Fic: The Connection 7/10

["daenerys_winter" <mwalthew@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: The Connection
Spoilers: Bound to be some. AU fic.
Disclaimer: If you recognise a character, they're not mine.
Crossover: Highlander
Rating: R (possibly nc-17 later)
Author: Daenerys
Warning: Crossovers ahead.
Feedback: Please, please, please.
Archive: You want my story, take it please. Just tell me where you 
put it.

AN: Finally got an ending planned for this story. I know it hasn't 
had much in the traditional slayer idea, with no demons in sight, and 
I think only mention of vampires in the first chapter. This isn't how 
it was planned, but I decided to deal with most of the immortal stuff 
first, then write a sequel that will delve more into that stuff. At 
the moment The Connection has a planned total of ten chapters, so 
only three more to go.

Chapter 7

Buffy and Willow sat next to each other on Buffy's bed. Joyce Summers 
had left the house earlier, to go over a consignment for the Gallery, 
giving the two teenagers a chance to talk. Since Willow had arrived 
neither girl had let go of the other, remaining in some form of 
physical contact at all times. Joyce, ecstatic that Willow had 
somehow managed to extract Buffy, even if only partially for now, 
from her despondent and lacklustre behaviour of earlier, knew she had 
to give them some space to talk, and decided she may as well get some 
work done as well.

"So," Willow hesitantly started the conversation she knew she must 
here, "explain about, um, . . ., everything. All about our 
immortality."

Buffy hesitated, "Will, you know that this isn't all going to be 
pretty? Right?"The red head nodded at her. "Okay, I guess,as always, 
it kind of starts out as a prophecy. Someone, somewhere wrote that 
all immortals will fight to the death. And the only way that you can 
kill another, is to seperate their head completely from their body. 
Nothing else will work, we can be burnt to death, turned into ash, 
and we will eventually regenerate. The actuall prophecy, I'm not sure 
exactly on the wording, but basically, at some point in the future, 
we will all be drawn toward a far off land, where there will be the 
Gathering. At this time we fight until there is only one left. And 
that One will receive the Prize. No-one knows what it is, though 
there are several speculations. Some think it will be to become 
mortal again. To be able to live, grow old and die with a loved one. 
Others think it will be the power to rule the world. Others think it 
is simply knowledge, the combined learning of all beings, being able 
to see everything at once, know everything. Until then, we have what 
are called headhunters travelling around, trying to kill as many 
other Immortals as possible. You see the prophecy is based on 
something. Every time you kill another immortal, you gain their 
quickening. This is the whole of their experiences, their memories, 
and in some part their strength. And you gain the same for every 
immortal that they have ever killed. So, the more quickenings you 
take, the more powerful, stronger, quicker, more experienced, and 
more likely to be the One, you become."

Willow looked at the blonde before her. "So, why didn't you take my 
head immediatly when I found you?"

Buffy blanched in horror at Willow. "Wha, what? Will, . . . "

"I mean, you'd remove competition for yourself, and grow stronger at 
the same time. So . . .?"

"I could never, I will never. Willow, being immortal doesn't change 
who you are. If that was so, why haven't you tried to take my head. 
You're still Willow, and I'm still Buffy. We still believe the same 
things. I have never been a headhunter, or killed simply to kill."

Willow relaxed slightly at that, "So I'm still Willow Rosenburg, 
daughter of Ira and Sheila Rosenburg. Still, . . ., Buffy what's 
wrong." Buffy had winced slightly at Willow's words.

"Uh, thats another part of being immortal Willow." The slayer grasped 
the redhead's hand. "We're all foundlings Will. No-one knows where we 
come from, or how we're born. You're adopted Will, . . . I'm sorry."
She looked down, not wanting to see the effect these words were 
having on the love of her life.

Delicate finger lifted her face once more to look into those of the 
wicca's. "Buffy, I already knew that. It was pretty obvious, I worked 
it out when I was eight. No one else in our family has red hair. And 
my parents followed the psych books, and told me when I was twelve. 
That wasn't what I meant. I meant that our immortlity doesn't define 
us, we do. Our experiences, our upbringing, our friends."

Buffy smiled at her. "That's it exactly Wills."

"Now," the redhead grinned wickedly, "lock the door Buffy."

"Huh?"

"Lock the door." 

Buffy still looked confused, but stood up and locked the door. She 
turned toward Willow, to meet her already up before her, grabbing her 
into a hug, followed by a very deep kiss. "You said Willow smoochies 
were good, right."

Buffy smiled, all traces of her former fear and loathing of herself 
replace with her love for her best friends. "I'm not sure Will." 
Willow's face seem about to wilt, "You'll have to refresh my memory. 
Remind me again what they're like." 

Willow laughed and drew Buffy once more into a deep kiss, then 
nibbled slowly at her bottom lip, turning the kiss into little pecks, 
and withdrew slowly. "Well? Good?"

Buffy looked at her, then put one hand over her heart, "My name is 
Buffy Summers, and I'm a Willow Smoochie Addict." She slowly bent 
toward the redhead who was lying down on the bed once more.

Just as Buffy was about to kiss Willow again, they both 
stiffened. "Buffy, is that?"

"It's the buzz Willow, another immortal is nearby." A knock at the 
front door of the house came, and Buffy helped Willow up from the 
bed. "Let's go see who it is. Stay behind me, and watch out for any 
tricks." Buffy unlocked and opened her bedroom door, and just before 
leaving, reached for the sword hidden in the coat hanging on a hook 
at the front, putting it on, then keeping her hand on her sword hilt, 
slowly descended the stairs, Willow following a safe distance behind. 

Buffy slowly opened the door with her free hand, stepping back so 
that she didn't present a target to whichever immortal was waiting.

"Evening, maam. I'm just bringing this woman here, she said she 
wanted to see Miss Buffy Summers, and since you weren't at HQ, I 
decided to ckeck here."

"Xander!!" Willow's voice shouted from behind the blonde. "Stop 
playing, and let us see whose there already." 

Alexander Harris, in complete police uniform stepped inside the house 
and moved to the side, grinning impudently at his two best 
friends. "Now is that anyway to greet your neighbourhood policeman, 
let alone your official liason with the nightshift of Sunnydale's 
finest? You should show more respect ladies, but seriously, I met her 
at Giles, so I volunteered to bring her here."

Willow turned, and then started in surprise, seeing Buffy staring 
wide eyed at the visitor. "C come in C Cassandra. You are welcome in 
my house."

End Chapter 7