From: "Aurelia Destiny" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Cloaked in Darkness: Chapter 6/? Date: 01 Jun 1998 08:22:24 PDT TITLE: Cloaked In Darkness AUTHOR: Princess Destiny (princessdestiny@hotmail.com) SUMMARY: Things are not exactly what they seem when Giles finds an ancient diary, with news of the death of the Slayer. A new girl comes to Sunnydale and things start to go crazy, Angel is jealous because Buffy has a boyfriend and the Anointed one gets a nasty surprise... It is naturally a Buffy/Angel Romance story, cause I'm a hopeless romantic! RATING: PG. TIME PERIOD: Hmm, well since we have only seen up till Prophesy Girl here in AustraliaBut I HAVE read the scripts for the rest of them...Okay, just after Prophesy Girl and we'll leave it at that! THANK-YOUS: FEEDBACK: PLEASE! I love to hear from people! DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first, I'll say yes anyway, but I want to know where it is going. DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Angel and the others are the property of Joss Whedon. Gabriella and any others I add later on are Mine, Mine, Mine! This is my first try at a Buffy fic so don't be too harsh, comments and suggestions or even praise for my lovely story are very welcome! ************************ CLOAKED IN DARKNESS ************************ Chapter 6: A Surprising Death Buffy and the other’s raced towards "The Bronze’ as fast as they could and though Angel ran right next to Buffy, neither of them said a word nor even looked the other’s way. Willow and Xander had noticed and exchanged looks constantly on the way, Xander again juggling his bottle of holy water. They had almost reached the nightclub’s car park when Buffy skidded on something and almost fell, she grabbed out and latched onto Angel’s arm automatically and then flushed and pulled away. "Buff, what’s wrong...what the...hell" Xander stumbled to a halt as the street light’s and those from ‘The Bronze’ lit up the car park and they could see what Buffy had slid on. The whole area was cover in dust about half-an-inch thick and Buffy and the other’s gaped in shock, no doubt in their minds that this had been all the vampires that they had run there to fight. "Think they’re all here?" Willow asked professionally and Buffy brushed the hair back from her face in confusion and also fear. "What could have killed them all in less than 20 minutes, there were 30 of them!" she yelled and Angel put a calming hand on her shoulder, she was so in shock that she didn’t shrug it off and instead leaned slightly into the warmth. Angel scanned the area and spotted footprints almost immediately, they were in the center of the dust and he walked over curiously. They were quite clear, the prints, boots by the look of it too, but that could be anyone at all in Sunnydale. Boots were ‘in’ as he had heard Buffy say, she had several pairs herself. The strange thing was, the prints were just there, there were no tracks leading to or from that spot in the center of the car park. "Weird" Buffy murmured and he realized she had come up behind him, he had been so distracted that he had not even heard her, vampire hearing and all. Angel suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to take her into his arms but he fought it, she had told him to stay away from her and he would, worse still, she had a boyfriend. "You should go back and tell Giles, it looks as if you won’t be slaying tonight" Angel told her quietly and walked away without another word, practically feeling her shock as she stared at his retreating back. He melted into the shadows and watched as they left, going back the way they had come. There was no sense in worrying her, but the only creature who could leave no tracks to or from somewhere had to be a vampire. He could have leapt down from the roof to kill them and then leapt back the same way, but why would a vampire kill his own kind? And there were some of them that could fly, very rare but Angel had seen some. Was there another vampire around with a soul, a rogue like Angel bent on stamping out the evil one’s. But it still didn’t explain how ONE vampire could kill 30 of them in only 20 minutes... ****************************************** A cloaked figure watched Angel as he examined the dust from the shadows and cursed itself for a fool for leaving tracks. A wind suddenly sprang up and swept over the car park, erasing the foot prints and the dust that had been the vampires swirled away in a whirl wind, scattering it. The figure saw Angel curse and then the vampire went into the club and the figure sighed. It had not been easy to kill them all, it had been totally against the figure’s nature to do it...but all those human’s would have suffered and that was something the figure was not willing to risk. *************************************** "Hello Angel" a soft voice whispered into his ear and Angel started, turning swiftly to meet deep green eyes. Gabriella. She was wearing a long black dress and practically melted into the shadows with him and Angel was surprised, not many could have seen him so hidden under the stairs in ‘The Bronze’ as he had been. "Gabriella, you startled me. I didn’t hear you" he said with a smile that was a slightly strained, he had been so intent on Buffy and Dwayne dancing that she had managed to come upon him quite easily. A smile crossed her beautiful face and then Gabriella leaned past him to see what he had been so intent on. "Do you love her?" she asked gently and Angel turned to her completely shocked that she had seen what was buried deep in his heart. He was about to lie when he saw that there was a terrible sadness in her eyes, something she turned away quickly to hide, but he had seen it. "I...I guess I do" Angel said slowly, wondering what could have caused such a sadness in one so young as she was. "That is beautiful Angel, you should fight for her" Gabriella murmured, turning back to watch Buffy and Dwayne end the dance and turn towards the stairs. They didn’t see Gabriella or Angel in the shadows beneath and continued up to the second floor where their table was. Angel sighed and turned to ask Gabriella if she wanted to take a walk, but she was already gone. He scanned the room swiftly, but there was no sign of her and he felt something nagging at his mind. "How did she leave so quickly?" he wondered out loud as he walked out from under the stairs and headed for the exit, hoping to see her outside. There was no sign of her in the car park and he found himself wandering along the same road they had walked a 2 nights ago, when he had first met her. *************************************** Gabriella walked along the sidewalk slowly, staring again at the moon, contemplating. Her mind was on Angel and Buffy, wondering how she could help them both. She had seen how jealous Angel was when he saw Buffy with Dwayne and she was sure that Buffy felt the same way. The blonde couldn’t hide the way she sometimes looked around as if seeking someone and a disappointment would enter her clear gaze as she saw that was she wanted never came. Gabriella knew what it was like to long for what you could not have, but those two could have it if they just got past this fight of theirs. She walked to the park that she had discovered when walking with Angel the night she met him and she sat on a bench to stare at the sky. A slight noise alerted her and she spun around to see a guy standing not far away, smoking. He eyed her thoughtfully for a moment and a smile crossed his face, a sly smile that made her skin crawl. "Don’t be alarmed my dear, I assure you I don’t bite" the guy practically purred and Gabriella watched him a moment longer before nodding and sitting down again with her back to him. "I am curious however to see that you are all alone, don’t you have a boyfriend?" he asked curiously as he came to sit beside her, she studied him as he too looked up at the moon and saw that he appeared to be in his early 20’s. His hair was down to his shoulders and it was a red-brown colour, his eyes a deep brown. He was also very handsome and from the tilt of his head when he caught her staring at him, he was very aware of his looks. "No. No boyfriend currently" she told him quietly, her chin lifted slightly, challenging him to ask any more about her single status and he closed his mouth with a twinkling in his eyes. "The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?" he said after a moment’s paused and Gabriella sighed, her eyes on the moon as she nodded her head in agreement. "Yes, she is" Gabriella murmured and the guy clapped his hands once in delight. "Ah! You belive in the goddess Seline then?" he inquired and was rewarded with a gentle smile, but something in her eyes disturbed him greatly. "Yes, I leant about her from...my sister. She loved the moon also" Gabriella said almost under her breath, but the guy caught it and he was again curious. "You have a sister? And is she as lovely as you in the moonlight?" he teased her and Gabriella gave him a wry smile, telling him that she was flattered but that it really meant nothing to her that he was trying to get under her skin. "What brings you out tonight?" she asked and he drew in a breath, turning to face her and in his eyes she saw a look of playfulness...and a deep hunger. "Food. I was hungry" he said flatly, his eyes went deadly intent and she stared at him with confusion in her face. "Oh, did I deter you from your dinner, I am sorry" she apologized and an evil smile spread over his face, but no fear entered her eyes as he moved closer to her. "On the contrary, I was just looking when I stumbled upon you. I have not yet eaten" he said silkily, his eyes flashed yellow and then his face changed hideously. He expected her to run but she smiled sadly, her hand coming up to touch one of the ridges on his face almost like a child. "I...I thought you were one of them" she admitted hesitantly and the vampire was confused, his hunger was great but something held him back , almost like an invisible force in his mind. "Then why didn’t you run?" he demanded, grabbing her arms roughly and she winced. "I wanted to see..." she began when she saw a blonde blur and realized it was Buffy, sneaking up upon them from the side. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Jennifer M." Subject: BUFFYFIC: Best Intentions 6/12 Date: 01 Jun 1998 10:13:10 PDT TITLE: Best Intentions AUTHOR: Jennifer M. (cliodhna25@hotmail.com) SUMMARY: What would happen if Buffy's mom found her diary? RATING: PG. TIME PERIOD: Maybe past Becoming 1? THANKYOUS: Thanks Leslie S.! FEEDBACK: Please! Any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. DISTRIBUTION: Please ask. DISCLAIMER: All characters are the property of Joss Whedon, et al. The idea is mine, though! COMMENTS: Sorry for the delay... I've been extremely busy. If you would like anything posted up until now, just let me know, and I will E-mail it to you. Thanks for reading! Best Intentions Part 6 "Mrs. Summers?" Willow broke the silence. "I know you're thinking we're trying to cover for Buffy. And-- we *have* covered for her in the past. And, I guess we are now, in a way. Except we're doing it by telling you the exact truth about her. It is hard to handle what she has to deal with. To face… She hasn't been able to share that with you and it has torn her apart inside. Believe me." Willow stopped and looked down at her hands again. She still did not know what had happened to her friend. But, what ever it was, it had to be bad. Even if that was obvious! "Willow, Xander, I appreciate that you are trying to help Buffy. But-- Mr. Giles, you're her teacher. How can you say these things?" Giles stood up and began to pace in the small office. "Mrs. Summers, I am Buffy's Watcher. I was sent here to help guide her, train her, help her. I do what I can to prevent the girl from getting herself killed. It is not an easy task. Your daughter is quite, uh, headstrong." "Yes, that is true," Joyce said and frowned. "Mrs. Summers, if only you knew how strong your daughter is--," Xander explained. "--If you could see her in action… I know the first time I saw her fight a vamp, I was amazed. I thought people could only fight like that on TV! But there was little 'ol Buffy, kicking this dead guy's butt! It was incredible!" Joyce noticed the admiration written all over his face. "I'd never seen anything like it. And, time and time again, she has proven that she is the strongest person that I know. Not only because of her physical strength, which is awesome, don't get me wrong. But, because of her emotional strength. She has to live with her life-style. She had no choice, Mrs. Summers. And-- really she's not supposed to tell anyone." "She's needed desperately here, in Sunnydale. Not in some institution where she can't even protect herself!" Willow and Xander's eyes opened in shock and they looked at each other. Institution? For crazy people? Giles had a sudden look of panic cross his face. "Oh dear God. If Angel finds out where she is…" "She's as good as dead. We need to get her out of there. Now!" Xander jumped off of the desk. "Wait. What do you mean if Angel finds out where she is? He can't get into the hospital. It's past visitors hours," Joyce said. "Mrs. Summers, Angel is a vampire. He can do what ever he wants to. And, he wants Buffy dead," Willow told her. "He wants her dead!" Willow jumped off of the desk, and joined Xander and Giles at the door. "Angel's a Vampire!?" More confused than ever, Joyce stood up, not yet willing to admit she was wrong. ~~~ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ingrid29@juno.com (Ingrid E Stanton) Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: My horrible little problems again... Date: 01 Jun 1998 13:27:28 EDT Hello all. I wish I could address you with much happier news, but alas, the worst has happened. My evil, evil brother crashed my computer, and all my files are gone, including "Reunion" in its entirety. Needless to say, I'm distraught (and homicidal, but that's another story). Anyway, to get to the point, here are my requests: 1. If anyone has any spare parts of reunion floating around in his/her mailbox, I'd be eternally greatful to have them forwarded to me. I need the interludes especially to write the ending. 2. There was someone who requested to post parts of "Reunion" on his (or her) web page, and, having lost all my mails, I don't have the URL. If I could get it, whoever you are, that would be wonderful! 3. If anybody knows a good assasin who works cheap... -Ingrid _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Truthfully" (1/1) Date: 01 Jun 1998 14:40:29 EDT Notes: From Cordelia's diary, short vignette piece, before the valentine's day ep at least, possibly earlier. Just musings. ::sigh:: I was trying to wait until I had something more finished before I posted this one, 'cause I like to have at least one piece in storage in case I hit a dry spell, but most of the stories I'm working on these days are longer ones so they aren't finishing as easily as the short ones. So I should finish another one soon, I hope. Hope. Distribution: Not without my permission, please. Disclaimers: Standard ones apply. Feedback: Yea! To KylenRevik@aol.com, please. ~ "Truthfully" Dear Diary, This isn't happening, can't be happening. And yet somehow, it is, because... I... Oh god. Xander. I, Cordelia Chase, am falling in-- falling...falling for? Yeah, that sounds right. I think. I hope not. Ohgod. Xander Harris, the geek. The nerd. The dork. The guy I have made a point out of avoiding since I was in what, third grade? And now I'm in love with him? Hello, earth to Cordie, get a grip and get off the train, the tracks are screwed up ahead and you're gonna spin out of control. But it's true, is the thing, and I can't deny that, can I? Being around him makes me feel better, makes me feel like I'm not watching as much as I'm participating. But oh my god, it's Xander Harris. And that should make me absolutely sick, shouldn't it? Shouldn't it? I'm not, is the thing. I'm not sick at all, except sick with worry about what the guys are going to do if they find out, when they find out, what will they think, I mean, he's so completely uncool and yet... And yet he makes me feel like I'm worth something. Yeah, he gives me a hard time and he makes fun, but when he tells me to wear something "trashier," I don't feel like I already look like a slut and he's serious. When he says it, it sounds like he's teasing, or like he cares about me anyway, despite myself. Maybe because of myself. I don't know. Do I even have a "self" for him to like? Or am I that much of a sheep, that all I am is a carbon copy of whatever's hot at the moment? This is never something I think about, and this is seriously not something I'm sure that I'm comfortable thinking about as it is. I feel like I should, well, I don't know, but not be this cool with things the way they're going. I feel like I should be putting up a fight, but I don't want to fight him. Even if I could get past the hard stuff, like whether or not I actually feel like this, what would happen then? How would I ever go from being Cordelia Chase, She Who Doesn't Care, to Cordelia Chase in a loving and committed relationship? Can I do that? Or would I screw up and find out that it's not that he cares about me, it's that he cares about what he _thinks_ of me, and what other people think of me, and it all turned out that I was a status symbol all over again? That's the worst kind of relationship, too, when the guy thinks he's using you and takes advantage of it, but somehow I can't see Xander being like that in a lot of ways, even if he was utterly uncool about things like how he dresses and how he looks and the impressions he makes on people. I feel like this should be bothering me more than it is, which bugs me because at the same time I don't like the idea that I've always given in to other people's opinions of me and what I should be and how I should look and how I should act, and why is it that when I try to be something I'm not I can pull it off and yet if I turn around and try to find out who I really am, everything about me turns into a complete blank slate? What am I supposed to do about it, either way, anyway? I'm sure he doesn't care about me at all. In fact, this probably is going to turn out to be some sort of super-short phase we're both passing through, where we feel like we need somebody and we're the only ones there for each other. I mean, look at him and Willow. They would be perfect. Or him and Buffy, he likes her way more than he likes me and he's even said it on occasion. God, Cordelia, you're being such a blowhole, get a grip. Nerdify a little less and be the person you know you are, and you know, if you're not too stupid about things then maybe you'll wind up having half a chance with a sweet guy like Xan-- No, no way in hell am I gonna write that 'cause it's all pathetic and needy and well, just plain pathetic. So it's not getting written. See me not writing? I'm going to go get a drink of water. Maybe I'll write more later, but it won't be about _him_ 'cause that's not something I feel like writing about anymore. Ta for now, Cordie. THE END Copyright 1998 Rachel Brody ~ Comments to KylenRevik@aol.com, please. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: Undertow (1/1) by Blu Date: 01 Jun 1998 15:04:02 EDT Title: Undertow (1/1) Author: Blu Email: Blu2cool@AOL.com Note: ok, I got inspired for this while listening to "Full Of Grace" over and over and over... so you might put it on to get the mood... Spoiler warning: Becoming (both) Rating: PG Content warning: Kissing, mostly. Buffy/Angel Summary: ::makes zipping motion over her mouth:: can't really say... Feedback: Very welcomed. Critiques HIGHLY wished for, to the author (not the list, please). Disclaimer: All rights reserved for Joss Whedon, the WB, Mutant Enemy, etc. I used the characters for my own personal enjoyment and that of others, not for profit. None of these characters belong to me. I have nothing, so don't expect much if you decide to sue. This story is my own creation, so rights to it belong to me. No copyright infringement intended. 'Nother note: I have changed my mind, and I'm not changing my Spike story, Must Be the Weather, or adding a second part... sorry to disappoint all you guys... but it's up at my site at http://members.tripod.com/~IluvBuffy/fanfic.html. I found the Slayer huddled on a beach about forty miles from Sunnydale. A beach the locals call "Loco". The reason being: rocks ranging from the size of baseballs to the size of boulders litter it's expanse of sand, leaving little room for anything else. The Slayer was sitting only steps from the waves, staring vacantly out to the horizon. We shared the beach with one other family. The parents tossed a football around with tier two sons. A picnic was spread on a blanket nearby. The setting sun was casting a nice pink glow on everything. It gave the Slayer's pallid face some color. When she finally looked up and acknowledged me, her blue eyes were dull and pained. Her hair hung limply around her shoulders. "What do you want now?" she asked in a monotone, averting her eyes. I cautiously lowered myself onto the sand next to her. When I rested beside her, she cast me a disparaging look with her tired eyes. "You know why I'm here," I told her, not quite meeting her gaze. She hugged her knees to her torso, and didn't reply. "You have to go back," I went on. "I don't HAVE to-" "They need you." "Yeah, well, so did Angel-" "But you still did it. Sent him to hell. Fulfilled your duty. Because you're strong." I paused. "You CAN go on with your life." "Maybe I don't want to!" The Slayer's voice cracked. She stood up swiftly and walked away, down to he water's edge. Buffy bent down and unlaced her boots, then kicked them off. Her socks followed them a few paces from the lapping waves. Buffy waded in up to her ankles. I rose and brushed at the moist sand that clung to my clothes. Buffy turned and glanced at me. I could clearly see the tears tracing paths down her cheeks. She stood between me and the sun and it cast a gold glow around her silhouette. My eyes strayed from the Slayer to and object bobbing hysterically up and down in the water about two hundred yards from shore. I gulped. It was one of the children. His mom shrieked and lunged forward into the oncoming surf. I knew she would never reach him in time to save him. Meanwhile, Buffy had whirled around and caught sight of the boy. Without pausing, she leapt into action. She ran as far out as her legs would take her, then dove under a wave and began her version of the 'lifeguard swimstroke'. I watched in awe as Buffy drew closer and closer to the flailing boy. She reached him and he threw his arms around her neck, putting her in a chokehold. She said something to him and he shifted until she was giving him a piggyback ride. I could tell when she hit the strong part of the undertow; she sank a little bit and changed her course. In minutes, the Slayer had reached dry ground. She carried the small boy to his parents, who thanked her profusely. Buffy trudged back over toward me. She was dripping wet. Buffy allowed me to drape a towel over her shoulders. She shivered in the twilight air. "I see you still have the rescue gene," I commented softly, not expecting the Slayer's smile when it appeared. I set about building a fire from driftwood. The family that we had previously shared the beach with had piled into a green minivan and left. Driftwood wasn't hard to come by, an amazing amount of it was caught between the rocks on the beach. I used a Bic lighter to set my pile of wood on fire. Buffy seemed drawn to the flames like a moth to a bright window. She sat close to it, Indian-style. I promptly sat down across from her. The flames licked up the salty wood, reflecting off of the Slayer's face, making it glow. I simply watched her, willing her to make the right decision. She looked up into my eyes. "I do miss them," she said. I tried my best not to see the pain in her eyes. And I knew she wasn't only talking about her friends. I sighed heavily. I closed my world-weary eyes and concentrated on focusing all of my mental powers on the one thing that would comfort the Slayer: Angel. I momentarily lost my sense of time. I felt like I was falling. Drifting on a pitch black sea of nothingness. Intense heat waves battered my body. I came into contact with a presence I would know anywhere. "What in-" the Demon with the face of an Angel began to berate me. "Buffy." The moment I said her name, he stopped speaking. "She needs to see you. Trust me, one last time." He did, I could sense it, and I stepped back from my body and watched from a distance of a few feet. The Slayer was staring at my body, now on her knees next to me. She shook my shoulder, but my eyes remained closed. They slowly opened. She sat back on her heels, then fell over backwards when my face changed into that of the one person who could heal all of her troubles with a smile. And he did smile, a little. "Angel? What-" Buffy broke off without finishing her thought. Angel's form glimmered a little as he reached out and touched her face. Buffy tried again to speak. "How?" she whispered. A wind kicked up and began playing with her hair, tossing it about. "Whistler," Angel said with a half-smile. He brushed at Buffy's hair. He couldn't seem to resist. He tugged her into his arms. Buffy turned her face into his shoulder. Her tears began to flow. "Angel, I'm sor-" He cut her off with a kiss. She broke away from the kiss trying to speak: "I had no choice-" but again he interrupted her with a kiss. "I didn't mean it-" "Buffy!" Angel's hands at her shoulders cut off her monologue, midsentence. "I KNOW." She looked up into his face and saw only love and sadness. She choked on a sob. "I wish-" "I KNOW." His soft words started healing the hole in her heart. It would never mend completely, she knew, but this would help immensely. Buffy leaned into Angel's chest and let all the tears and frustrations and pain flow out of her system. "You DO have to go back," Angel said into the top of her head. He placed a tiny kiss on her scalp, then rested his chin on the same spot. "I know," Buffy mumbled. "And so do I." Buffy nodded, her tears drying up. "When?" she asked, not wanting to know the answer. "Soon." "I love you." Buffy looked up and found Angel's gaze resting soberly on her. "I love you." Angel began to shimmer, and Buffy knew their time was short. She pulled Angel's head down to hers for one last kiss. When they broke apart, he smiled until his body faded away, leaving only me slumped on the sand. Buffy wiped away all traces of her tears. I opened my eyes, blinking at the pain. "How was it?" I asked, with a teasing smile. Buffy grinned at me, helped me sit up. "I'm ready," she told me with a proud smile. I nodded and looked past her to the ocean, where I caught one last glimpse of a shimmering figure. "We'll miss you," I whispered into the night. The End. Remember, FB! *** Blu (Blu2cool@AOL.com) "When ideas fail, words come in very handy." - Goethe (1749-1832) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Hell" 2/? Date: 01 Jun 1998 19:00:21 EDT "Hell" 2/? by Jaclyn Amy TITLE: Hell AUTHOR: Jaclyn Amy@aol.com DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They belong to Joss Wheden, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, etc. RATING: PG-13 WARNING: Some of the scenes have some gory violence. If you don’t like that sort of thing, don’t read this. SPOILERS: None. SUMMARY: This takes place immediately after Becoming Parts 1 and 2. It’s pretty much my own episode after this. Enjoy! DISTRIBUTION: Ask me first. FEEDBACK: Please! AUTHOR’S NOTE: I have finals to study for, so these will probably come out sparatically. ***** "What’s going on, Giles? Why’d you call us out of first to be here?" Willow asked nervously. She and Oz were sitting at the table while Cordelia and Xander were groping by Giles office. "Damnit, Xander, Cordelia," he cursed. "We have more important things to be doing." "Chill, G-man," Xander said as he led Cordelia to join the others. "I’m sorry, but something terrible happened," he apologized. "You got that right," a voice said. A well-dressed man casually strolled into the library. "Excuse me," Giles started, "but the sign on the door says-" "I had figured my man Angel was here to stop Akathla, not to bring him forth. Boy, I was wrong." He walked closer to the table. "She went to him. She tried to stop him for you." He stared at Willow. "The curse worked but after Angel pulled the sword out. She had to kill him; not Angelus, but Angel. And she did. You trained her well." "Ohmigod," Willow whispered to herself, "how could she have after Xander told her…?" Xander looked away, sick with guilt. "Who are you?" Cordelia asked. "They call me the Whistler," he answered. Giles asked bitterly, "What do you want?" "She took off. You have to find her before it’s too late. If she doesn’t come back…" "How do you know about her?" Giles asked. "I’m an immortal demon sent to help her. I tried to warn her, but it was too late." Willow spoke, "Where is she? We’ve got to find her." "I can’t tell you; I really wish I could. All I can say is that she’s staying with a friend. You have to find her before you lose her forever. She can’t handle another loss. She can’t handle losing him, too." ***** "Good morning," Pike said to a sleepy Buffy. Groggily, Buffy dragged herself off the bed. Pike had generously offered it to her while he slept on the couch. The sunlight shined through the blinds as she looked at the clock. "8:45. I probably would be in the library talking to Giles about some prophesy or in math with Xander passing notes. I miss them so much." "So go back. You should be with your friends at school having a normal life." "I can’t go back." "Buffy-" "You don’t know the whole story. The police came just as I arrived at the crime scene. When they tried to arrest me, I hit the cop and went free. They probably have a warrant for my arrest by now. As I came home, I saved my mother from a vampire and told her I was the Slayer. She wanted me to explain, but I didn’t have time. She told me that if I walked out of the house I can’t come back. I had to leave. When I went back to the school to get the sword, the principal found me and expelled me. I can’t go back after that." He took a deep breath. "Fine, but at least call them." "I can’t do that." "How would you feel if one of them took off, not saying a word if they were alive, if they were healthy, if they had a place to live." "Alright." Buffy got out of bed and went to the phone. She slowly dialed the numbers to the school library. "Hello?" Willow answered. "Will?" Buffy asked cautiously. "Buffy? God, are you all right?" Tears of joy started flowing down her cheeks. Suddenly anger filled her voice. "How could you have just-" "Willow, I’m fine. I’m sorry I left, but I couldn’t stay. Not after I killed Angel." There was a moment of silence as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Buffy, where are you?" "I don’t want you looking for me." "You have to come back. Everyone was-" "Will?" Buffy heard Principal Snyder’s voice in the background. "Is that Buffy Summers you are talking to?" "No," she lied. "It’s my mom. Well, I’ve got to go," she spoke to Buffy. "I hope you come home from your vacation soon." "Give me the phone," he ordered. "We’ll find you," he sneered. "You’re in way over your head, missy. And I sugest you don’t make anymore calls here." With that, he hung up the phone. ***** "Enjoying your visit?" All Angel could do was mumble a sound. Though he hadn’t been physically tortured, his memories were killing him painfully. //God, damnit,// he thought. //I have to get out of here.// Of course there was the obvious stake through the heart thing, but he wanted to be with Buffy. "I’m glad," the Buffy look-alike stepped over to where he was leaning against a wall. She gently rubbed her hand against the side of his unshaven face. Before his eyes, she turned into Drusilla. "Dru, what-" "Shhh," she whispered. "Look at me." Buffy/Dru took her two fingers and put them to her eyes. "Be in my eyes. Be in me." She gently covered his eyes with her hand. "See with your soul." When he opened his eyes, he was looking at Jenny Calender. She ran into him and sank to the ground. He held her up, unable to control himself. "Sorry, Jenny, this is where you get off." With a twist of the neck, she was dead. "I never get tired of doing that." //No,// his soul cried. //Jenny…// the vision was over as soon as it came. Now, instead of being at the school, he was watching through the window into Buffy’s house. "Hey, Giles," suddenly Buffy’s smile faded as she handed the phone to Willow and slumped on the floor. "What?! No, no!" Willow cried as she hung up the phone. More than anything Angel wanted to take back that moment, to not remember the pain, or at least not to remember feeling pleasure from it. Buffy/Dru removed her hand, and Angel was back. She morphed back to looking like Buffy. Tears ran down his cheeks as she gave him an ice cold stare. "Upset now?" she asked, tears started streaming down her face. "Good, keep suffering. Know what it’s like to lose everything that you ever cared about." He knew this wasn’t the real Buffy talking, but the words felt as horrible as if the real Buffy was saying them. //Someday,// he thought, //someday…// *** End Part 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: conmoon@cruzio.com (Connie) Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Angelus's Scary Adventure [1/1] Date: 01 Jun 1998 17:06:07 -0700 Title: Angelus's Scary Adventure [1/1] Author: Connie Somerville Kotkin E-mail: conmoon@cruzio.com Disclaimer: Angelus and Drusilla belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy and the WB. CJ belongs to me. Rating: PG-13 Distribution: Anyone who wants it, just let me know. Feedback: Please. I love getting e-mail. Spoilers: I Only Have Eyes For You Summary: The title pretty much says it all. Author's Note: I wrote this after having a week long Buffy-fest with my mother. I have always thought that evil Angel was a wuss and re-watching the episodes where he was bad just reconfirmed that idea. So I wrote this story as a reflection of that for fun. Of course I am sure this could never have happened on the show, but this is my story and I can do as I please. If people can write stories with Angel and Willow being in love, then I can write a story about Angelus being tortured by a 4 year old. Let me know what you think. From "I Only Have Eyes For You" Angelus: (walks back) Let's get outta here. I need a real vile kill before sunup to wipe this crap out of my system. He pulls on his jacket over his still unbuttoned shirt. Drusilla comes up to him and growls. He snarls back. Drusilla: Of course. We'll find you a nice toddler. (snarls) And so our story begins.... Angelus's Scary Adventure by Connie S. Kotkin Drusilla, true to her word took Angelus to the local orphanage. It was late and the sun would be coming soon. She figured (if she could use her mind and had any sane thoughts) that this would be the fastest place for her Angel to purify himself. They walked in since an orphanage was opened to everyone. Angelus turned and looked at Drusilla. "This is exactly what I need. An easy killing spree." He grinned at her "Let the fun begin!" Drusilla laughed as the walked up the stairs to find some young ones. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CJ wasn't tired. She knew that she should be asleep but she didn't want to. She knew that if the big lady found out she was up she would get in trouble but she just could not stay in bed. She grabbed her teddy bear and her special dagger that her parents gave her and walked towards the stairs. CJ was going to escape tonight. She knew she was little and might not get far but she would try like her parents had taught her to do. She was going to go find some nice people to live with, not wait for them to come to her. As she reached the stairs she heard the sound of someone coming up. A man and a woman She looked for a place to hide and could not find one. Before she could decide what to do the woman looked up and smiled at her. "My Angel, look at what I see." the woman said. CJ thought the woman was pretty but her voice was strange. The man looked up and smiled at her. "Well what do we have here? Aren't you supposed to be asleep little girl?" The man and woman walked up to CJ and knelt on the floor in front of her. She did not like them, she knew they were not supposed to be here and that they were bad. "You're BAAAAD people. I don't like you." CJ said to them. The man laughed at that. "Aren't you precious. My name is Angel and this is Drusilla. Who are you?" "You are not Angel, your Angelus, Angel is nice." CJ said and set her teddy bear down. She held her dagger in front of her. She had heard the name Drusilla before, her mother had talked about her and a spike. They were Real BAD people. "That's right, I am not and Angel. I'm a demon." his face changed and CJ laughed. "You don't look like a demon, you are silly vampire." She ran up to him and stabbed him with her dagger. She heard him scream out in pain as she turned away from him. "That was not very nice little girl. Miss Edith does not like bad little girls," the woman said as she reached out for CJ. CJ stabbed at her and decided that she wanted to play a game with them. They were vampires like her parents had told her about. Vampires killed her parents because her mother was a Slayer. She decided to hurt them the way they had hurt her. She picked up her teddy bear and ran towards her room. She knew they would follow her because her mother told her that vampires always chased people who they thought were weaker when they had hurt them. She looked over her shoulder and watched Angleus hold the silly lady as she screamed over the wound she gave her. It was not even that bad. That lady was a real baby, CJ thought. She was going to make them pay for killing her parents, to do what her mother had taught her to do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Angelus could not believe the nerve of the little girl. She showed no fear when he showed her his true face, she just laughed at him and stabbed him with her dagger in the side. It had hurt, a lot. Then she had gone and stabbed Dru in the stomach and now she was running into another room, not running for her life, but running like she had no care in the world. The little girl was just what he needed to take his mind off of what had happened earlier tonight with the slayer. He turned back to Dru and sighed. Sometimes she was a real pain. "Drusilla go back to the house and get better. Tomorrow night I will take you out for a real treat." "But what about the girl?" "Don't worry about her, I will take care of her." Drusilla grinned at him and laughed. "Oh you are going to hurt her. I like it, will you tell me about it when you get back?" "You know I will. Let Spike take care of you, make him feel useful." He watched as she walked down the steps and walked to the room the little girl had gone into. It was pitch black and he could see no hint of the girl. "I know you are in here. Come out come out where ever you are," he softly sung. He heard a noise behind him and walked over to the closet. He grinned as he pulled it open. He walked in and looked around. There was just clothes and other toys in it. He heard a sound and turned around and saw the brown eyes of the girl staring at him. She stood in the room, in front of the bed holding her black teddy bear. "There you are. I see you like to play games, well here is one for you." He started to walk out of the closet when his feet started to burn. He jumped back in pain. "What the hell is this?" He tried to walk out again and felt the pain and moved back. The little girl continued to stare at him while he tried to get out. "My mommy told me that vampires did not like God water. She gave me some." "What are you planning to do to me little girl? This won't hold me back for long." "No, this will." She walked over to her bed and jumped on it. Next to it was a window, she pulled on the curtain and opened it, the room slowly began to lighten up. "Morning is coming. Sun make vampire go 'bye-bye.'" Angelus was worried, this was not your typical toddler, she knew things that most people did not know. "How old are you?" "I just turned 4." "What are you going to do with me?" he asked. He was starting to get scared. The sun was starting to come up in the sky and he could feel the rays on his skin. The window was directly in front of him and there was nowhere for him to hide from the sun. "Vampires killed by mommy cause she killed them. I'm gonna make you pay for that." She walked up to the door and threw some holy water at him. He shrieked as it hit his face. She closed the door and Angelus knew he was in for a long wait. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CJ went back in bed and went to sleep. A couple of hours later the nice lady came in to wake her up. It was 9 o'clock and she got out of bed and went to her closet. The sunlight streamed through her room onto her closet. She knew that when she opened it the light would hurt Angelus. She opened it and watched as he tried to hide in the corner, away from the sun. She laughed at him. "I am gonna watch t.v. What do you wanna watch?" "I don't want to watch television you brat. Just wait till I get out of here. You will regret this." "You won't hurt me, your a big baby. Angel told me so." "What are you talking about, I am Angel." "Na-uh, Angel is floating in heather, he told me all about you." CJ sat on her bed and put her dress on. Then she turned around to watch t.v. "You can talk to Angel's soul?" CJ nodded her head. "He is very nice and not a baby like you are. He is gonna come back soon. Barney is on so be quiet or I will throw more water on you." CJ grabbed her teddy bear and started to sing along with the song. "I love you, you love me, We're a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me too." Angelus groaned. This was worse than any torture he had ever devised for Dru. He hoped he could last the day. As soon as night came he was going to enjoy killing this little girl. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CJ spent all day in her room with Angelus. She left the closet door open until Angelus's clothes had started to smoke and he begged her to close the door. She closed it a little bit but made sure that the sun still affected him. When she got bored with TV she decided that she wanted to play with Angelus. No one ever played with her since her mother had died. What to play though. She looked under her bed and saw Candyland. She walked to the closet and put it down. Then she went and got her mother's special stick. She sat down in front of her closet and set up the game. Angelus looked up at her. Sweat was running down his face and part of his skin was blistered. "What are you doing now?" he asked. "We are going to play Candyland." He tried to snarl at her. "I am not going to be playing any game with you." She picked up her mother's stick and poked him on the arm, he sat up and yelled out in pain. He looked down at his arm, there was a big hole and blood was flowing out. He could feel himself getting weaker. "This is my mom's special stick, the wounds take a long time to heal. What color do you want to be?" she asked as she held her stick. Angelus chose red and they spent the rest of the afternoon playing games. Angelus was going crazy, he could not stand all of the cute games she made him play. When she pulled out her Barbies and gave him one he tried to leave. CJ stood up and opened the door and Angleus felt the sun's rays burn his skin. He screamed in pain and sat back down again and started dressing the Barbie. When she finally got up he thought his torture was finally over until he heard the music she had put on. It was the Spice Girls. "Tell me what you want, what you really really want" He knew what he wanted, he wanted this torture to be over. He did not think that he would be able to last till sundown. He knew he wouldn't. It was only 3. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CJ was having fun. She was learning all kinds of things about Angelus and his life. She kept asking him questions over and over again until he screamed at her. If he did not answer her she let the sun hit him and watched him scream in pain, then she would stab him with her mother's special stick. He had a lot of holes on his body to go with the burns on his body. She could tell that she was driving him crazy and she was happy. He deserved it. She could hear Angel laughing and laughed with him. As it grew closer to her bed time and the sun was get ready to set she had him read her stories. She knew he would hate doing it. She made him read "The Velveteen Rabbit", "Green Eggs and Ham", "The Little Train That Could", "See Spot Run", and "Sweet Valley Kids" books. After he had finished that, he was begging her to stop and let him go. She said she would only if he promised to never come near the orphanage again. He said he would, and by this time he was babbling like an idiot. As she stood up and walked to him he cringed as far away from her as he could get. He did not want to be hurt again. She asked for his sword necklace and he took it off and tossed it to her. She put it on and smiled. Angel was happy too since he said she could have it. She went and got one of the older boys that liked her. She told him that a crazy guy had come into her room. He grabbed Angelus who was a mess and took him down the stairs and dumped him outside. CJ stood over him as the last ray of the sun went away. "Don't come back or bring any friends or I will hurt you more. I know where you live." Angelus nodded his head. As she turned to leave Angelus called out. "What is your name?" "I am CJ. Thank you for playing with me, it was fun." CJ turned and skipped back inside. Angelus stood staring after her. He was never going to come near this place again. He had never been so scared in his entire existence. CJ was the master of torture and mind games. He did not want to see what she would turn into when she got older. He rolled towards the sewer and away from the terror that had gripped him this last day. So ends Angelus's Scary Adventure. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: Question regarding the Codex Date: 01 Jun 1998 20:17:44 EDT Does anyone know what language the Pagamon Codex was originally in? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: David Williams Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: Question regarding the Codex Date: 01 Jun 1998 20:23:54 -0400 At 08:17 PM 6/1/98 , KylenRevik@aol.com wrote: >Does anyone know what language the Pagamon Codex was originally in? Pergamum; it's a city in Asia Minor (or was). And it was in classical Greek, because Giles was reading it aloud in the original and then translating. -- David Williams Dept. of Theology, Boston College That tagline is TRUE -> <- That tagline is FALSE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: Discuss: Angel's Scary Adventure Date: 01 Jun 1998 21:01:39 EDT Sorry to mail this to the whole list, but it bounced from the author's address and I'm hoping they see it here instead...I loved the story, was laughing so hard i was crying, and if you'v ewritten anything else may I see it? (Please excuse the typos, BAD wrists today...) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Dreamscape Subject: BUFFYFIC: Help Me Understand 1/1 by Dreamscape205 Date: 01 Jun 1998 23:10:01 -0400 TITLE: Help Me Understand AUTHOR: Dreamscape205 EMAIL: Angelus@mediaone.net DISTRIBUTION: Anya, I'll submit it directly through the Slayer's Fanfic site. Anyone else, it's okay as long as you give me credit, and email me with the URL I can find it archived. SUMMARY: The gang try to deal with Buffy's absence RATING: PG TYPE: TB SPOILERS: Becoming II DISCLAIMER: BtVS and its character's belong to Joss "The Torturer" Whedon, the WB, Fox, and Mutant Enemy. No infringements intended! ************* Help Me Understand She sat alone in the living room, staring straight ahead. Not looking at anything, but looking through them. How long had she been like this? For days, at least. Her hair hung in an unclean, string mass. Her makeup streaked by tears and running mascara. Her clothes unkempt and wrinkled. In her left hand, she clutched a single sheet of paper. It had the look of being crumpled, straightened, folded and then unfolded many times. She was startled by an unexpected knock at the door. She was tempted to ignore it, but there was the hope of some news. Joyce Summers stood slowly, every muscle in her body screaming from the stiffness that developed after endless hours of sitting without movement. When she reached the door, her first impulse was to scream with rage to leave her alone. Instead, she calmly opened the door and welcomed Mr. Giles, Xander Harris, Cordelia Chase, Willow Rosenberg and her friend, Oz, into her home. They all stood nervously watching her. She felt as if she was on display. "What is it? Has there been any word?" she asked anxiously. "Word?" Giles asked in confusion. Her voice contained the suggestion of slightest hope, "Yes, have you heard from Buffy?" Giles shook his head, "Actually, Mrs. Summers, we came here looking for her." Joyce's eyes filled with tears and her chin quivered. She held out the crumpled piece of paper to Giles, "Please....help me understand." Giles quickly read the note then handed it to Willow as he pulled Joyce into the circle of his arms. There was no doubt this woman needed his comfort...anyone's comfort. Willow recognized Buffy's handwriting and began reading the note aloud. "Mom, I know you lashed out because you can't comprehend what it is that I have become. Believe me, I understand. Trust in the fact that anything I have done has been for the good of mankind. I never meant to hurt you. I am leaving...not because I want to, but because I need to. The things I had to do today to save the world have cost me more than I thought I had to give. There's an open wound where my heart is suppose to be, and I don't think it will ever heal. I don't know when...or if...I'll be back. Please go on without me. You're better off without me, for all the trouble I've been. I'm sorry. If there is one thing I am...it's sorry. Sorry for caring...sorry for living...sorry for loving. Buffy" Willow looked up through tear-filled eyes to see the same in every face in the room. Even Oz, who although fond of Buffy, hadn't had the time to develop a close relationship with her. Joyce sobbed against Giles chest, "Why? Why Buffy?" Giles pulled away from Joyce, lead her to the couch, and sat her down. "There is no answer. She is The Chosen One. The one girl in all the world with the strength to fight the vampires. There's no rhyme or reason...it just *is*." "And I'm just supposed to accept and understand that some mystical force chose my daughter to risk her life everyday because 'they say so'?" Her anger was beginning to surface. "And, just what is your role in this? I often wondered why you had such an interest in my daughter." "I am her Watcher. It is my duty to train her, to prepare her for what lies ahead." Giles was ready for the volcano to erupt within Joyce. He was shocked by the calm reaction to his statement. "So, then, as her Watcher, you have no idea what has happened to her?" She wanted to lash out at him, but what good would it do? It wouldn't change the fact that her daughter was some kind of superhero....The Slayer. "She and that Spike character were planning a rescue...your rescue. I never saw her after that." Xander said, "She was still fighting Angel when I was getting Giles out of the building. It wasn't looking good for her. The fact that she came back, left that note, is a good sign. She's alive. That's more than we knew before." "Angel?!" Joyce squealed. "That horrible man. She was fighting him?" Willow joined the conversation, "He wasn't always bad. When Buffy first met him over a year ago, he was good. A vampire with a soul. He helped Buffy, saved her life many times. They tried to fight it, but there was no way they could fight a love so strong. It was that love, that happiness Buffy gave him, that cost him his soul. She's had to live with that, and the pain and death he caused afterwards." Willow took a breath, then continued, "Buffy went to kill him that day, to finally end it. We tried to restore his soul so she wouldn't have to, but I guess it didn't work." Joyce sat, head bowed, "He was so cruel that night he came to the house. He said the most awful things. I never even saw it...the things she was going through. Her birthday...it all started on her birthday, didn't it? That's when I noticed a change, but I didn't know what to do." "Yes, it was her birthday," Giles replied. "I still don't understand how or why. I only understand that my daughter is gone. Can't you help me understand?" "If you can help us..." was Giles only reply. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: Love's Revival (12/?) Date: 02 Jun 1998 11:10:02 EDT Title: Love's Revival (12/?) Author: Michelle Email Addy: Aglx@aol.com Rating: PG Spoiler: This part has none. But the story has a few up to Killed By Death. Feedback: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! Disclaimer: Savarah is mine! Buffy and the gang belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, etc. The Story and the characters not part of the regular cast are mine! Sumary: What does the title say? IMPORTANT: Sequal to The Dark One Series. This story is explained as best as I could to fill in the blanks but you have to read "The Dark One" to understand it. You can check it out as well as all my other stories at: http://members.aol.com/aglx/fanfic.html < --- Changed Address DEDICATIONS: This is dedicated to all the wonderful people who have been helping me get this story going and keeping me from running into blocks. (I just hate those!) Thanks! *************** Part 12 "Well, well. That goody-two-shoes Angel is back. Who would have thought she could pull it off?" Savarah smirked as she entered the now vacant building. There was blood all over the floor. "Oh well. At least I got what I came for." She smiled for a brief second before disappearing into a cloud of smoke. ********** "Hey guys." Buffy's weak voice flowed through the room of friends and family. Joyful smiles adorned all their faces as they saw that her color had begun to return. "How ya feeling, Buff?" Xander asked. "No comment," Buffy said smiling faintly. "Well don't worry. We'll have you better and out of this hospital in no time," Willow said cheerfully. "The sooner the better," Buffy said, her voice getting stronger. She tried to sit up a bit but hissed in pain. "Buffy! Don't do that!" Her mother said. "Thanks, now you tell me." Buffy looked around at her friends and then her mom. "Mom, can you go get me something to eat? I'm starving." "Sure, honey. I'll be right back. Any requests?" "Preferably, non-hospital food." "I'll see what I can do." Buffy waited for her mom to be out of hearing distance before she turned to her friends. "Where's Angel?" Buffy was unable to remember the fight; her only clue as to what had happened was the extreme pain she was in. No one answered her question. They just stared at her in silence. "What? What happened? Where is he?" "Uh, well, um, he's gone." It was painful for Giles to talk about him; after all that had happened he was just as glad that the vampire hadn't been around. "What do you mean he's gone?" "He left. After he saw what he'd done to you, he just took off," Xander finally said after Giles refused to continue. Buffy looked at him, unable to say anything. "Good riddance," Xander muttered under his breath. Cordelia elbowed him in the stomach and gave him a look that could kill. "Buffy, I'm really sorry." Willow said, now stepping back a few paces for fear of how Buffy would take the news. "He just left?" Tears filled her eyes. "I'm afraid so." Everyone could see how upset she was, despite her attempts to mask it. "Guys, can you leave us alone for a few second? I need to talk to Giles." Buffy finally whispered, avoiding eye contact with them. "Uh, sure," Xander said indicating for everyone else to leave. He reluctantly ushered them all out, then followed. Giles closed the door behind them and then walked over by Buffy's side. "Are you alright?" "I'm fine. I just...well, um..." She couldn't bring herself to say what she needed to say. As painful as she knew it would be, he was the only one she could ask. "I can't believe I'm asking you this." She forced a smile realizing this was much harder than she thought it would be. "Buffy?" "Giles, I need you to find Angel. I need you to bring him back to me." "Buffy, if you ask me anything else, I'll do it in a heartbeat. But not that. I won't, I won't do it. Look at yourself! Look at what he's done to you!" "Giles, please. I can't lose him. Not after all this." She reached for his hand that was placed on the railing of the bed. "Please?" End Part 12 -- Did ya like it? More coming real soon! I promise. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Subject: BUFFYFIC: Love's Revival (13/?) Date: 02 Jun 1998 11:15:45 EDT Title: Love's Revival (13/?) Author: Michelle Email Addy: Aglx@aol.com Rating: PG Spoiler: BIG TIME for Passion. Don't read this if you haven't see past that episode. Feedback: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! Disclaimer: Savarah is mine! Buffy and the gang belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, etc. The Story and the characters not part of the regular cast are mine! Sumary: What does the title say? IMPORTANT: Sequal to The Dark One Series. This story is explained as best as I could to fill in the blanks but you have to read "The Dark One" to understand it. You can check it out as well as all my other stories at: http://members.aol.com/aglx/fanfic.html < --- Changed Address DEDICATIONS: This is dedicated to all the wonderful people who have been helping me get this story going and keeping me from running into blocks. (I just hate those!) Thanks! *************** Part 13 He walked through the streets, trying to get as far away as he could. Angel didn't really have a plan; perhaps he would just keep walking until the sun rose and put him out of his misery. Angel continued to walk a straight path, heading for the horizon. He hadn't been able to stop Angelu- no, he hadn't been able to stop himself. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't stop hurting her. A young couple walked down the sidewalk. Angel froze in the middle of the street. He remembered walking with Buffy at his side. How they had hunted- well, made-out every night. He turned and ran towards the graveyard. He had to escape, he couldn't face the memories anymore, and the sun wouldn't be up for a few more hours. Jenny Calendar. Her gravestone had been an enjoyable sight. Now the memory of his delight in her death made him sick. One of many memories he wanted to be rid of. Angel ran towards a tree and snapped off one of the branches. He studied it for a second. Buffy's broken figure flashed in his mind. Jenny's dead body lying there on that bed. Angel closed his eyes and raised the makeshift stake to his chest. "Angel!" called an angry voice from behind him. He didn't move. Angel continued to hold the branch steadily in front of him. All he had to do was drive it into his chest, and everything would be over. He would never hurt Buffy again; she would no longer have to bear the burden of his love. So many lives would be better if he simply ceased to exist. "Angel, don't. She needs you." Giles voice was hoarse as he forced the words out. "I'm the last thing she needs. Look at what I did to her." Angel lowered the stake and turned to face Giles. "I know, and I've seen. Buffy put her life on the line for you." "I couldn't ask for a better reason to die," Angel said bitterly as he repositioned the stake in front of him. "She doesn't need me. All I've ever done is hurt her." "I couldn't agree with you more. But Buffy wants you back. She loves you." "That may be her only fault," he whispered, remembering her body lying there on those broken boxes. Giles almost felt sorry for him. Angel was desperate to die, if it would give her a better chance to live. "Please, just talk to her. My God, she convinced _me_ to come after you. Doesn't that tell you anything?" "I can't, Giles. Not after what I've done." "You know, you're right; after all the people you've hurt, you don't deserve to be forgiven. You've done too much damage and caused too much pain. If it weren't for Buffy lying in that hospital bed, _begging_ me to bring you to her, I would let you put that stake through your heart." Giles held back his tears to make his point clear. "Unfortunately, I can't. She means too much to me and you mean too much to her. Just talk to her. That's all she's asking from you." "That's not all she's asking," Angel said softly. "And you know it." He stared into space for a moment, then threw the branch to the side. Giles sighed, relieved that he wouldn't have to bring more bad news to Buffy. Angel turned, and walked silently back towards the hospital. ************* Feedback, pretty please? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: uzenet@videotron.ca Subject: BUFFYFIC: SC: Where to go from Here Date: 02 Jun 1998 16:50:57 -0400 Title: Subreality Cafe: Where To Go From Here Author: Northlight email: uzenet@videotron.ca Summary: Difficulty with stories Note: I've never written one of these before, but I'm having a lot of trouble writing one *incredibly* frustrating story, and I didn't feel like working on 'Broken Bonds' so... Disclaimer: Subreality Cafe (http://members.aol.com/Image89302/cafe.html) was created by Kielle. The original Buffy characters belong to Joss Whedon. The "Mystery Slayer Theater" mentioned below is written by Jenni W. Everything else is mine . **** Northlight stepped into the Buffy division of the Subreality Cafe and looked around curiously. She had heard of the X division, of course, but she'd never actually been in Subreality. This particular one looked remarkably like the Bronze, either to make the fictives more at home or because the designer hadn't been very creative. Either way, it didn't much matter. The dance floor was full. The vast majority of the couples swaying to the music were Buffys and Angels. Willows, Jennys, Giles, Xanders, Spikes, and Drus also spotted the the room, along with some original fictives. A low rumbling sound drew Northlight's attention towards the shadowed corner near the back of the cafe. She couldn't keep her eyes from rolling when she spotted what it was that had emitted the sound. An entire table was devoted to blood guzzling, snarling Angeluses. They glared around wrathfully, fangs barred. Most of the Buffys pointedly ignored them. Noticing her own Angelus among the growling crowd of vampires, Northlight quickly moved away. She didn't want to hear him complain about being staked by Buffy's ghost in "Ever After" again. He had whined for days after she had written the story. Northlight moved towards an empty table and sat down. She rested her head against her hand and continued her visual sweep of the room. An embarrassed blush made it's way across her face as she spotted a vacant eyed Xander clutching at an ax. She hadn't thought that her fictives from "Mystery Slayer Theater 3000" would have had the intelligence to make it to the cafe. She drew her eyes away from the fascinating sight of the fictives roaming about and pulled pulled a notebook out from her school bag. Northlight selected a pen from her rather cramped pencil case and flipped her notebook open to a blank page. After a long moment of tapping her pen against the lined sheet, Northlight gave up. She dropped her pen and gave a dejected sigh. This was not going well. She had hoped that seeing and being surrounded by such a vast amount of fictives would inspire something. It obviously hadn't worked. A soft cough attracted her attention, and Northlight lifted her head to face an older blonde woman. The woman was slightly fuzzy and indistinct -- she hadn't been written yet. Without waiting for acknowledgement, the woman gracefully sat down across from Northlight. "What do you want, Buffy?" Northlight asked wearily. She blindly reached for her pen and began drumming it against the table. The older, composed Buffy shrugged slightly. "I want to know when your planning on writing *my* story. It's been quite a while already." Northlight groaned. She knew that was what Buffy wanted. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I've *tried* to write your story four times already! It just isn't working!" She paused a moment, biting back her frustration with that as of yet unwritten story. "I'm thinking about totally dropping it." Buffy looked horrified. "You wouldn't! Come on, you know that you want to write it." Northlight glared at her fictive unhappily. "No I don't! It isn't co-operating!" She stabbed her pen at the already ink spotted page. "Besides, I have to finish 'Broken Bonds' before I go doing anything else. I've already put that off too long." "Damned right!" a highly annoyed voice answered from the next table over. "Don't you even start!" Northlight warned Tyler, "or... or I'll have Giles kill you. Once I actually work him back into the library, of course..." she trailed off with another put upon sigh. Tyler glared at her a moment before turning back to his companion, a stupid Buffy from another one of Northlight's submissions to 'Mystery Slayer Theater'. "But you are going to write my story, right?" Buffy inquired, drawing the conversation back to more important matters. "I don't want to be stuck as a vague idea forever!" Northlight hesitated a moment. Buffy was right, she did want to write that story... "I don't know. I still have to try and write that Willow story..." Buffy glared at her, and Northlight quickly continued, "but I'll try! I swear that I'll try to figure out some way to make your story work. Now why don't you go pick up one of those Angels?" "As long as you'll work on my story," Buffy insisted. When Northlight nodded, Buffy smiled and pushed back from the table. "Now that you mention it, those Angels do look awfully good..." It would probably be best that she get to work before anymore irritated fictives decided to inquire as to when their stories would be written, or finished. Northlight sighed once again and turned back to her notebook. End ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ingrid29@juno.com (Ingrid E Stanton) Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: Problem Resolved (well, sorta) Date: 02 Jun 1998 18:04:08 EDT To whom it may concern- Thank you! Thank you! The entire story has been restored thanks to the collective efforts of oh, the 50 or so people who sent me story parts! My mailbox made it through, though! Everything has been pasted back into a text document, and all is well again (except for the fact that my brother is now missing- j/k!) Don't expect a part today, though. I spent a couple of hours clearing out my mailbox, and I have a load of homework and yet another concert (the final one, except for graduation, thank God!) So maybe, soon, I promise! Really.... -Ingrid _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "R. Smith" Subject: BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge A Broken Blade (part 5/?) Date: 02 Jun 1998 19:53:34 -0400 SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT=20 This story contains extensive references to any and all episodes up to and including Becoming II. BE WARNED: if you haven=92t seen those episodes, READ NO FURTHER! (actually this part is almost=20 spoiler free, but better safe than sorry) THIS=20 SPACE=20 IS=20 FOR=20 YOUR PROTECTION See part one for disclaimers and notes. Comments or requests for previous parts to conor@dnaco.net PLEASE DO NOT=20 DISTRIBUTE WITHOUT TALKING TO ME FIRST! Hours had passed since he=92d gotten the call, and Rick=20 had sunk so deeply into depression that Buffy was becoming=20 worried. =93So, what=92s the plan?=94 she asked, trying to break his fall into the darkness. She knew where he was headed. She=92d been there herself. And she knew that if she didn=92t get him doing something about this, he was going to be completely useless. He looked at her without comprehension for a few=20 moments before replying, =93Plan?=94 =93Yeah, you know. That thing where we figure out what=20 to do to rescue your daughter from the demons. That=92s called a=20 plan. They=92re fun, and you usually need one to succeed at=20 monster bashing.=94 =93The plan is I die trying to rescue her. Happy now?=94 =93Ok, that=92s a plan. Now can we come up with a plan that=20 doesn=92t suck in such a major way?=94 =93No,=94 he said without looking up, =93We can=92t. Golab is=20 bad news like neither of us has ever seen. He=92s one of the=20 really big demons that no-one in their right minds tries to summon. I can=92t stop him, you can=92t stop him, no-one can stop him. I had to lie to Trina because she was already right on=20 the edge of sanity. How could I tell her that I can=92t fix this?=94 His attitude was starting to piss Buffy off. =93Ok, look!=94 she said, =93This is _not_ _productive_! Why=20 don=92t you try to stop whining and tell me what=92s going on, so at=20 least one of us can do something about it.=94 Rick sighed. =93All right,=94 he said mechanically, =93The guys we stopped=20 the other night are part of a cult that worships demons. These=20 particular cultists have apparently come across the formula to=20 summon Golab to our world. Golab is known as the Prince of=20 War. He=92s designed to kill and nothing else. When he can=92t kill=20 mortals, he kills his own kind, so they=92ll be glad to get rid of=20 him for a while.=94=20 =93He=92ll kill more people here than anything you can=20 imagine. To appease him, and keep him from killing them, the=20 cultists need virgins, a lot of them. They took my eleven year=20 old daughter in vengeance for our interference.=94 =93When you say Prince of War, how bad is that?=94 =93Almost all demons have a focus. Some are=20 manipulators, and some, like those that inhabit vampires,=20 possess mortals. Golab exists to kill, and given the chance=20 he=92ll kill everything on the planet. He=92s not big in the sense of sucking the whole world into Hell, but he=92ll do a passable job of _turning_ the world into one, at least for a while.=94 =93So, how do we beat him?=94 =93I don=92t think we do. Everything I=92ve read points to the fact that he has none of a demon=92s normal weaknesses. You=20 either send him back, or kill him physically. Since neither of us does magic, that leaves plan B, and I just don=92t think I=20 can do it. The last time he was summoned, an adept sent him=20 back, but not before he wiped out a small village. We can't=20 even do that much.=94 =93So what do we do?=94 she asked. =93_You_ don=92t do anything. This is not about you. You=92re=20 retired, remember? My advice is for you to move far from here.=20 Maybe he=92ll get bored and go home before he gets to you. I=92ve=20 already said what I have to do. I try to get my kid back, and=20 die fighting Golab.=94 =93Can=92t we get her back before he comes?=94 =93Not unless you have a virgin detector on you. I won=92t=20 know where she is for...=94 He glanced at the calendar in the=20 kitchen. =93...three more nights.=94 Buffy looked at the calendar. =93Dark of the moon?=94 =93Yeah, replied Rick, =93They=92ll want every advantage for=20 this summoning. Golab is not one to invite to a party and then=20 not let in. He can reach across the veil to punish those who=20 tease him.=94 Buffy thought for a moment then said, =93You know where=20 they=92ll summon him at? We could stake it out.=94 =93I know the general area where the Vortex is.=94 Rick=20 responded, =91I think when they open the portal, I=92ll be able to=20 use the swords to find it. Until then, there=92s no way to be=20 sure I=92m in the right place.=94 =93So we wait.=94 said Buffy. =93Look,=94 Rick snapped, =93I said you were not in on this.=20 What I want you to do is pack your shit and get out. Take the=20 Toyota,=94 he walked over to his desk and got an envelope out of=20 it, =93and this money, and get the Hell out of Dayton before it=92s=20 too fucking late.=94 =93And you get to go and fight this thing alone.=94 Buffy=20 said with an edge to her voice, =93You know, I did that same=20 thing a couple of times, and it always ended poorly. I=92m not=20 going to let that happen to you. Like it or not, I=92m in this=20 with you, so you may as well accept it.=94 Rick glowered at her, and Buffy gave him a look of smug satisfaction. =93Don=92t bother,=94 she said, =93I=92ve had a British=20 librarian as a Watcher for two years. You can=92t even begin to compete. After a moment, Rick nodded. =93Okay,=94 he said, =93You want to come along, come along.=20 But we do this my way. You do this, you follow orders.=94 =93You got it,=94 she replied. *Unless you do something stupid,* she thought to=20 herself. They spent the next couple of days preparing. They=20 sparred for five or six hours a day. It wasn=92t the friendly=20 sparring of before, but hard -- each of them pulling out all the dirty tricks they knew. When Rick wasn=92t in the gym, he was away from the=20 house. At first, Buffy had complained, figuring that he=92d=20 ditch her when the time came and leave her at the house. =93Look,=94 he said when she finally confronted him,=20 =93I said you could be a part of this, and I=92ll keep my word, no matter how much I=92d like it otherwise. What I=92m doing=20 now, is getting my affairs in order -- making arrangements in case I die, making sure my will is up to date, that kind of thing. If you distrust me so much that you won=92t take my word on this, you can come along tomorrow.=94 =93That=92s okay,=94 she said, suddenly ashamed of her lack of trust, =93I just worry about you. You=92re not entirely rational right now, and I know how that feels.=94 Finally, the night of the new moon came. They climbed=20 into Rick=92s car and drove into the countryside around=20 Beavercreek. Rick kept one hand on the hilt of his sword,=20 waiting for the tell-tale twitch that would tell him they were=20 close to their goal. As he drove, Rick told Buffy, =93Okay, here=92s the plan. I=92m gonna get all their attention. It shouldn=92t be hard once I kill a few of them. You wait until they all come after me, then you get the girls and get them out of here.=94 Buffy started to complain, but Rick cut her off, =93I=92m=20 counting on you to take care of that part of the plan, because=20 once I get into combat with Golab, I=92m not gonna have the=20 extra concentration to worry about my daughter. I know that=20 you=92ll take care of her, so I can put all my attention on=20 killing the big bastard. This is what I need you to do,=20 nothing more. Just get them out of there.=94 Buffy nodded her head. They drove along in quiet for a while, when the sword=20 under Rick=92s hand twitched. =93Show time,=94 he said bleakly. He pulled the car over, grabbed both swords and began=20 walking in a slow circle. There was a definite tug in one=20 direction, and as soon as he was sure he had it they both=20 headed off at a dead run. They ran for about two miles, through a cornfield and a small forest, until they came to the edge of a clearing. From the clearing came a sonorous voice, =93...implore=20 you, great Lord, come forth into this world a remake it anew.=20 Mighty Golab, we who are so unworthy do offer up the world as=20 your hunting ground and as a sign of our faith, we offer these=20 sweet morsels for your pleasure.=94 Buffy=92s skin was crawling. She could feel the Vortex=20 open, so like the one that swallowed Angel, and for a moment,=20 she thought she wouldn=92t be able to go through with this. Then=20 a girl screamed, and shook her from her dark thoughts and=20 back to the present. Rick had eased forward to the very edge of the=20 clearing, and Buffy crawled up next to him. The Vortex was open, a swirling orange mass that=20 reeked of evil. In the clearing were about thirty men, dressed=20 in robes, all kneeling toward the Vortex. One man stood, book=20 in hand, and gave the invocation. Off to the side, a cage had=20 been erected, and inside were thirteen young girls, ranging in=20 age from about ten to seventeen. They were guarded by two=20 more robed men. Buffy took this all in with a brief glance, because as she got into position, something stepped out of the Vortex. It was about seven feet tall, built lean, with the=20 leathery skin of a typical demon. It was naked, and thankfully=20 sexless, armed with an axe that looked capable of cutting an ox=20 in two. It stood to one side of the Vortex, glaring at the=20 assembled cultists, as two more just like it came out. =93Reavers,=94 Rick said quietly, =93Golab=92s lieutenants.=20 Time to move. I=92ll need to kill one of them before Golab gets here. Remember the plan, get the girls back to the car and get them the Hell out of here.=94 He stood up and charged into the clearing without=20 preamble. Both swords were moving so swiftly that it was nearly=20 impossible to follow their paths in the flickering light of=20 the Vortex. Whenever Rick got near a cultist, the cultist died, gutted or dismembered. Rick never slowed as he approached=20 the Vortex, and he left a cut swathe of corpses in his wake. It didn=92t take long for everybody to notice him. The=20 leader screamed, =93Kill him!=94 and all the surviving cultists=20 moved to surround him. The Reavers howled and shambled=20 forward, axes raised aggressively. When anyone got too close, Rick killed him. Buffy waited about twenty seconds, and headed around=20 the edge of the clearing toward the cage. The two cultists were=20 still guarding it, but Buffy was so worked up that they didn=92t=20 last fifteen seconds. As she finished with them, she kicked the=20 latch of the cage, shattering it like it was made of porcelain. =93Everybody out, now!=94 she said to the obviously=20 traumatized girls, =93That guy=92s buying us the time for me to get=20 you out of here.=94 She ushered them toward the edge of the clearing. As she did, one of the girls looked over at the fight and said, =93Daddy?=94 She stopped. =93Oh God,=94 she continued, =93That=92s my=20 Daddy. They=92re going to kill him!=94 She started toward the fight, and Buffy had to grab her=20 to keep her from jumping the nearest cultist. =93We have to help him!=94 the girl cried, =93There=92s too=20 many of them!=94 Buffy thought fast. =93Can any of you drive?=94 she asked. One girl raised her hand. Buffy gave her the keys to Rick=92s car and said,=20 =93There=92s a car a couple of miles that way. Take everybody and get out of here.=94 She turned to Rick=92s daughter, =93You get the rest of the girls out of here, and I=92ll help your Dad.=94 When the girl nodded, Buffy said, =93Go on! Hurry!=94 Buffy turned toward the battle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sah (by way of sah ) Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN: List rules Date: 02 Jun 1998 22:54:41 -0400 Welcome! This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," both the TV series and the movie. To ensure that we all get to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following guidelines, and please save them for future reference. 1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related to Buffy. Crossovers are great, and expected, but general vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't use Buffy characters belong somewhere else. 2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist. Please put "DISCUSS" in your s*bject line. Requests for missing story parts should go directly to the author, and not be posted to the list. Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over to the general Buffy list. Discussion of fiction is expected to follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language. 3. No advertising of items or services, Buffy related or not, and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc.. No attached files of kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction into attached files, you need to find another way to get it to the list. 4. If you're writing a story and including advance information on a new episode, and you're posting your story earlier than the national viewing time, please: **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the s*bject header. **Leave about twelve lines (blank or with non-spoiler info) at the top of the post. 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By s*bscribing and/or posting to this list, you acknowledge that Buffy the Vampire slayer and all characters associated with either the televised series or the motion picture were created by Josh Whedon and are owned by Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions, Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox. All stories posted to this list are for entertainment purposes only, are not sold for profit of any kind, and are not intended to infringe on any copyrights. 7. When posting stories to the list, please follow the following formatting guidelines --No story parts longer than 250 lines --No lines longer than 75 characters --Turn off your "smart quotes"-- many readers receive these as garbage or weird symbols --Put the title of the story in the s*bject header, indicate if it's a multipart story, and if so what part this is. Example: Buffy Meets Godzilla (2/65) indicates that this post is part two of a 65 part story. 8. If a story is rated "R" for language/violence, indicate this in an introduction. For example, "There's a really bloody fight scene at the end of this part" or "if you don't like dismemberment, stop reading now!" If there's chance that someone might be disturbed by something in your story (even if it's not rated R) please include some kind of warning up front. 9. And last, but not least, the listowners reserve the right to deny s*bscription (new, renewed, or continued) to the list for any individual(s). PLEASE NOTE: not following any or all of these rules will get you the following: **First offense: offender is uns*bscribed for one week. **Second offense: offender is uns*bscribed to the Buffyfic list for a minimum of three months. **If the offender returns and does it again, they're offlist permanently. As noted above, posting sexually explicit material is the exception -- you go straight to permanent uns*bbing. Again, welcome! If you have any questions about these rules, please contact either one of us offlist. If you have s*bscription problems or questions, the fastest way to get help is to e-mail one of us at the addresses below, at the kirby@xmission.com addy which is the "official" e-mail owner of the list. Jill Kirby (jtkirby@mcs.com) & sah (romana@mindspring.com) Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List buffyfic@xmission.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Andrea Newbery" Subject: BUFFYFIC: Repercussions, part 8 by Andrea Date: 02 Jun 1998 20:18:35 PDT Title: Repercussions part 8 (this was only supposed to be ten chapters, but sadly, it has gotten much longer. Sorry.) Author: Andrea e-mail: anewbery@hotmail.com Summary: Um...well it's after B2, so it's basically my attempt to make everything all better. Well, after I make them suffer a bit more. :) Disclaimers: The characters in this story are not mine. They are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, WB, etc. I am not making any money from this. Feedback: Please. Good and bad. Again, a huge thank you to Rachel for her help with this. :) Chapter eight Sunnydale High School Library August 21, 1998 "So, you've got it all. Everything? Cause if we miss anything." Xander spoke in a voice that was one step away from going over the edge. "Well, we can't miss anything." Moving erratically around the library, he was stuffing books haphazardly into his bag. Not checking to see if they were books they needed, just tossing them in. Obviously subscribing to the notion that more is always better. "Xander." Cordelia stopped packing her bag and stared at him, understanding his behavior was due to the night ahead. She really couldn't fault him for being nervous, but unable to stop herself from speaking, "Relax, I've got everything." She supposed you couldn't relax too much when you knew you were going to hell later that day. To save someone you considered a killer. When she looked at things in that light, she was amazed he was keeping it that together. He had even managed to wear clothes that almost matched, studying him she realized that was probably another sign of his anxiety. "Relax?" His voice swung high, then cracked. He stared at her like she had suddenly grown another head. "I'm going to hell in less than three hours!" Throwing the book he was holding on the table and falling into one of the chairs. "Re_lax_!?" Cordelia watched him, relieved he had finally said the words. He had been so busy last night talking about anything but the day ahead. She had tried a few times to discuss it but he had always changed the subject. Looking at him sitting there, so nervous she thought he would explode, she carefully began speaking the thought that kept running through her mind. "Don't go. " Swallowing down her nervousness she continued, "Giles said Buffy would be okay. Whistler even said he thought it would be Buffy who went. Why not wait?" She watched him digest her words, knowing from the look of disgust that was appearing on his face that he wasn't going to go for it. She could see him thinking about her words, discounting them. Because she was Cordelia, they were probably wrong. She didn't know what else she could do to prove to him that she wasn't the same person she had been. She barely remembered who that person was. He was such a big part of the reason she had changed so much, and she had finally thought he was noticing. Swallowing the sudden rush of bitterness in her throat, she spoke again. "Don't look at me like I'm being selfish. It's not selfish to not want your boyfriend to go to hell. It's just sane. You are not Buffy, you don't do things like this." She watched him, her eyes pleading with him to understand. To stop this here, but knowing he wouldn't. She watched him drum his fingers on the table, his body unable to be still. She forced her shoulders to relax, her lips to smile at him. She had known this wouldn't work, but she had to try it. If he felt he had to do this, she would support him. She would walk with him to the edge of hell. If he had to do this. Her voice trembling slightly she finished, "But if you have to, I won't try to stop you again." He was silent for a moment, his eyes suddenly fascinated by the far wall. She watched the pulse in his neck throbbing and held herself back from begging him not to do it. He looked at her finally, trademark Xander grin in place, standing up he reached for her, "Think of it less like sending your boyfriend to hell and more like helping your boyfriend free yet another demon loose to roam on this planet." Shaking her head at him, knowing he wanted her to go along with him. Pretend that this was no big deal. Summoning her courage, needing to help him through this, she answered, "Do you plan on being this witty with the devil?" He looked at her, his face shocked, "The devil?" Dropping her hands he began pacing around the room, stopping only to look at her with disbelief, "The devil?" Breaking eye contact, he continued his almost spastic movements around the library. Pausing he stared at her again, his face questioning. "Do you think there really is a devil? The big badness. Head of all that is undead and generally nasty things?" His voice getting louder with every word. Looking around the room wildly he started pacing again. She watched him, trying desperately to think of something to say. Unable to she just stood there, waiting. Finally he came to a halt beside a chair, grimacing then smiled weakly at her. "I was thinking more along the lines of...well, some fires... a few tortured souls. But that's as far as I got. The devil?" Throwing himself into a chair he put his hands to his head, "What am I doing? I'm a coward, I have to remember that." Slumping back in the chair he looked at her, a mixture of bravado and fear on his face. Her heart aching for him she walked over and slipped into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly. She leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his body against hers. Trying not to think of the possibility she might not feel it again. She felt his muscles relaxing as he held her. She smiled, grateful she could be of some help to him. Wondering how she had gotten to this point, were he meant so much to her. When the thought of a future without him had become so abhorrent to her. She leaned against him, enjoying the feel of the afternoon sun streaming in through the window. He began kissing her neck and she moved her head, allowing him better access. Putting his hands on her shoulders he pulled her around until her upper body was facing his. The look on his face was intense, a young man headed off to war, not knowing if he would return. He cupped his hands softly on her face, and pulling her in began to kiss her, softly at first then harder. He kissed her with an intensity that took her breath away, her thoughts away. She kissed him back with the same fevour. A kiss between two people scared they may never kiss again. Finally breaking the kiss she ran her hand over his face, memorizing the feel of his skin under her hand. "Xander?" "Um." She spoke softly, not wanting to upset the fragile calm that had settled over them. "If you can't do it? If it's too hard or too scary...come back. Don't try to be a hero? Please? Promise me that?" Her voice broke on the last word but she held back her tears. Her eyes pleading with him. He smiled softly at her, leaned forward and kissed her nose. Brushing her hair away from her face he spoke, "Promise. Cordie, I'm coming back." He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "And I'll have Angel with me." His eyes were less afraid now, more determined, the soldier from his halloween memories coming to the front. Running her fingers through his hair she smiled bravely at him. Refusing to let him see the worry she was feeling. She could feel his body tightening under her as the reality of what he was doing settled in on him once more. Leaning her head against his shoulder she closed her eyes, taking a moment to memorize this feeling. Her head on his shoulder she looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop the next words out of her mouth. She knew they were selfish, unimportant, but she needed to know. Needed to prepare for every possibility. Speaking to the ceiling she started, "Why?" Feeling him stiffen at her words she refused to look at him. She stared at the ceiling as if it held the answers she was looking for. She could feel his hesitation, knew exactly the expression on his face without looking. The patented Xander mixture of guilt and fear. She felt him take a deep breath finally and speak, "Why what?" Smiling at his attempt to stall she spoke the words quickly before her courage ran out at what his answer may be. " Why risk it? Why not wait for Buffy? Why would you go to hell for her, to save her boyfriend? Is it because you are still in love with her?" She marvelled at how casual her voice sounded, how calm. As if his answer couldn't destroy her. Counting the holes in the ceiling tiles to pass the time she waited. "No. I love her, I'm not in love with her." Xander's voice was clear. Letting out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, she turned to face him waiting for him to continue. His eyes held hers, begging her to believe his words. She touched his face, wrinkling her nose at him. Rewarded with his smile, he began to explain. " I owe this to her. She is the slayer. She has saved us, saved the world. Now she needs something that I can give her." He paused, taking a deep breath his eyes filled with regret, "Maybe something I took from her. " Her eyes misted at the pain and guilt in his words. Wanting to help him she slid off his lap and turning, knelt in front of him. Her hands holding his she spoke, "You did what you thought was right. You didn't do it to hurt her." Her voice was strong, the tone almost angry. She didn't wanting him running into hell on some suicide mission because he felt he had failed Buffy. "Does that matter though?" His voice sounded so young, so broken. Looking at him, at the lines on his face, the dark circles under his eyes she realized how important this was to him. He looked at her, shoulders slumped, his face wreathed in misery, "Willow risked her life to do the curse. I decided that didn't count. Willow is my best friend and I let her risk her life for nothing." His voice faded as he spoke. His fingers were digging into her palm. She didn't move, didn't speak, just waited for him to continue. "I did it because I lost faith in her. That's what I tell myself." He spoke in a voice laced with disgust. She tensed, knowing it was directed at himself. "But did I really lose faith? I'm not sure anymore. It doesn't matter though. The result is what matters." Squeezing her hands he let them go, his eyes determined again. "I have to do this." She let him go, realizing, maybe even more than he did, how important this was to him. Understanding that for him the pain of losing both Willow and Buffy was too much for him. She stood offered her hand to pull him to his feet. Standing he put his arms around her and rested his head against her neck. She buried her face on his shoulder, vowing to herself that she would make Willow and Buffy understand. If he failed she would do whatever it took for them to forgive him. Feeling a surge of protectiveness run through her she held on tighter, not wanting to ever let him go. Sighing, she pulled back looking into his face. Leaning into him she began to kiss his face slowly. His forehead, eyebrows, eyelids. Each kiss a promise that things would be okay. That she would make sure of it. He stood quietly, letting her kiss him without responding. She kissed his nose, cheeks, chin. Then she brushed lightly over his lips, a tiny whisper. He came alive then, his mouth searching hers, almost violently. She returned the kiss in the same fashion, understanding his need for the intimacy. They remained wrapped in each other, neither hearing the door open or the sound of Giles feet as he walked into the library. "Ah-hem." They jumped apart guiltily, letting go of each other and turning to him. Standing closely together arms at their sides. Giles glanced at them, then down at the table and all the books they had covering it. He looked to them, gestured at the table, waiting for an explanation. She felt Xander tensing beside her, so she spoke first, thinking he would want to know, but would be afraid to ask. "How's Buffy?" Praying that it was good news, she was afraid of Xander's reaction if they hadn't been able to help her. Giles looked at the table for a second longer, then letting it go for the moment, "Good. She's fragile, but I think in time...she will learn to deal with this." He hesitated then continued, his demeanor conveying his discomfort with his words. "X-Xander, m...maybe you should stay away from her for a while." Xander nodded at him, grabbing Cordelia's hand. She squeezed it, trying to support him through her fingers. Feeling helpless to make this any easier for him. She waited for Xander to begin to speak, to tell Giles of their plans. When he didn't seem to do anything she opened her mouth, beginning to tell Giles, Xander's body swung around and he glared at her, his eyes telling her to keep quiet. Grabbing their bags he took her by the arm, speaking to Giles for the first time, "Right. Of course. We'll go now. Bye." He dragged her from the library leaving Giles watching them. Once they got outside Cordelia pulled her arm free, glaring at him. "Why didn't you tell him. That was our deal. He can help us." Glancing back towards the library he spoke angrily, " Really? Help me? Help me go to hell to save Angel. assisted, might I add, by another demon that we know nothing about. He'd never go for it." She looked at him, seeing the new hurt on his face from Giles words. She pleaded with him, "But..." "It's done." His voice was remote, she could feel him pulling away from her again. She shuddered, feeling suddenly chilled in spite of the afternoon sun. He continued speaking, his voice dead, "We do it tonight. If I can't get Angel, well nobody even has to know I tried. I'll tell Giles then, only then." She stood there for a moment, trying to decide what to do. Should she go back inside and tell Giles herself, or should she honor Xander's wish. Not knowing what to do she just stood there, looking at him. He didn't move, didn't change his facial expression, nothing that would help her decide. She pictured Giles, the library, how they had always depended on him to come up with the right answers. Her mind caught, rewound, realizing that there should be enough information on the table for Giles to figure out what they were doing. She relaxed, putting her faith in Giles that he would figure it out in time and make sure everything turned out okay. Trying to hide her thoughts from Xander she looked at the ground, answering him, "Okay." They walked slowly down the road, away from the library. Wandering towards the park, they found a bench and sat down. Arms wrapped around each other, unable to speak anymore. They waited as the afternoon faded away. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "R. Smith" Subject: BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge A Broken Blade (part 7/?) Date: 03 Jun 1998 01:04:24 -0400 SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT=20 This story contains extensive references to any and all episodes up to and including Becoming II. BE WARNED: if you haven=92t seen those episodes, READ NO FURTHER!=20 (actually this part is almost spoiler free, but better safe than sorry) THIS=20 SPACE=20 IS=20 FOR=20 YOUR PROTECTION See part one for disclaimers and notes. Comments or requests for previous parts to conor@dnaco.net PLEASE DO NOT=20 DISTRIBUTE WITHOUT TALKING TO ME FIRST! Rick was surrounded by about twelve men. Two of the=20 demons were still standing, and Rick was engaged in a=20 furious exchange of blows with one of them. The cultists=20 were trying to get in grappling range, but whenever one of=20 them did, either Rick or the demon killed them. They were=20 beginning to hang back, but Buffy could see that given an=20 opening, they=92d grab Rick, and the fight would be all over. =93Hey boys,=94 Buffy called, =93I just let all your sacrifices=20 go.=94 Most of the cultists eagerly moved away from the=20 fight, and attacked Buffy. She opened up on them with a devastating barrage=20 of punches and kicks that left four of them bleeding at her=20 feet. She whirled through the group of them, never=20 stopping for longer than it took to throw a punch or a kick.=20 She knew that to stop was to die. Except for the attack in=20 Dayton itself, Buffy had never really cut loose on mortals=20 before, and in that fight she could hardly say she was in=20 top form. Now, after weeks of heavy training with Rick, she=20 was cutting through this group of goons like a hot knife=20 through butter. Every punch or kick broke a bone, or worse. Rick was holding his own against the Reaver and=20 the few cultists that had stayed near him. He realized that=20 direct blocks were out of the question, since the Reaver=92s=20 axe weighed almost as much as Rick. He was doing a lot of=20 ducking and dodging, using the relative slowness of the axe=20 against its wielder. The beast was extremely adept at=20 keeping out of sword=92s reach, however, and although Rick=20 was keeping the demon at bay, he couldn=92t score a telling=20 blow of his own. Suddenly, the Vortex shivered, the air in the=20 clearing screamed, and with a heavy thud like an=20 elephant=92s tread, Golab stepped through the Vortex and=20 into our world. He was huge, approaching twelve feet tall, and=20 covered with layers and layers of muscle. He was truly=20 hideous, covered with a mottled grey-green hide and=20 sporting six inch fangs and glowing yellow eyes. In one=20 ham-sized hand he bore a seven foot long, serrated-edge=20 sword. With the other, he grabbed the nearest screaming=20 cultist and casually bit off his head. His entrance distracted everyone, but Rick recovered=20 before anyone else and, with a quick scissoring motion,=20 beheaded the Reaver he was facing. He leapt over the fallen=20 monster and threw himself bodily at Golab. He held small=20 hope that he could beat Golab in a fight, and hoped that he=20 might get lucky in the first moments of Golab=92s invasion. Golab backhanded him out of the air, knocking him=20 a dozen feet through the air, where he landed with a thud.=20 Golab growled something to the remaining Reaver who=20 promptly lumbered toward Buffy. It began to fade from=20 view as it moved, and soon it was nearly transparent. Buffy was down to her last few cultists, and was=20 finding that the fewer they were, the harder they were to=20 kill. They didn=92t foul each other up as much, and were=20 better able to work together against her. She was sure that=20 given time, she=92d have no trouble taking them out, but she=20 was worried about Rick. She had her back to that fight, and=20 her opponents were keeping her that way. They=92d moved=20 into a semi-circle, and were trying to use wolf-pack tactics=20 on her. consequently, she had no idea that the last Reaver=20 was moving slowly, and nearly invisibly, toward her. Rick got shakily to his feet and charged Golab.=20 Using the same duck and sting tactics he=92d used on the=20 Reaver, he pushed Golab back a few feet, and slowly began=20 to get the upper hand in the battle. His two swords whirled=20 in a constant circle of death, actually connecting with the=20 demon=92s thick hide on several occasions.=20 Golab was slower than Rick, but faster than the=20 Reavers and as the fight wore on, Rick knew that Golab=20 would just wear him down. The Reaver rose up behind Buffy, losing its cloaking=20 field as it raised its axe for a killing blow. Buffy sensed it at the last minute, and even as she=20 tensed to throw herself to the side, she knew she was going=20 to be too slow. Rick had not been paying much attention to the rest=20 of the clearing, and so he almost missed the Reaver as it=20 crept up on the distracted Slayer. *Dammit!* he thought to himself, *What is she=20 _doing_ here?* *Doing her best to back your stupid ass up,* he=20 replied, *and getting ready to die in the attempt.* *Damn.* he thought, and did the only thing he=20 could. Buffy tensed to receive the blow when she heard=20 Rick yell from across the clearing,=93Godguidemyhandagainstthedarkness.=94 There was a crunch of metal cutting bone, and the=20 Reaver fell to the ground beside her, Rick=92s sword piercing=20 its breastbone. Buffy finished the last of her dumbfounded=20 opponents and turned to see what was happening in the=20 other fight. With only one sword, Rick was hard-pressed to keep=20 Golab off of him. He was fighting a purely defensive battle,=20 and still losing ground. Buffy pulled the sword from the dead Reaver and=20 ran toward the fight. She hadn=92t taken more than four or five steps when=20 Golab feinted with his sword and then grabbed Rick with=20 his free hand. Buffy could hear bones crunch from where=20 she was, and knew that if she didn=92t do something, this=20 fight was over. Rick tried to scream in agony as his ribs shattered=20 from the crushing grip. The pain was so bad that he nearly=20 fainted, staying conscious by force of will alone. Golab was grinning as he brought Rick closer to his fanged maw. The monster was sure he had won,=20 and was already looking forward to turning the Earth=20 into a killing field. As he came within sword-reach of Golab=92s face,=20 Rick muttered, =93Here=92s a little something to remember me=20 by, you ugly fuck.=94 and used all of his remaining strength to=20 drive his sword into Golab=92s left eye. Golab howled as the blessed steel drove straight to=20 the back of his head. He threw Rick away from him, tearing=20 the sword from Rick=92s feeble grasp, and sending Rick=20 soaring high into the air to arc across the clearing and=20 crash into a tree with the sickening sound of still more=20 bones breaking. Golab staggered around the clearing a bit, finally=20 plucking the sword from the gore-filled hole that used to be=20 its eye. Its remaining eye focused on Rick=92s prone body, and=20 the beast moved toward him purposefully. Buffy took all this in in shocked silence. It had all=20 happened so quickly, she=92d had no time to react. Finally,=20 she shook herself, and charged forward, already sure she=92d=20 be too late to stop Golab from finishing Rick off. She=20 glanced at the sword in her hand, hoping that she=92d have=20 the strength to finish what Rick had started. The=20 inscription on the blade glowed eerily in the light of the=20 Vortex, and Buffy realized that if she wanted to save Rick,=20 she=92d have to try. =93God guide my hand against the Darkness,=94 she=20 whispered, and with a surge of power and a twist of her=20 shoulders, she let the sword fly toward Golab=92s back. It sailed across the intervening space like a missile,=20 and for a moment, everything in the clearing went quiet. Golab sensed the blade coming, and began to turn.=20 His sword started to come up in defense as Buffy=92s sword=20 took him under the left armpit. Golab screamed as the blade pierced his black heart,=20 and dropped to his knees, dropping his sword. He plucked=20 weakly at the hilt sticking out of his side for a few seconds,=20 and then he toppled to the ground. The Vortex went out like a blown-out candle,=20 plunging the clearing into darkness. Buffy ran over to the crumpled form on the ground,=20 kneeling next to him. Rick was still breathing, if poorly, but it was obvious=20 even to Buffy=92s untrained eye that his back was broken. She=20 wanted to do something, but had no idea what would help=20 and what would do more damage. As she sat there, trying to decide what to do, Rick=20 opened his eyes. =93Golab....?=94 he whispered, stopping to cough thickly. =93Dead,=94 Buffy said, =93You got him.=94 Rick nodded, coughed up more blood, and said, =93Not=20 much... time left. Need a favor.....=94 He looked at her hopefully, then lapsed into more=20 coughing. When Buffy nodded, he continued, =93My desk... letter=20 for you......instructions......=94 Buffy felt tears begin to burn their way to her eyes,=20 but held them in check enough to reply, =93Whatever it says.=20 I=92ll do it. You just rest till we get you out of here.=94 Rick tried to chuckle, lapsed into more coughing and=20 said,=94 No...... Broken inside, back, lungs... already dead.=94 His eyes closed, and Buffy thought he was gone, but=20 they snapped open again. =93No guilt, miss,=94 he said, =93We won....... I knew...this=20 was only way..... No way to change my fate. Rhi is ok?=94 Buffy nodded, and said, =93They=92re all to the car by=20 now and on their way home.=94 =93You go now....=94 Rick muttered, =93Don=92t grieve.=20 There=92s....=94 He fell into a fit of coughing so bad, Buffy could hear=20 his shattered ribs grinding together. As it finished, he=20 grabbed her hand firmly and gazed deeply into her eyes. =93Proud of you,=94 he coughed, =93Love.....you.=94 With a shudder, he died. Buffy sat there until dawn, holding his hand as it=20 cooled and crying softly. When the sun rose, she stood,=20 brushed the tears from her eyes, and started the long walk=20 back to his house. She had a promise to keep. ********** In Rick=92s desk were two letters, one with her name=20 printed on it, the other unmarked. She opened the one addressed to her. Dear Buffy, If you=92re reading this, then I=92m dead but the world=20 goes on. I=92m sorry to not be there with you. My time with=20 you has been the best in a long time. Please, take one of my swords and the letter that=20 you found with this one, and give them to my son. Try to=20 explain to him what happened and let him know that he=92s=20 up, but that he doesn=92t have to do this if he doesn=92t want to.=20 The letter spells it out for him as well as giving him details=20 about how to take over for me if he chooses this life. I just=20 think it=92ll be easier for him to hear coming from you. Take the other sword for yourself as a remembrance of=20 an old man whom you made very happy by sharing his life. Also go to the self storage on Shoup Mill Road and open storage=20 garage #126. (the key is enclosed). Everything in it is for=20 you, to help you on your way. With me gone it won=92t be safe for you in Dayton anymore. Go away. My advice is go home. In the past weeks, I=92ve learned=20 that friendship is not so over-rated after all. You have people that care about you very much, and you need them. Don=92t end up=20 like me -- so alone and lonely that you don=92t even remember what happiness is like. Go home -- even if you never slay another=20 monster in your entire life. I hear you stirring in the next room, so I have to=20 finish this damned letter. I hate good-byes, but this pretty=20 much has to be one so good-bye. Love, Rick Buffy stared at the page, trying to sort through her=20 feelings. She was so close to breaking down again that she=20 didn=92t know how she was going to make it. She wanted to=20 scream and cry and throw things, but she knew that Rick=20 would not be impressed. Unable to figure out exactly how=20 she felt, she went inside and began to pack. She=92d deliver=20 her packages to Rick=92s son, go see what he=92d left her, and=20 then decide what to do. more to come.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "R. Smith" Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge A Broken Blade (part 5/?) Date: 03 Jun 1998 01:06:11 -0400 Hrmph..... accidentally posted Part six with the Part five label. Hope everybody caught it before they autodeleted it. -R ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: annanara@juno.com (Annanara a.k.a Anna) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Dreams of Nothing Date: 03 Jun 1998 01:41:32 EDT TITLE: Dreams of Nothing AUTHOR: Annanara DISTRIBUTION: Serendipity's wonderful archive "The Labyrinth", Willfic archive, and Anya's Slayer's Fanfic Archive, anyone else, please ask. DISCLAIMER: I don't own Buffy & Co., though Joss Whedon does and is doing a wonderful job! (Don't you agree? :) SETTING: This is set maybe a few days after the season fnale. Xander stood in the middle of nowhere. He was surrounded by nothing but white mist and a blanket of black in the distance. Other than himself, nothing else seemed to exist. I'm dreaming, he thought. I have to be, even in Sunnydale nothing is this...vacant. "Xander," a voice called out behind him. He turned to find Buffy standing before him, her eyes dark and emotionless. "Buffy!! Boy am I glad to see you!" Xander exclaimed. He was so happy to see her, he didn't notice that she never smiled at him. "What are you doing here? Where did you go? What happened to you and Angel? Giles is going nuts!" He waited for Buffy to reply, but she just stood there silently. "Buffy?" He tried to walk toward her, but whenever he took a step forward it seemed like nothing happened. It was like he was walking on a treadmill. He couldn't tell if he was really moving at all. The lack of landmarks didn't help in judging distances either. He started running to her, but the result was the same. He was always out of reach of her. He kept running and running until he had to stop to catch his breath. When he did, Buffy suddenly turned to her side as the mist churned from being disturbed. Out of the mist Angel, sporting a part human, part demon face, came walking out. She smiled up at Angel and hugged him. Turning to Xander one last time, she said, "I love Angel," before walking into the mist with him. "Buffy, wait!!" Xander lept at her, but it was not good, they were gone. "Buffy...." "Xander," a new voice said behind him. He spun around quickly to find himself facing Cordelia. "Cordy? Cordy, Buffy was just here and she was with Angel! We have to find her!" Xander moved towards Cordelia and got nearly within reach before he was mysteriously stopped again. He ran, jumped, sprinted, everything he could think of to get nearer, but it was no use. "Buffy did this, Buffy did that. Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. What about me?" Cordelia asked, her voice as cold as ice. When he realized that Cordelia wasn't commenting on his antics, he became worried. "Cordelia?" He paused, his heart sinking. "You...you know I like you, right?" "I can't say ‘I love you.'" Cordelia stated and turned, walking into the mist that whispered her name in a chant. Xander lunged at her in one last desperate attempt to keep her from leaving, but as with all the others, it was useless. I'm useless, he thought mournfully. I'm losing them all. He fell to the ground, hugging his knees and rocking. I must be dreaming, I have to be dreaming...I can't be losing them...but I am...I'm lossing them all. Everyone but... "Xander." He stopped his rocking and hid his face, closing his eyes tightly. Not her too, please god, not her too, Xander silently pleaded. Have mercy. Anyone but her... "Xander," the voice repeated. I won't turn around. Maybe she'll just...I don't want to face her... His thoughts were in confusion. He hoped she'd go away, but he didn't want her to leave him. On the other hand, he didn't want to hear the words she'd have to say to him. "Xander," the familiar voice said again, it's tone cold and distant. Xander shook his head. He hazarded a glance from his hiding spot and saw Willow standing before him. "Willow..." he sighed sadly. This time, he could see the total lack of emotion on her face, the emptiness in her eyes. He wanted to look away, but found himself standing instead. Her dull eyes watched him as he stood. He tried to mentally brace himself against what she would have to say. I can take it, he thought stoically, knowing that, in the end, he wouldn't be able to. A shifting in the mist caught his attention again and he watched as a part werewolf, part human Oz walked out of the mist. He walked up to Willow, pulling her into a hug. She smiled up at him, her whole face lighting up, her eyes filled with contentment and joy. Xander tried to look away, but couldn't. Words could never describe the pain he felt in his heart upon seeing them together like this. It was worse than anything she could ever have said. He stood up taller as Willow turned her attention back to him. Her eyes became dull again. He wanted so much to cover his ears, but he couldn't move. He was wrong. There was something even worse that she could say to him. He heard her words, each one seemed to echo in his ears, "I...love...Oz...." Without saying anything more, the love of his life turned and walked with Oz into the mist. As they did, he heard Oz clearly whisper to her, "You have the sweetest smile...." He felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. He bolted after her and felt his fingers briefly touch her silky soft hair before they vanished into the mist. His Willow was gone. The Willow he found he loved was taken away by...by... "By someone who appreciated her more than me," he cried softly. He stared into the vast nothingness and cried out Willow's name as the existence surrounding him went dark. ----------------- Annanara Keeper of Willow's Box of Raisins Keeper of Giles' Skip "That went well. I think." --Giles, SAR _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: annanara@juno.com (Annanara a.k.a Anna) Subject: BUFFYFIC: Just a Few Insignificant Others Date: 03 Jun 1998 01:41:32 EDT TITLE: Just a Few Insignificant Others AUTHOR: Annanara DISTRIBUTION: Serendipity's archive, the Slayer Fanfic Archive, anyone else who wants it, please ask. DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon owns Buffy and all the wierd and wacky residents of Sunnydale. I just like to borrow them every once in a while and make my own fun ;-) "...so, then, I handed her over to Devon, ‘cause you know, he's the lead singer and all. I figured he could be rude enough to her to get her to go away. Boy was I right! But now, I'll never have to do that again." Oz paused, his arms wrapped around Willow, who was playfully sitting on his lap in the library. "And that, is how I got rid of my first groupie. Though, I won't say it beats out some of Cordy's horror dates." "Yah...well...well at least I have better taste then some girls," Cordelia huffed. Xander smirked and she hit him on the arm before cuddling closer to him. "So, what about the rest of you? Any dangerous, past boyfriends I should worry about Will?" Oz asked, grinning. The Slayer and her original Slayerettes burst out laughing. Oz and Cordelia shared a confused look and just watched as the trio tried to control their hysteria. "What's so funny?!" Cordelia demanded. Oz nodded in silent agreement with Cordelia, though he didn't like the fact he was agreeing with Cordelia at all. "It's just...hehehe...the three of us beat everyone out...especially Xander," Buffy stuttered, trying to keep from laughing. Xander turned a little redder. "Yah, well, go ahead and tell Oz about your wonderful guy..er..demon, Moloch, Willow," Xander said, trying to not-so-subtly change the subject over to the group's resident hacker. "Tell him how he's the not the -first- supernatural guy you've gone for." "Yeah, I think I'd like to hear this," Oz said, smiling at Willow. She just blushed and settled herself in Oz's lap. "Well, it all began when Ms. Calendar had the computer class scan books into the computer. Giles was against it, as always." Willow's rolled her eyes, showing exactly how she felt about Giles' lack of forward advancement into the technological era. "After hours, I started scanning some of Giles' occult books for easier reference. Well, one of those happened to contain a demon by the name of Moloch. When I scanned the book, it released him into the Internet." Willow paused, sighing. "He contacted me and pretended to be a real guy...uh...over the Internet. He seemed great too...," she said sadly. She smiled though when she felt Oz hold her tighter. "Anyways, he wanted me to join him, I wouldn't, we got into a big fight, yadda, yadda, yadda, and Buffy saved the day." Oz pulled Willow in close and kissed her cheek. "You didn't exactly have a good start to the dating thing, huh?" he whispered softly into her ear. She nodded and gave Oz some smoochies of her own. Xander, suddenly sickened at the love-fest before him, turned to Buffy. "And what about you missy?" "Me? Come on, Xander, you know the -only- supernatural date I've -ever- had was with Angel," Buffy said, grinning. "So, I'm not as bad as Willow. She's had two supernatural dates." She smiled at Oz, "No offense." "None taken," Oz said, grinning before turning back to face Willow. Xander rolled his eyes. "So, Buffy's had Dead Boy, Willow's had I'm an Internet demon Moloch, and Wolf Boy Oz..." "And what about you, Xander?" Cordelia asked, grinning. "Ugh...only a few, nothing worth mentioning..." Xander stammered. "Nothing worth mentioning?!" Willow and Buffy exclaimed together. "Oh, come -on- Xander," Willow exclaimed, "what about Ms. French? You remember, the virgi...er...very big She-Mantis who was out to get you?" "Ms. French? You mean, as in that biology teacher we had last year?" Cordelia asked, amazed. "No way...." "Oh, yes way," Buffy giggled. "In a big way too...but of course, she only wanted him for his body...which he wasn't willing to give up as she would have decapitated him like an Immortal from that Highlander series...only without the swords." "So, instead, we had to rescue Xander from a little too much love," Willow said grinning. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. "No, I take that back. Ampata the Inca Mummy Girl would have to be the one who wanted a bit too much lovin', wouldn't you say Buffy?" Buffy nodded, enjoying the look of Xander turning an amazing shade of red. "I guess you could say she loved him so much she would have sucked the life out of him. But, in a pleasant, non-neck, non-vampire way, of course." Xander groaned and hid his head in his hands. This is embarrassing, he silently moaned. Willow laughed. "Hey, Xander, you're the one that brought it up!" "Don't remind me...," he moaned. Cordelia smiled and grabbed Xander's arm. "Come on Don Juan, time for some quality time together. And maybe you can tell me a bit more about these wonderful girls you seem to chose as girlfriends..." Buffy, Willow, and Oz laughed as Xander kept chanting over and over, "They meant nothing to me...really..." --------------------------- Feedback is always appreciated! :-) Annanara Keeper of Willow's Box of Raisins Keeper of Giles' Skip "That went well. I think." --Giles, SAR _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "R. Smith" Subject: BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge A Broken Blade (part 8/8) Date: 03 Jun 1998 02:08:48 -0400 SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT=20 This story contains extensive references to any and all episodes up to and including Becoming II. BE WARNED: if you haven=92t seen those episodes, READ NO FURTHER!=20 (actually this part is almost spoiler free, but better safe than sorry) THIS=20 SPACE=20 IS=20 FOR=20 YOUR PROTECTION See part one for disclaimers and notes. Comments or requests for previous parts to conor@dnaco.net PLEASE DO NOT=20 DISTRIBUTE WITHOUT TALKING TO ME FIRST! Buffy pulled up in front of the house in her new car. She=92d gone to the self-storage place first, and had=20 found this new Saturn inside. On the driver=92s seat was a=20 brief note. Buffy, This will get you wherever you want to go. It=92s in=20 your name, so don=92t worry about it too much, just get in it=20 and go. There=92s a briefcase in the trunk. It has some=20 traveling cash in it so you don=92t have to use your card. Try to keep yourself together and remember what I said=20 about friends. Remember me, Rick So here she was in front of his ex-wife=92s house, trying=20 to figure out what to say to his son. She grabbed a bundle from the passenger seat,=20 walked up to the door, and rang the bell. A young man answered the door, so obviously Rick=92s=20 son that Buffy nearly broke into tears at the sight of him. *So young,* she thought, *Too young for this kind of=20 responsibility. How do I tell him this?* =20 =93Are you Ricky?=94 she asked. =93Yeah...=94 he said slowly, =93=94What can I do for you?=94 =93I=92m a friend of you Dad=92s.=94 she replied, =93I have some=20 things for you. Can I come in? =93He=92s dead isn=92t he?=94 Ricky asked, suddenly looking=20 like the little boy she=92d expected. =93Can I come in for a little bit?=94 she asked, =93I=92ve got=20 some stuff to tell you about one of the bravest men I=92ve ever=20 met.=94 ********** Epilogue She=92d stayed at Rick=92s son=92s house a lot longer than=20 she=92d planned.=20 He=92d had a lot of questions, about how his father=20 died, and what it was all about. He=92d proven to be a _very_=20 mature thirteen year old. He didn=92t break even when Buffy=20 told him the details of Rick=92s death. He just nodded, and=20 said it was pretty much what he expected. He told he he=92d started remembering stuff about the=20 night the demons had attacked the house, and that he could=20 remember his Dad fighting like a wild man to protect them.=20 He said he=92d somehow known that when his father died, it=20 would be that way, and that he was glad he=92d died well. After a long talk, he=92d thanked her for coming to=20 him, gravely accepted the packages she had for him, and,=20 when she asked if he knew what he was going to do, had=20 replied, =93Think about it a while.=94 She=92d driven away with the feeling that he=92d be=20 fighting demons before the year was out. She could see the=20 father=92s sense of duty in the son, and felt that