends
him out after the attack starts.Buffy said Willow what are you
thinking the last thing we want to do is go up against the iron
Golem.Willow said Buffy if we go up against the iron golem while
aboard the hovercraft or even near it we can use the laser on
it.Buffy said damn thats right and it should have an effect on him
hopefully.Willow said well i damn well hope so because we wont stand
a chance against it otherwise.Willow looked over at Buffy and she
said Buffy i will flip you for it.Buffy looked at Willow and said
huh.Willow said a coin toss the loser is the one who tells Giles that
i bought the hovercraft.Buffy said uh uh no way the last couple of
times we tossed coins i have always lost and i am not about to do it
this time and have to tell Giles about the hovercraft.Willow said
well i guess we could just surprise him and the other with it that
way he wont be able to complain or yell at us at the time.Buffy said
good thinking and since we are going to give it up after the trip to
Alcatraz he definitely wont have no right to complain
whatsoever.Willow said your right and then she thought of
something.Willow said i am going to call Grady in the morning and
find out what caliber of ammo the guns on the hovercraft use.Buffy
said why and Willow said so that we can get some ammo from Kendall
for them because regular ammo wont have an effect on demons and
vampires.Buffy said good thinking and then she said I just wish we
had some help on this because i dont think we can handle Spike's
group by ourselves this time.Willow said well i believe that we will
have Cassandra and the others helping us.Buffy said i was already
counting them in but i still feel that we will need more help.Willow
smiled and said well we could contact Wesley and Faith and get help
from the legacy.Buffy thought a moment and said Faith would
definitely be a help but the rest of the legacy are just normal
people and i dont want to take the risk of them getting hurt.Willow
said if we could just call Oz he might be able to get some of the
pack to help us.Buffy said Oz and a couple other werewolves would
definitely come in handy but unfortunately we dont know how to
contact Oz.Willow said what about Kristos and some of the vampire and
demon community here in Sunnydale they might help us out especially
the ones who were beaten up earlier tonight.Buffy said i doubt that
any of them would really want to go up against them especially since
they are part of Spike's group.Willow said your right of course and
we dont have the right to ask them to help us by risking their
lives.Buffy said i am really tired lets get some sleep we can talk to
Giles and the others in the morning and make a plan of attack.Willow
said before we go to bed i want to take a long hot shower to get all
the blood,dirt,and grime i picked up at Willie's bar off of me.Buffy
said go on and head for the bathroom i will join you after i get us
some nightgowns,robes,and undergarments.
After Buffy followed Willow out of the conference room Joyce said
you must excuse them this situation is very difficult on them.Xena
said we understand but can one of you please show me where a phone is
so i can call Ramirez and the others i believe we will need their
imput.Giles stood up and said Xena if you will follow me i wil show
you to a telephone.
Xena called Cassandra's house first and she told Ramirez that they
needed him and the others over at the estate as soon as
possible.Ramirez said they would be there as soon as possible but
that Cassandra,Amanda,and Rebecca were still gone.Xena said ok and
she called Cassandra's cellular phone after hanging up with
Ramirez.Cassandra,Rebecca,and Amanda were still at the police station
when Cassandra's cellular phone rang.Amanda pulled it out of
Cassandra's jacket pocket and answered it because Cassandra was busy
altering the Angel's and Bosley's memories of what had occured
earlier in the evening.Cassandra had already found out that the
Angels and Bosley had been hired by Willow's parents to check up on
Willow and her friends and find out what they were doing.Amanda told
Xena that they would head for the estate as soon as Cassandra was
finished with the private detectives.
________________________________________________________________________
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Message: 19
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 14:12:56 EDT
From: zshadowslayer@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: FF: Thank you
I tryed to replie to this once so it you got it already sorry. JUst wanted
to
tell you the story rocked the big one. I still want to be you if I ever grow
up. I love Buffy the BOuncer. It's cool. I love Mario, he is a great
charater. ANd the whole series incliding Yoshi's parts rock. You need to be
proud of yourself for cheating a masterpiece. LOVE CAROL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 20
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 18:58:35 -0000
From: Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
Subject: FIC: Immortal Pair ch98
title: Immortal Pair
author: Hhdouglas
feedback: buffywantswillow or email Hhdouglas@xxxxxxx
postings: buffywantswillow
summary: multi crossover
spoilers: none
disclaimers: I do not own the rights to the shows i am just using
them in a fanfic story with characters of my own creation
warning: this chapter is rated pg13
age warning: for those 17 and over who have an open mind
Forty minutes after Xena got off the phone with Amanda she led
Amanda,Rebecca,and Cassandra into the conference
room.Giles,Joyce,Amy,Tara,Xander,Anya,Gunn,Cordelia,Angel,Gabrielle,Co
nnor,Ramirez,Duncan,Methos,Nick,Joe Dawson,Maxine,and Richie were
either sitting around the conference table or along the walls in
extra chairs that had brought in so that everyone would have a seat
when the four of them walked in.Once they were seated Joe Dawson said
now that we are all here will someone explain what exactly happened
tonight and why we are here to discuss it.Joyce said well i guess its
best to start in the beginning which is when Buffy,Willow,and the
others headed to the bronze where Willow was supposed to meet a
representative of the insurance company she had her car insured
with.Joe said huh what does that have to do with anything.Amanda said
Joe if you will wait a few minutes maybe you will find out.Cassandra
said where are Willow and Buffy they should be here.Giles said we
will have to do without them tonight they are not in the mood to
visit with anyone.Richie said what happened and Joyce said you will
find out soon if you will allow us to tell you what happened earlier
tonight.Amy said Willow and Buffy did meet with the insurance
representative and another woman who was with her.Tara said they had
been talking about twenty some minutes when Buffy recieved a call
from Willie who asked her for help because he had trouble at his
bar.Ramirez said who is this Willie and why would he call Buffy for
help instead of the police.Angel said Willie is the owner of a bar
that is a hangout for demons and vampires and he serves them drinks
that they cant get at normal bars.Gabrielle said he called Buffy for
help because she is the slayer and Xander said yes and that she and
Willow told him they would come to help if he ever called.Angel said
well me,Buffy,Willow,Gunn,and Cordelia all headed for Willie's bar
leaving Amy,Tara,Anya,and Xander at the bronze.Gunn said when we got
to the bronze we were all shocked because it looked like a
slaughterhouse.Xena said what do you mean.Angel said there were about
thirty vampires or demons lying all over the place bloody and badly
beaten.Cordelia said most of the furniture was broken and there was a
big hole where the fire door had been.Everybody who hadnt gone to
Willie's bar were shocked by the news.Xander said you guys make it
sound like a tornado was inside it tearing up the place and everyone
in it.Tara said thats a close enough description to how it looked
Xander but it definitely wasnt no tornado.Connor said did any of you
find out who did it.Anya said according to what Buffy and Willow told
me and Xander it was a group of three people or beings according to
what you want to call them.Xander said Buffy told us they were the
Dragonness,some dude named Ahriman,and a Iron Golem which is probably
the same iron golem who beat up several kindred vampires last
night.Duncan,Joe,Methos,Richie,and Amanda were all shocked to hear
Ahriman's name mentioned and Amanda said are you guys certain that
Buffy said one of them was Ahriman.Xander said thats what Buffy said
but you can ask her tommorrow if you like.Amanda looked at Duncan and
she said how can he be back he wasnt supposed to return to earth for
another five hundred years after you defeated him.Duncan said i dont
know but i have the awfull feeling that it is really him as much as i
hate to say it.Angel said you have met Ahriman before.Richie said yes
you see every five hundred years a warrior is chosen to face Ahriman
and if Ahriman is not defeated it is bad for mankind and Duncan was
the last one to face him and that was several years ago.Xander said
there is one way we can find out if its the same Ahriman.Amanda said
and how is that.Xander said we call Willie's bar and get a
description of the Ahriman that was at his bar.Duncan said lets do it
and Giles said Xander show Duncan to a phone and get Willie to tell
him Ahriman's description.Xander said will do G-man and he got up
from his chair and Duncan followed him out of the conference
room.Cassandra said what happened after you guys got to the
bar.Cordelia said well after we checked the bar to make sure it was
safe Willow started healing the demons so that we could find out what
happened.Cassandra said how many demons did she heal and Angel said
four demons and Willie himself who was also beaten up badly.Cassandra
said she used up all her energy.Cordelia said yes and she had me call
Amy and Tara and get them to come over to heal the other
demons.Cassandra looked at Amy and Tara and she said are you two ok
and Amy said we are just a bit tired and Cassandra said good.Gunn
said while Willow was healing a demons three women entered the bars
with guns drawn and they had us cold.Rebecca said your talking about
the three ladies who were at the police station who's memories were
altered by Cassandra.Cordelia said yes thats them they were taken
into custody by the police when they arrived at the bar.Cassandra
said i am afraid i have some bad news those three women and their
male associate are private detectives and they were hired by Willow's
parents to check on her and her friends.Giles said damn and Joyce
said thats just great.Maxine said excuse me but why would the police
take private detectives into custody if they hadnt done
anything.Giles said the police arrested them because of what they had
seen and i am glad that Cassandra was here to alter their memories
because i dont know what the police department would have done with
them otherwise.Duncan said you mean the police might have killed
them.Joyce said no i dont think they would go that far because they
know it would put them on odds against us so they would have probably
placed them in Sunnydale's psychiatric hospital which has quite a
number of people who have seen to much to be allowed to leave.Richie
said you guys allow the people to be kept there.Giles said Richie
they dont stay there very long just long enough to be made to believe
they imagined what they saw or that it was all a dream they had.Joyce
said you guys dont understand we have to be carefull around
here.Giles said up until about eight months ago we had a secret
goverment group here in sunnydale who would capture vampires and
demons and expiriment on them as well as emplant chips in them to
keep them from hurting people.Xena looked at Giles and she said what
was the name of this project and do you know if it was actually
closed down or they just moved to another city or something.Giles
said as far as we know they were completely closed down but we dont
have any way to know if its the truth or not.Angel said the project
was called the Initative and they used some sort of stun guns to
knock out vampires and demons so they could transport them to the
labs.Gabrielle said some of you may disagree with me but i think that
what the police department and some of the residents of sunnydale are
doing the best they could.Richie said i dont understand.Xena said
people cant find out about vampires and demons and be allowed to go
spread the word to others outside of Sunnydale or there is no telling
what could happen.Connor said i agree with Xena and Gabrielle and
Duncan said so do i.Joyce said now that thats settled lets get back
to why we all got together.
Joyce said from what my daughter and the others told me i have come
to the conclusion that the attack at Willie's bar was just done so a
message could be left for Buffy and Willow.Cassandra said what brings
you to that conclusion and Giles said because the dragonness told
Willie a message to give to Buffy right before she knocked him
out.Richie said whats the message.Anya said they want Buffy and
Willow to come to Alcatraz two nights from tonight.Rebecca said we
cant allow them to go its definitely a trap.Giles said yes it is and
whats worse is that the dragonness,Ahriman,and the iron golem are
part of a group that want Buffy and Willow dead.Richie said well it
doesnt matter who is in this group or what they want because they
arent going to get it.Xander said yes they will Richie because they
are holding Buffy's father and both of Willow's parents as prisoners
to ensure they come.Cassandra cursed in her native tongue.Xena said
do you know who the other members of the group are.Amy said yes they
are Spike or William the bloody,Drusilla the mad,Darla,and
Crimson.Richie said well i know we will have a hard time with the
Ahriman and the iron golem but the others will be pretty easy i
believe unless this dragonness is really a dragon of some sorts.Angel
said no she is a vampire who calls herself dragonness but i am afraid
you are wrong Richie all the vampires are masters in their own right
i am afraid.Gabrielle said i am familiar with Darla,Spike,and
Drusilla but i have never hear of vampires calling themselves Crimson
and Dragonness.Buffy who along with Willow was at the entrance to the
conference room said thats because they are both from different
dimensions from this one.Anya said what and Willow said according to
what Buffy was told the dragonness is a vampire version of her who
claims to be the daughter of the dragon whoever or whatever he or it
is.Giles jumped to his feet and he said this dragonness claims to be
the daughter of the dragon.Xander said Giles who is this dragon.Angel
said the dragon was a nickname he was given by his enemies because
that was the crest he used but you will know him better as
Dracula.Tara said the dracula and Giles said yes it has to be him
there was only one vampire who called himself the Dragon.Giles said
if she really is the daughter of the dragon even if she is from
another dimension she will be about as strong as the master
was.Richie said this is just getting worse and Willow said yes but
thats not all because Crimson is a vampire version of me who is also
from a different dimension.Xena said it looks like we have our work
cut out for us and Joyce said thats for sure.Amanda said Duncan yawn
and she said guys i think we should stop here for the night and go
get some sleep and reconvien the meeting in the morning.Giles said
there is no time for that and Xena said there is plenty of time Giles
we have two days to make our plans we should go get some sleep and
start the meeting after we have gotten some sleep and our minds our
fresh.Joyce said i agree with her and Amy said so do i because i am
bushed.Tara stood up and said come on lets head to bed and she held
her hand out to Amy.Buffy said we will see you guys in the morning
and she and Willow headed for their bedroom.
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Message: 21
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 15:09:04 EDT
From: PChazzman@xxxxxxx
Subject: WAY OT: Titanic Wed BS
OK I know I haven't had much to post lately but this thing with these Jerks
getting married on the Titanic is the sort of thing that irritates the hell
out of me because it gives such a bad image of Americans to the world. And
I
can't help but feel this is just the 'tip of the iceburg'.
Here's a small taste of what I see is yet to come. If it leaves a bad taste
in your mouth, well that's the point.
Chazzman
Jumping on the publicity band wagon
Ghouls Inc. in conjunction with I'm-A-Sick-And-Twisted-Freak Productions
would like to announce their list of 'Great Wedding Sites' sure to capture
the TV Spotlight and get your nuptuals on the evening news.
The Concentration Camps of Nazi Germany: Yes! You can have your ceremony at
anyone of several famous 'Death Camps'. Will it be the 'Showers' where
poison
gas was used? or maybe by the ovens? And don't forget, you can have your
reception over the Mass Graves where 'Thousands' of bodies were buried.
The Killing Fields of Cambodia: Fun for all! Plus the Bride & Groom will
recieve matching skulls as a memento of their joyous union.
For a more local flavor:
Kennedy Fans: This kooky clan just keeps giving us new sites:
The Book Depository in Dallas from which Lee Hary Oswald shot JFK.
The Hotel where Robert was assasinated by Sirhan Sirhan.
The bridge at Chappaquidick where Teddy drove into the drink and killed a
girl.
NEW! just added JFK Jr's plane Crash site! Have your Wedding inside a
replica
of the original plane that we sink at the exact location where JFK's
crashed.
Coming Soon...
The Death Chambers in Texas, Florida and California!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 22
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 22:44:15 +0200
From: Tim Møller <sitisas2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Am in need of a beta-reader
I have a story (NC17), I need to have beta-read for spelling and grammar
errors.
It would be preferable if you have MSWord, but it isn't essential.
Here is a little appetizer:
"The test goes as follow:
There will be two players: A Master and his apprentice. The Master's task is
to seduce his unwilling apprentice, making her beg him to end the sexual
torture by having sex with her or said in another way I'll tease your body
until it demands you to beg for release, which I'll grant. I believe that
you can figure out your part in this. It will be a contest of wills: the
body against the mind.
The Master is only allowed to use words, soft caresses and blowing at her,
however he must not touch her sex otherwise it would be unfair to the
apprentice. If the Master breaks the rules then the apprentice has won the
contest. But that has never happened and don't worry Buffy it will not
happened this time either, I am simple to good."
Before Buffy could tell him what she thought about the rules and his
arrogance Angel made a loud sniff.
"Ah, I can smell your approval of the rules. Good because they are about to
change." Angel had smelled her arousal, when he had begun to talk about the
test.
(In case you are wondering, Willow does play a very important part in this
story... trust me.)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Message: 23
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 22:18:29 -0000
From: "Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>
Subject: FIC: The Second Generation
Hiya!
Well I'm back! A quick update of my status as bard/editor:
-Stef's story The Flow is of at the betas and since she's on vacation so
I'll be plugging it for her :)
-A map of Two Worlds Realm is done, so somebody kick me in the butt so I'll
scan it
-BtVS 2117 (Not For Publication) is under development as a manga story in
the spirit of The Erotic Adventures of Buffy and Evil Vampire Willow. Will
release first drawings soon!
-Rewrite plans are being drawn up for various stories I have done which ones
I'm not telling ô-ô
Now this little thing is continuation of Path's End and Rose Tinted World,
two short stories I have done. I'm setting a few things up here for a
possible future story :)
Path's End is at http://www.mmedia.is/~cilia/short/path.htm
RTW is at http://www.mmedia.is/~cilia/Rose.txt
Read them first, they're short and you'll get ten more mintues of read that
way :)
Take care
Cilia
The Second Generation
Cilia
Hiya there my name's Willow, I know this space should be reserved for my mom
's brooding and angst filled memories, but I'm taking over for today.
Anyways we live in this big old mansion by the sea, it belongs to grandpa
Giles, but since he's contempt at doing the whole Holmes lifestyle in a flat
in London, we have the mansion all to ourselves.
The mansion is a big old Victorian style, with a tower and those neat
windows you can use to go out onto the roof through, which can be great if
you need to make a quick an escape or get back in after curfew. ^.^
As you might have guessed I'm the adorable little Willow you have been
hearing about lately. Mom and me haven't really bee close, but last year
when she returned from The Quest and feel the booming narrator voice in that
last part we have been doing the bonding thing. So now we live here, those
of us who remain, as mom would say in her low voice, it is just Mom, Uncle
X, and lil ol'me with a revolving cast of reoccurring characters that are
essential to every good story.
Things are getting fun, only way to put it, with Faith showing up and all
the excitement that follows her. It's not easy being a second-generation
bastard slayer you know. I never met Faith, the elder one I mean, but mom
always gets this glimmer in her eye when she talks about her, it's the same
glimmer she had when I caught her with Uncle X on the porch a few nights
ago. I know bad Willow, bad. ^.^
Back to Faith Junior; she has got her mom's body and power that's for sure,
but the brains come from her father's side of the family that's for sure,
not to mention mental stability. She hasn't been very forthcoming about who
her father is and chances are she doesn't know herself.
I have had a few encounters with her, none of them healthy for my sexual
image mind you, but still they were thrilling and exciting after a fashion.
Make no mistakes I'm not my mothers' daughter in that sense, or at least I
don't think I am? Ugh I'm sounding like my mom now right? Well the pebble
can't fall that far from the rock now can it?
One good example of my close calls with Faith is just the other day, I
think. She was coming out of the bathroom on the second floor. Wrapped in a
towel at least two sizes too small, but that's Faith for you. Of course I
come running and ram smack into her, now you don't knock somebody like Faith
over, but I did manage to grab her towel in last ditch effort to safe
myself. Well you are smart and creative right? Anyways the towel of course
flies of and I end up landing on my butt staring up at this naked goddess.
Now what does she do? Well after giving me a raised eyebrow, she smiles
leans over me and picks up the towel. Giving me a close-up view and causing
me to react in ways that I really shouldn't be reacting in. And that's it,
she walks away leaving me slack jawed on the floor until Uncle X comes
around to ask me why I'm lying on the floor. He's just so adorable sometimes
that you forget that he only has half a soul.
Yes things are getting very interesting around here and will continue to do
so for a while to come. It's been nice talking to you though, helps a lot,
seeing that you have been through this and all.
You good here out on the porch Miss Maclay, more lemonade maybe?
-I'm fine Willow-
Great, listen can we talk more someday soon, cause I think I'm going to be
needing some serious guidance and or therapy if this continues much longer.
-You will be fine Willow-
Yeah I guess so, well good nigh then, enjoy the sunset, mom loves it and
says that is reminds her of Willow.
More quest are showing up lately, something is bound to start happening
soon, I just know it because that's just the way things are.
Buffy Anne Summers, Vampire Slayer retired.
June 2022
Want more?
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Message: 24
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 23:56:19 -0000
From: juliejames01@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: buffy, willow, etc
Hello everyone,
Excuse the minor off topic. I'm selling this really cool tape
composed of a lot of stuff relating to Seth Green, Alyson Hannigan,
David Boreanaz, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie prince jr., Eliza
Druska, Charisma Carpenter, Michelle Trachtenberg and more!! Check
it out:
1. The season finale of Buffy the vampire slayer! Great quality,
complete, and 100% commercial free!!!
2. Seth Green: MTV 1999 Austin Powers segment with Seth as Scott!
This is a hilarious skit done to start of the 1999 movie awards!!
3. Sarah Gellar: This is a segment from the teen choice awards where
Britney spears presents Sarah with an award for best actress (for the
movie cruel intentions). Its really cool!
4. SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR: This is a rare video of the song "David
Duchovny why won't you love me" sang by Bree Sharp. In the video you
see Sarah dressed as Buffy swinging her stake in a killy-style as she
sings, " I will kill Scully!" Really cool!
5. DAVID BOREANAZ on TRL! with DENISE RICHARDS! Really awesome
interview! Watch them get 20 seconds to promote their movie
VALENTINE!!!! David is so hot in this one!!
6. ALYSON HANNIGAN + JASON: Presenting best album of the year. At
the Music 1999 Music awards.
7. Buffy bites: 4-8. These are really neat behind the scenes of
the show Buffy given at times on FX. They are really rare and hard
to find! They are of the following:
* CASTING FOR THE PILOT--Buffy. In this Buffy bite you get to
hear Sarah and the producers talk about how hard it was to find
someone to play the part of Buffy. Sarah had actually first
auditioned to play the part of Cordelia! hear more......!
*VAMPIRE MAKE-UP: How many hours do they have to go to turn
into creatures of the night? and what is Emma talking about when she
says its better than sex???
*GILES: Talk to Giles himself! And find out more about his
character.
*ANGEL: How did David get cast? Go more in to his
character....
these and many more.....! :)
8. FREDDIE PRINCE JR.: Receiving an award for best actor. Super
cute because he says at the end that he is with the prettiest girl
there (Sarah Michelle)!! Really, really cute!!!!
9. ALYSON HANNIGAN: The following are outrageous and some just
plain disgusting :) skits done by Alyson Hannigan, Jamie Presley or
James king (could never tell the difference) as well as 2 other
guys.
* Best on screen duo: ALYSON is dressed up as a cheerleader
with way too much dark eye liner. She and some other guy are walking
down the hall slowly/seductively as Jamie Presley and some other
(dork, red haired) guy talk about....well you have to buy it to find
out, but its funny!
* Best comedic performance: ALYSON in is in the shower
while this guy is saying that he couldn't believe his eyes when he
saw a girl......as he says this you see Alyson, her hair in a Mohawk
style and singing like a punk! Super funny.
* Best male performance: ALYSON is carrying this wooden
bird cage when this guy trips her and the cage gets flung up in the
air.......
* Best on screen kiss: ALYSON AND JAMIE: this one is a
mock of the movie CRUEL INTENTIONS (specifically the kiss between
Selma and Sarah). Alyson plays Sarah's character and Jamie
Selma's... the line is something like: Alyson: "okay now this time a
little less tongue.." they kiss but its basically this tongue war!
Kind of gross.....
*Best female performance: ALYSON AND JAIME: this one is a
mock of that movie with Freddie and Rachael Leigh cook (specifically
the part where Rachael is coming down the stairs). You see these
cool red shoes coming down as the song kiss me plays...then you see
Jaime wearing nothing the only thing covering her is whip cream on
her breast and lower area. She looks at Alyson who wearing the same
thing!--says "nice try". Super funny!! :)
*Best Fight: ELIZA DRUSKA: this one is with Eliza and
Jaime. content, surprise. But really funny. :)
10. This is a segment of the 2001 mtv movie awards. Its the "MEAT"
skit/presentation done by Alyson Hannigan, Tara Reid, Shannon
Elizabeth, and some other girl. Its really funny
11. FREDDIE PRINCE + RACHAEL LEIGH: winning an award for their
movie. This one's cute because you can see Sarah in the audience
during their speech smiling madly at Freddie!!! Really cute.
12. MICHELLE TRACTENBERG : Doing a TV guide segment with others!
cute!
13. SARAH MICHELLE: Winning an award for choice TV actress at the
TV guide awards. She looks very hot!
14. CHARISMA CARPENTER: Presenting an award. She's wearing a black
top and black leather pants. SEXY!!
15. DAVID BOREANAZ on Mad TV!! this one is really outrageously
funny! See him making fun of Rusty! and hear him get angry (he
sounds so cute like this, you can hear his new York accent come
out)!!!! :)
Interested? email me privately!
PS: I also have the movies: Harriet the spy (w/ Michelle
trachtenberg), IT (w/ Seth green) and The Crush (w/ Buffy's Tara and
Alicia Silverstone).
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Message: 25
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 21:07:13 -0400
From: "Kimber" <feralspirit@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: OT: The Gift is on
for those of us on EST time.
~~Kimber
List Gutter Lust Goddess, Masked Road Runner (meep, meep!!), Keeper of the
crazy lil comma, Elmer to Pat's Wabbit, self proclaimed 'perfect drug'
addict, and Official Tormenter the Phantom Chimpunk and her band of crazy
nuts. Proud supporter of the Mad Poet Society and the Troll under the
Bridge.
Proud Member of the BtVS Writers Guild: Because fic makes anything
possible.
Join !
~Buffy Wants Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyWantsWillow
~Buffy Loves Willow - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuffyLovesWillow
~Willow Slash Fic - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WillowSlashFic
~Popular Slash - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PopularSlash
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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