This Time Around
folder
BtVS AU/AR › Het - Male/Female › Buffy/Xander
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
2
Views:
5,098
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
BtVS AU/AR › Het - Male/Female › Buffy/Xander
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
2
Views:
5,098
Reviews:
8
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Amen
Title: This Time Around
Chapter Two: Amen
Author: Tygerlily
Feedback: Flames if you must but small ones, my ego is fragile
Spoilers: Everything up to Bargaining
Rating: Pg but it will eventually become R
Disclaimer: Joss is the supreme ruler of the Bufffyverse; I just borrowed everyone that’s all
Summary: Complete AU. What would happen if the Slayer, just before she was raised from the dead was given a choice? She could either; go back and begin again or she continue on and live attempt to live with everything she’s been through.
Pairings: B/X
Buffy Dialogue taken from site below:
http://www.prettybronzebox.50megs.com/scripts.html
My Update List: FanFictions_by_Tygerlily
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FanFictions_by_Tygerlily/
{Some Chappies not Beta-Read}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Location: 1630 Revello Drive
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Buffy stood in front of her mirror trying to decide on the numerous outfits thrown all of her room. After she and Xander had left the library Xander walked her home saying that he’d back to pick her up around seven o’clock, both we’re pretty tired after everything and wanted a little while to themselves before heading back out.
As they walked towards 1630 Revello Drive they both decided that as Xander gave her a tour of the town they’d patrol at the same time. It’d give them a chance to spend some time together, patrol and check out their bond all in one shot. Xander said something about taking her to a club called ‘The Bronze’, she vaguely remembered Cordelia mentioning the plact tht then again she wasn’t really paying attention to the brunette.
The little blonde sighed heavily and picked up another outfit and held it up in front of her while looking at herself in the mirror, it basically consisted of an extremely high cut skirt and an exorbitant amount of leather.
“Hi! I'm an enormous slut!” Instantly deciding against that, she then held up a blue floral dress curious as to how that one might look on her.
“Hello! Would you like a copy of 'The Watchtower'?” sighing heavily she lowered the dress and pouted into the mirror. She couldn’t believe she was having so much trouble with choosing an outfit, her favorite past time use to be shopping for Christ sakes.
“I used to be so good at this.”
Just then her mother camto hto her room. She knew that Buffy had some problems back in L.A. but she was hoping that now that her daughter was out of such a stressful environment things would turn around.
“Hi, hon”
Buffy smiled as she returned to her closet followed by a not so enthusiastic ‘Hey’. Joyce somewhat nervously picked up a pillow and began to play with its frayed edges.
“Are you, uh, going out tonight?”
The littlende nde didn’t stop her quest for the perfect outfit but did inform her mother that she was going to a club and that the boy that dropped her off this afternoon was picking her up in about an hour. Of course this only caused more questions to arise from her mother.
“Oh. Will there be…uh other boys there?”
At this she had to look up at her mother and the expression on her face was all the answer Joyce needed. In fact as soon as the question passed her lips she knew how ridiculous it sounded. Joyce just sighed and smiled knowing that she had to put her trust in her daughter.
“Well, just be careful”
“I will”
After a few moments of a comfortable silence with Buffy still searching for an outfit and Joyce glancing over the contents of her daughters’ room she spoke again.
“You know, I think we can make it work here. I've got my positive energy flowing... I'm gonna get the Gallery on its feet... Oh, uh, we may have found a space today.”
“That’s great mom” Buffy replied as she held up a pair of black boot cut slacks against her body.
“Oh, and that school is a, a very nurturing environment, which is just what you need” smiling at her daughter as she continued her quest to find a top
“Well, actually...” turning to face her mother while holding a black tank in her right hand and black sheer long sleeve in the other
“Oh, not too nurturing. I know, you're sixteen, I've read all about the dangers of over-nurturing” holding up her hands
Buffy just smiled slightly and walked over to her bed dropping the three pieces of clothing upon it. She then turned and walked over to her dresser to pick out a black bra and some panties.
“It's hard. New town and everything... It is for me, too. I'm trying to make it work” she then walked over to her daughter and took her hands into her own. “I'm *going* to make it work.”
“I know”
“Oh, you're a good girl, Buffy; you just fell in with the wrong crowd. But that is all behind us now” Joyce smiled encouragingly at her daughter
“It is. From now on I am only going to hang out with the living. I mean, lively, People.” She smiled nervously trying to cover her slip up.
“Hmm, Okay. You have fun”
Joyce smiled one last time and exited her daughters’ room. Buffy just shook her head once and headed off to take a quick shower. About twenty minutes later Buffy walked into her room with a towel wrapped around her. She sat down at her vanity and began to apply moisturizer and brush out her hair. When she finished there she dressed herself in the black boot cut pants, black tank and black sheer long sleeve shirt. Buffy then pulled on her ankle leather boots and ran a brush through her hair one last tims Bus Buffy did one last spot check in the mirror she heard the doorbell.
“Buffy, Xander’s here!”
“Be right down!”
Downstairs Xander sat nervously on the Summers’ living room couch. Joyce sat across from him in one of the easy chais ths they both waited for Buffy to come down. He’d never really dated before let alone met the girls’ parents so this was comply ney new territory for him.
“So you just meet Buffy today?”
“Uh yeah, we have…well most of our classes are the same, except for a few” he smiled nervously at the women
“Well that’s nice, I’m glad she’s making friends so quickly…” Before Joyce could continue Buffy came bounding down the stairs and stopped at the threshold of the living room.
Xander stood abruptly at the sight of the tiny blonde that had just entered the room. He lost all ability to speak at the sight of her dressed in all black that hugged her curves in all the right places her hair was held up with a single clip with a few tendrils that fell around her face and her make-up was done a bit heavier than before but nothing overly so. Buffy smiled shyly at Xanders’ reaction to her, all the while Joyce just looked on in amusement. ‘Ah to be young again’
“Well you two ought to get going; I don’t want you out to late Buffy”
This seemed to bring Xander back down from whatever high he was on and he immediately chimed in saying that he’d have Buffy home by eleven. This seemed to satisfy Joyce and she ushered them out of the house.
Location: Streets of Sunnydale (the bad side of town)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:15pm
Buffy and Xander walked down the quiet streets hand in hand; sometimes talking others were just in a comfortable silence. Both could feel the bond tingling between them, they knew already that with each passing moment just spending time together it grew. After walking a little further Buffy felt the familiar tingle of a vampire but it was tinged with something else that she just couldn’t explain. Xander could sense Buffys’ confusion and the tension that resonated throughout her body.
Only about a block or two from the Bronze Buffy pulled both of them into an alley and pushed Xander behind some crates leaving him there she looked up and found and ideal hiding place for herself. She jumped up grabbing onto the bottom of the metal beam and then hoisted herself up so that she was doing a handstand and waited for the person to reveal themselves.
The dark figure turned abruptly into the alley hoping to catch up with the pair, when he immediately catch sight of them he continued inward at a much more measured and cautious pace. He walked with a predator like grace listening for any sound that would give anything or anyone away.
As the figure passed underneath Buffy, she swings down and kicks him in the back. He is knocked to the ground, and Buffy positions herself above him with a foot on his chest. Buffy can feel Xanders’ apprehension about the situation and lets him know that she has it under control and to stay hidden for the time being.
“Ah heh, Is there a problem, ma'am?” the stranger asked from his position on the ground. Buffy hated to admit it but the guy was a total hottie even though he was beyond creepy.
“Yeah, there's a problem, why are you following me?” Buffy hoped that he’d forget about Xander, already knowing that he’d seen the two of them together.”
“I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I don't bite.” Again Buffy breathed a silent sigh of relief that he didn’t seem to interested in Xanders’ whereabouts. She lifted her foot off of his cheseppeepped back a few paces as she watched his body uncoil up from the floor. He practically towered over her but she was not in anyway intimidated…just annoyed more than anything.
“Truth is I thought you'd be taller or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though.” He rubs the back of his neck still reeling from being shoved to the concrete so roughly.
“What do you want?” She was clearly tiring of the conversation
“The same thing you do.”
With this statement Buffy lets her guard drop just a little, she still aware of what’s going on around her, she’s also extremely aware of her companions seething jealousy toward the good looking stranger. ‘I’ll just have to…reassure him that he may be yummy eye candy but that’s all cryptic guy is.’
“To kill them, to kill them all” he says taking a step toward her
“Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!” she already had to deal with the fact of living and fighting darkness forever now she had strange, annoying yeod lod looking creepy men following her in the dark. A girl can only take so much in one day…even if said girl is a Slayer.
“Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open.” This has caught the small blondes’ attention and she once again focuses on the stranger. When she faces him again she watches curiously as he goes into his breast pocket and pulls out small black case.
“Dt tut turn your back on this. You've gotta be ready.” He said as he tossed her the case
“What for?”
“The Harvest”
“Who are you?”
“Let's just say... I'm a friend” then turning to walk back out of the alley from which they came
“Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend”
He slowed his steps slightly before glancing back at her and throwing of his shoulder… “I didn't say I was yours”
Buffy looked down at the black velvet case he tossed to her and opened to reveal a simple silver cross that lay in pure white satin. When she looked up again the stranger was gone and Xander was starting to come from behind the crates.
“Okay, first who was that and second what the hell did he just give you?” just from the look on Xanders’ face she knew that he was upset. The waves of jealousy and possessiveness that were rolling off him at the moment were almost intoxicating. She made a note to talk to Giles about it; it was almost as if she craved these feelings from Xander. Buffy however was pulled from her musings as she felt Xander ripped the box from her fingers.
“You can’t take this, I mean you don’t if…if it’s been stolen or where it’s even been…You can not take this Buffy, let alone wear it!!!” his eyes were wide as he looked down at the petite blonde next to him
“Easy Xand, I wasn’t going to keep it” at his pointed look she relented. “Okay so maybe I might’ve but it doesn’t mean anything, I mean I think it’s pretty”
If she thought his eyes couldn’t get any wider, she was wrong. At that moment Buffy couldn’t understand how his were still in his head. Then just as suddenly the shock was gone and was replaced with anger. He raised the case to be eye level with her and began to wave it around.
“You think that it’s pretty!?! If you ever need or want anything ever again, you ask ME, understand?” Buffy looked at his face and took in the tone of his voice knowing that he wasn’t joking with her.
“Okay”
“Okay then” and with that Xander tossed the velvet box into one of the dumpsters and they both proceeded out of the alley unaware of the figure that watched them from the shadows.
Location: ‘The Bronze’
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:25pm
The club is packed with people, many are down in the pit just below the stage, and the entire place is pulsing with the beats of Believe by Sprung Monkey.
//Oh, I just want to believe
Can you hear me?
Can you see me?
What's inside of me?
Oh, I just want to believe
If my life can have a purpose
Help me to believe
Oh, I just want to believe
Can you hear me?
Can you see me?
What's inside of me?
Oh, I just want to believe
If my life can have a purpose
Help me to believe//
As soon as the sound hits the tiny blondes’ ears she begins to move a bit with the music. Her companion places a firm but gentle hand on the small of her back to guide her through the crowd.
//Everybody wants to find the circle
The line of truth that has no end
Because so many nights I've slept with the feeling of empty
And I say, right now I'm ready to believe//
They both head toward the bar, Xander ask his Slayer what she would like. She just points to a sugary looking coffee concoction. He smiles and nods placing both their orders.
Buffy spots and empty table and points to it indicating that’s where she is headed, Xander nods in reply and waits for their order. As she gets closer she spots the shy red head from earlier.
“Hey”
“Oh, hi” Willow looks up from the table top still curious as to why a girl like Buffy Summers would pay any attention to her, let alone openly associate with her in such a public forum that wasn’t school. Buffy walks around to take the seat opposite the red head.
“So are you here with someone?”
“No, I'm just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up.”
“Oh…are you guoingoing out?” Buffy she knew that on this particular topic she ought to tread softly. She had an inkling that the red head might have a ‘thing’ for her long time best friend but she was hoping to god that she was wrong.
“No, we're just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.”
Now Buffy was even wearier than before.
“Yeah, well when did this happen?”
“Oh we were five, he stole my Barbie” she said as a matter-of-factly
“Oh…” before Buffy can continue Xander comes over and kisses her on the cheek while placing her drink in front of her, never noticing the look of shock that crossed his best friends’ face; Buffy however was not as oblivious to the red heads’ reaction to the innocent display of affection.
“Oh hey Wills, I didn’t even see you there”
“Uh yeah, I…um…have to…go…somewhere” with that Willow made a quick exit towards the restrooms leaving a confused soon-to-be Immortal and a guilty feeling Slayer behind.
“What was that about?” Xander asked while looking at his mate with confusion
Buffy sighed heavily; she still had trouble believing that Xander had NO idea about Willows’ life long crush on him.
“I think that kiss really upset her…you can’t mean to tell me that you had no idea about her…I mean she’s practically in love with you Xander” Buffy looked up at him with her big green eyes and Xander knew than that whatever argument he had was shot right out of the sky. So he just exhaled sharply and let his shoulders sag.
“I’ve known for awhile that Willow had a…‘thing’ for me but I seriously thought that she’d eventually out grow it. I mean she’s my best friend. I just don’t feel that way about her”
“I know that and I understand that but that doesn’t make it hurt her any less…I’m going to go see if I can talk to her, Okay? I might even see if she’ll come back and join us” Xander knew that even though it sounded like a question, asking if it was okay if she came back and joined them but he knew better, Buffy was basically telling him that Willow WOULD be back and that he’d better be gracious about it.
“Okay, you see if you can get Wills back and I’ll just chill here. And hey maybe I’ll even get spot a few vamps that could use some dusting” he said cheerily
Buffy just smiled softly giving him a quick peck on the lips before hopping off the stool and heading for the ladies room.
Location: ‘The Bronze’ (Ladies Restroom)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:45pm
Buffy slowly pushed the door to the restroom open; a few girls were standing in front of the mirrors fixing their hair or make-up. The door swings closed behind her muffling the sounds of the crowd and band within the club.
As the last of the girls that were in there left and the room was left in silence soft cries could be heard from one of the stalls. The little blondntinntinued to walk softly up to the stall just before knocking on the door which instantly caused the soft cries to cease.
“Will…Willow please open the door” Buffy asked softly, she didn’t have to wait too long before the door to the stall slowly opened revealing a small trembling red head with tears leaking out of her eyes.
“Oh Willow it wasn’t…you weren’t…this just happened…what I mean to say is…” Buffy continued to babble not really sure as to what she was trying to say but it seemed that Willow understood what she was trying to say.
“It’s okay Buffy; really…I dunno it just hit me kinda hard back there. I always knew that Xander would never be truly mine but a girl can dream can’t she?”
“Yeah…look Xander and I, well we would really like it if…maybe you came back and sat with us” Buffy looked at the red heads’ profile as they now had moved over to the sinks so that Willow could wash her face.
“I dunno…I mean I don’t want to intrude on your date or anything”
“Date…Xander and I are not on a date. He promised to show me around Sunnydale today and I promised to show him all about patro…oh look at that!” Buffy caught herself just in time before giving everything away.
Willow turned to look behind her and when she found nothing she looked back at Buffy, a mask of confusion was her face.
“There was a big…big bug! That’s it there was just this huge, disgusting bug…it was really gross” Buffy nodded her head, hoping to god that this flimsy lie was enough to fool the red head.
“Okay then...” Willow just shook her head and finished up at the sink before walking the short distance to the automatic hand dryer and placed her hands underneath thus triggering the device to start.
“So…um Buffy, how do you do it?”
“Do what?” now Buffys’ face was the picture of confusion
“Boys…” when Buffy still looked lost Willow elaborated “Well, when I'm with a boy I like, it's hard for me ty any anything cool, or, or witty, or at all. I-I can usually make a few vowel sounds, and then I have to go away.”
“It can’t be that bad”
“No, i-it is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk.”
At that statement Buffy looked at Willow like she had grown a third head. “You really haven’t been into the whole dating thing”
“It's probably easy for you”
“Yeah real easy…and that was only with Xander thank you very much”
”I-I mean you don't seem too shy” Willow didn’t understand what it was about this girl but she made her want to be bolder, to not let what anyone else thought of her effect her.
“Well, my philosophy, do you wanna hear my philosophy?”
“Yeah, I do!” Willow replied eagerly
“Life is short” Buffy said simply
“Life is short!” Willow reited ted
“Not original, I'll grant you, but it's true. You know? Why waste time being all shy and worrying about some guy, and if he's gonna laugh at you. Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.”
“Oh, that's nice!”
“Soooo…do you think maybe you might join Xand and I?”
Willow seemed lost in thought for a moment or so before telling Buffy to go on ahead without her. The little red head continued to be lost in her musings before heading back out into the crowds. Just as the door closed behind her she whispered to herself
‘Seize the moment’
Location: ‘The Bronze’ (The Catwalk)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:10pm
//I feel love with my friends
I feel love in my songs
If I could just hold love
Then all the answers might come
I said, oh, if we're all children of God
And we just turned away
I got a lack of belief
I said a world without faith
It's time we turn back around//
Buffy leaned up against the railing her back to the crowds below, Xander came forward and placed a hand on either side of her effectively trapping her in his embrace. Leaning down he lightly nuzzled her neck before placing a chaste kiss there and looking back up into her eyes.
“So how’s Willow doing?” Buffy smiled softly at the way his head was cocked to the side with just a bit of his soft chestnut colored hair falling over his eyes.
“She’s fine…or so she says but I reall thi think that she’ll be okay” she said sighing softly just before turning in his embrace to face the crowds. Xander came up even closer and pressed his body right up against hers.
“So any of the fang gang hangin’ around?” immediately slipping into Slayer mode
“I looked but I didn’t see any let alone feel any”
“Feel any? You’re able to feel vamps?” turning her head to see her companion better
“Well I get this funny fuzzy feeling on the back of my neck…don’t you? Or at least I think I get a funny feeling…I mean I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that we’re able to feel vamps”
“Maybe…” the Slayer mused to herself
“So what was Mr. Cryptic going on about in the alley…he said something about a…harvest or ‘The Harvest’” Xander asked
“I’m not sure and all I know is that he mentioned something about ‘The Harvest’ was coming and something about the Hellmouth…that its about to open. I dunno but he sure as hell gave me the wiggins.”
“Giles?”
“Giles”
The couple just continued to watch the crowd below them as the band finished up their last song and started up into the next one. Xander suddenly spots Jesse on the floor and it looked as though he was trying to make time with Cordelia and getting no where fast. He really did feel bad for his friend knowing how much he was into the voluptuous brunette and also knowing at the same time he could do so much better than ‘Spordeila’. Xander was soon pulled from his musing by a very frantic Buffy.
“Xander!”
“What is it Buff?”
”Vampire” Buffy just simply pointed below to wear it seemed said vampire was making time with a small read head who looked an awful lot like Willow Rosenberg.
“Oh my god, that’s…”
illoillow I know but….Oh you’ve got to be kidding me…” Buffy trailed off as Xander followed her line of vision wear he saw Jesse trying to make time with a small blonde. She was very pretty but she couldn’t even hold a candle to his Buffy but there was just something about her that didn’t seem right.
“Is she a…” Xander trailed off not really wanting to know the answer. Buffy finally turned to face him looking him straight in the eye giving him the answer she knew he really didn’t want to hear.
“Vampire, we just cannot win. Okay I’ll go talk to…damn they’re both gone. Alright I’ll go after Willow and you go after Jeand and then…I don’t know what but we’ll figure it out late” with that Buffy went bounding down the Catwalk with Xander hot on her heels, when they both reached the main floor they took off in opposite directions hoping to get to both of their of unsuspecting friends before it was too late.
//We're formed in liquid
Pushed out still dripping
A world was thrown before my eyes
Now paint a picture
Crayon stick figures
With blue-haired people, purple skies//
Location: Underground (exact location unknown)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:10pm (same time)
Candles illuminate the otherwise dark and dreary area. The flames continued to flicker back and forth creating shadows that would terribly frighten a small child. The man falls to his knees looking on in awe and wonder with his saffron colored eyes as a form rises up out of the pool of blood on the cavern floor.
The figure looks around at his surroundings and breaths in deeply even though he doesn’t need to. He extends his hand and the man kneeling before him takes it without hesitation. He looks up into the red eyes of the man above him and speaks…
“Master”
The Master steps away from the pool and continues to take in his surroundings.
“I am weak” he states already knowing that he isn’t up to full strength.
“'In the Harvest he will be restored.'” Quoting an ancient scripture
“The Harvest” knowing full well what his companion speaks of
“We're almost there. Soon you'll be free!”
The Master reaches out to stretch and test his muscles. They’re as strong as ever but he himself is still weak and he knows it.
“I must be ready. I need my strength”
“I've sent your servants to bring you some food” he said as a matter-of-factly
“Good, and Luke?”
“Yes?”
“Bring me something... young” he said smiling maliciouarouaround a mouth full of fangs
Location: One of Sunnydales’ streets right next to a cemetery
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:40pm
Willow and her companion are walking along the darkened streets of Sunnydale. Not ever speaking to guys except for Jesse and Xander the little red head was at a loss for words.
“Sure is dark”
“Its night” the vampire stated bluntly
Well, that's a dark time, night, traditionally anyway. I still can't believe I've never seen you at school. Do you have Mr. Chomsky for history?”
The vampire continues to ignore the shy red heads incessant babbling and begins to head toward the cemetery. Noticing the change in direction Willow stops and looks at her companion, wondering if he knows exactly where it is they’re suppose to be going.
“Uh, the ice cream bar is this way. It's past Hamilton Street”
“I know a shortcut” he deadpans and grabs her hand leading her into the dark cemetery.
Location: Outside of ‘The Bronze”
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:40pm (same time)
Buffy continues to look around the outside of ‘The Bronze’ for the red head and the vampire who hoped for a snack. She was having no luck whatsoever she only hoped that Xander was doing much better than she was.
Just then she saw Xander jogging up towards her, at her hopeful look he just shook his head and she returned the favor in kind. They both stood there before a moment passed, neither of them really knew what to do but they both knew if they didn’t do something fast there were going to be two more dead bodies in the morning.
“Where would Willow go?”
“What was she doing with him anyway? I mean I love Willow and all but Willow and guys are not mixy things”
“She was ‘Seizing the Moment’….DAMNIT! This is all my fault, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before”
“See it? See what? What the hell are you talking about Buffy?” Xander was really starting to get worried with the way Buffy kept babbling and blaming herself for something he just didn’t know what.
“I told her…never mind we just have to go! I think I might know where they are!”
With that Buffy went bounding down the street at full Slayer speed with Xander following closely behind. Though he didn’t have Slayer speed he was a close second, he was coming more and more into his powers with each passing minute.
Location: A Cemetery (outside one of its many mausoleums.
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 9:00pm (same time)
Thepirepire eyed the little red head with hungry eyes yet all the while knowing that she wasn’t his to take. Knowing what Ness liked best would get him in good and possible move him up in the ranks. Everyone knew that his two favorites were Luke and Darla and the only reason that muscle bound jerk Luke was his favorite now was because Angelus left the fold.
“Hey! Ever been in one of these?” he asked pointing to the mausoleum
“No. Thank you” Willow turned abruptly trying to make a hasty retreat. She was getting creepy vibes off of the guy ever since they entered the cemetery but she just tried to ignore it. He was the first okay looking guy to ever approach HER.
“Come on, what are you afraid of?” he asked while pulling her long red hair to one side of her neck completely exposing the other. Unable to contain himself any longer he leans into her neck ready to make her his evening snack. Willow lets out a little yelp as he grabs her and pushes her into the mausoleum. The shy red head trips down the stairs and stops up against the stone coffin. She turns around to face the boy who isn’t as innocent as he appears.
“That wasn’t f” sh” she says gritting her teeth from her position on the floor
The vampire dressed in an outfit so retro the 70’s cd and and asked for it back but it did nothing to lessen the fear that was now rolling off the red head in waves. A calculated smirk appeared on his face as he backed her up into a wall.
“I think I’m gonna go” she says trying to edge closer to the door
“Is that what you think?”
He comes toward her again but she’s able to skirt past him but only because he allows it when out of now where the little blonde from earlier blocks her path.
“Is this the best you could do?” she asked looking at the girl with disdain
“She’s fresh!” he says indignantly
“Hardly enough to share Thomas” she says while giving the small red head the once over
“Why didn't you bring your own Darla?
The blonde gave him a look like ‘How could you even ask such a question?’ and then she answered him with a smug smile on her face.
“I did” Just then Jesse stumbles into the mausoleum holding his neck and looking a little worse for wear.
“Hey, wait up!”
”Oh my god, Jesse!” Willow sees her friends’ disheveled state and rushes to his aid. He’s weak from the rush of adrenaline and the blood loss and collapses onto the floor and into Willows’ arms.
“Y'know, you gave me a hickey” looking at Darla with glazed over eyes
Thomas just gave Darla a pointed look, both knew that these two weren’t their meals but ‘The Masters’’ She just returned the look with a simple ‘I got hungry on the way’
“Jesse, let's get outta here!”
“Oh, you're not going anywhere” Darla goes to intercept their poor attempt to escape.
”Leus aus alone!” Willow confronts the vampire finally attempting to take charge of a situation that she has no control over.
“You’re not going anywhere until we’ve…” Darlas’ pretty features instantly melted away revealing a hideously disfigured face with glowing saffron colored eyes and elongated fangs. “…*fed*!”
Willow screamed and fell backwards right onto Jesse. Buffy and Xander entered just as Thomas and Darla were about to pounce. Immediately trying to find away out of there that would get them all out alive and two dusted vampires…Buffy does the first thing that comes to mind, conversing with vampires.
”Well, this is nice. I-it's a little bare, but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows... call it home!” she says as she slowly descends the steps that lead into the mausoleum. Buffy then moves behind a coffin drawing the attention of the two vampiresy fry from the others and solely onto her.
“Who the hell are you?” looking at the little blonde with disgust
“You mean there's actually someone in this town who doesn't know already? Whew, that's a relief, I'm telling you! Having a secret identity in this town is a job of work.” She said only half joking about the subject
“Buffy we bail now…right?” Even though he knew that this was really happening and that he’d been somewhat mentally prepared for it, it just wasn’t realeal eal until he saw that blonde woman change her face like that.
“Not yet!” Thomas said
When Thomas finally made his presence known again Buffy turned to face him and gave him a piece of her mind, also another method to stall. She still had to find a way to at least get Willow and Jesse out of there unharmed.
“Okay, first of all, what's with the outfit? Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge!” The vampires begin to close in on her, neither knowing that they’re dealing with a Slayer let alone the last of the line, ‘The Immortal’.
“Now, we can do this the hard way or... well, actually there's just the hard way” Buffy didn’t let any of the fear she felt show, she just continued to converse with the two as if they were old friends.
“That's fine with me!” Darla said with a ugly sneer on her lips
“Are you sure? Now, this in not gonna be pretty. We're talking violence, strong language, adult content...” Thomas roars and lunges for the small blonde from behind. Before he can even touch the Slayer she whips out a stake and plunges it into his chest without looking away from the blonde in front of her. Thomas looks down and falls backwards…stunned before turning to dust. Darla looks at the girl in part shock and horror…this girl wasn’t the easy kill she thought she was.
“See what happens when you roughhouse?”
This seemed to pull Darla from her stupor and she immediately hardened. She looked back up at the Slayer with a set jaw determined not to let this little girl get to her.
“He was young and stupid!”
Buffy knew then that she had just run out of time and she needed to get the others out of there and fast. Though Xander was her mate he just wasn’t ready to fight vamps this strong, not yet anyway.
“Xander, go!” Xander looked at her as if she’d grown another head. There was no way in hell he was leaving her there alone with that thing. He sent all the emotions he was feeling, the main one being fear. Buffy tried to reassure him through the bond and told him once again to leave. The second time he listened and took Jesse and Willow with him.
Buffy and Darla began to have it out in the confined space. Darla threw a high punch which Buffy easily blocked. Darla again threw a backhanded punch but Buffy was able to block the attack and deliver a front snap kick to Darlas’ midsection. As Darla doubled over with pain Buffy slammed her elbow into Darlas’ back. Buffy continues her assault on Darla with a brutal serious of kicks and punches when a final blow sends Darla flying back into the concrete wall though she’s only winded a lot of the fight as already been knocked out of her.
Meanwhile Xander, Jesse and Willow struggle to get out of the cemetery before anymore vampires can show up. Jesse and Willow begin to bombard Xander with questions, wanting to know what ely wly was going on and why he wasn’t freaking out. The only thing he told either of them was that the things back there were vampires and that he’d explain the rest once they reached a friends house. Of course the mention of ‘a friend’ made even more questions arise. Xander just sighed and continued to guide his friends through the darkened cemetery when he got a bad feeling and told them an address and then took off running in the direction from which they came.
Back at the mausoleum Buffy was walking around the coffin while Darla lay on the floor still trying to collect herself froe Sle Slayers’ last attack.
“You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, y'know, maybe a dog... But, no, you had to come here, you couldn't go suck on some other town.” She said conversationally
“Who are you?” truly curious as to who this girl could be
“Don’t you know?” she asked as if the answer was that obvious
Suddenly Luke came up behind her and grasped her by the neck.
“I don’t care” he then threw the Slayer across the room and swiftly picked up Darla and ugly sneer on his lips. He was clearly upset that the Masters’ offerings were no where in sight.
“You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master! We're almost at Harvest, and you dally with this child!” he bitingly says while shaking her roughly
Darla looked fearfully at the other vampire, she knew that if they returned with nothing that she’d be in trouble but she was almost a little more afraid of the small blonde across the room than The Master himself.
“We had someone, but then she came. She killed Thomas. Luke, she's strong” she says. Luke just shrugged her off and told her that he’d deal with ‘the little girl’ while she went after the three that had already gotten away.
Luke approached Buffy as she began to pick herself up from off the ground. Darla
quickly climbed the steps and looked back once before running out of the door. Luke attacked Buffy with a double punch, but she blocked it and delivered a punch to his midsection and a hopping front snap kick to his jaw. He steps back, but isn't fazed.
“You are strong…”
He lands a solid backhand fist on her. She goes flying.
“…I am stronger”
Luke slowly approaches her; a menacing gleam illuminates his sickly yellow eyes.
“You're wasting my time”
“Hey I had other plans too” she said while slowly backing up toward the exit, this vampire was stronger than any other she had ever encountered. He approached the opposite side of the coffin from which Buffy was on.
Luke shoved the heavy lid off of the coffin. Reacting on instinct, Buffy did a cartwheel onto and over it to avoid it and kicks Luke in the chest with both feet, knocking him down. She grabs the stake from the floor and lunges at Luke, but he is too quick for her, and grabs her by the wrist.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with”
He then throws Buffy onto the rim of the now open coffin. She rolls off onto the floor, dazed. Luke gets up and starts toward her, he then begins to quote an ancient vampire text.
“And like a plague of boils, the race of man covered the Earth…But on the third day of the newest light would come the Harvest. And the blood of men will flow as wine…When the Master will walk among them once more... The Earth will belong to the old ones…”
Luke is now looking directly at the Slayer his eyes glowing brighter with each passing second
“…And Hell itselll cll come to town”
He then grabs Buffy and growls deep in his thoat. He lifts her by the throat and throws her toward the coffin. Buffy flips over in a front layout and lands in the coffin next to a skeleton, and lets out a quick scream, but then remains silent, only breathing. She can't see or hear Luke. She slowly starts to get up. Suddenly Luke jumps up and into the coffin. He smiles around his fangs glistening prettily in the moonlight. Lukes’ grin only widens before leaning in for the kill.
“Amen!”
End of Chapter Two
AN: I know its been a little while since an update an I apologize but RL has been a bitch lately. Anywayz I its its kinda short but the third chapter appropriatley titled 'The Harvest' is going to be kinda long especially with all the extras that I'm adding. Ok so there you have it Chapter two...let me know what you think. Hated it, Loved it, I wanna know damnit!
Chapter Two: Amen
Author: Tygerlily
Feedback: Flames if you must but small ones, my ego is fragile
Spoilers: Everything up to Bargaining
Rating: Pg but it will eventually become R
Disclaimer: Joss is the supreme ruler of the Bufffyverse; I just borrowed everyone that’s all
Summary: Complete AU. What would happen if the Slayer, just before she was raised from the dead was given a choice? She could either; go back and begin again or she continue on and live attempt to live with everything she’s been through.
Pairings: B/X
Buffy Dialogue taken from site below:
http://www.prettybronzebox.50megs.com/scripts.html
My Update List: FanFictions_by_Tygerlily
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FanFictions_by_Tygerlily/
{Some Chappies not Beta-Read}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Location: 1630 Revello Drive
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Buffy stood in front of her mirror trying to decide on the numerous outfits thrown all of her room. After she and Xander had left the library Xander walked her home saying that he’d back to pick her up around seven o’clock, both we’re pretty tired after everything and wanted a little while to themselves before heading back out.
As they walked towards 1630 Revello Drive they both decided that as Xander gave her a tour of the town they’d patrol at the same time. It’d give them a chance to spend some time together, patrol and check out their bond all in one shot. Xander said something about taking her to a club called ‘The Bronze’, she vaguely remembered Cordelia mentioning the plact tht then again she wasn’t really paying attention to the brunette.
The little blonde sighed heavily and picked up another outfit and held it up in front of her while looking at herself in the mirror, it basically consisted of an extremely high cut skirt and an exorbitant amount of leather.
“Hi! I'm an enormous slut!” Instantly deciding against that, she then held up a blue floral dress curious as to how that one might look on her.
“Hello! Would you like a copy of 'The Watchtower'?” sighing heavily she lowered the dress and pouted into the mirror. She couldn’t believe she was having so much trouble with choosing an outfit, her favorite past time use to be shopping for Christ sakes.
“I used to be so good at this.”
Just then her mother camto hto her room. She knew that Buffy had some problems back in L.A. but she was hoping that now that her daughter was out of such a stressful environment things would turn around.
“Hi, hon”
Buffy smiled as she returned to her closet followed by a not so enthusiastic ‘Hey’. Joyce somewhat nervously picked up a pillow and began to play with its frayed edges.
“Are you, uh, going out tonight?”
The littlende nde didn’t stop her quest for the perfect outfit but did inform her mother that she was going to a club and that the boy that dropped her off this afternoon was picking her up in about an hour. Of course this only caused more questions to arise from her mother.
“Oh. Will there be…uh other boys there?”
At this she had to look up at her mother and the expression on her face was all the answer Joyce needed. In fact as soon as the question passed her lips she knew how ridiculous it sounded. Joyce just sighed and smiled knowing that she had to put her trust in her daughter.
“Well, just be careful”
“I will”
After a few moments of a comfortable silence with Buffy still searching for an outfit and Joyce glancing over the contents of her daughters’ room she spoke again.
“You know, I think we can make it work here. I've got my positive energy flowing... I'm gonna get the Gallery on its feet... Oh, uh, we may have found a space today.”
“That’s great mom” Buffy replied as she held up a pair of black boot cut slacks against her body.
“Oh, and that school is a, a very nurturing environment, which is just what you need” smiling at her daughter as she continued her quest to find a top
“Well, actually...” turning to face her mother while holding a black tank in her right hand and black sheer long sleeve in the other
“Oh, not too nurturing. I know, you're sixteen, I've read all about the dangers of over-nurturing” holding up her hands
Buffy just smiled slightly and walked over to her bed dropping the three pieces of clothing upon it. She then turned and walked over to her dresser to pick out a black bra and some panties.
“It's hard. New town and everything... It is for me, too. I'm trying to make it work” she then walked over to her daughter and took her hands into her own. “I'm *going* to make it work.”
“I know”
“Oh, you're a good girl, Buffy; you just fell in with the wrong crowd. But that is all behind us now” Joyce smiled encouragingly at her daughter
“It is. From now on I am only going to hang out with the living. I mean, lively, People.” She smiled nervously trying to cover her slip up.
“Hmm, Okay. You have fun”
Joyce smiled one last time and exited her daughters’ room. Buffy just shook her head once and headed off to take a quick shower. About twenty minutes later Buffy walked into her room with a towel wrapped around her. She sat down at her vanity and began to apply moisturizer and brush out her hair. When she finished there she dressed herself in the black boot cut pants, black tank and black sheer long sleeve shirt. Buffy then pulled on her ankle leather boots and ran a brush through her hair one last tims Bus Buffy did one last spot check in the mirror she heard the doorbell.
“Buffy, Xander’s here!”
“Be right down!”
Downstairs Xander sat nervously on the Summers’ living room couch. Joyce sat across from him in one of the easy chais ths they both waited for Buffy to come down. He’d never really dated before let alone met the girls’ parents so this was comply ney new territory for him.
“So you just meet Buffy today?”
“Uh yeah, we have…well most of our classes are the same, except for a few” he smiled nervously at the women
“Well that’s nice, I’m glad she’s making friends so quickly…” Before Joyce could continue Buffy came bounding down the stairs and stopped at the threshold of the living room.
Xander stood abruptly at the sight of the tiny blonde that had just entered the room. He lost all ability to speak at the sight of her dressed in all black that hugged her curves in all the right places her hair was held up with a single clip with a few tendrils that fell around her face and her make-up was done a bit heavier than before but nothing overly so. Buffy smiled shyly at Xanders’ reaction to her, all the while Joyce just looked on in amusement. ‘Ah to be young again’
“Well you two ought to get going; I don’t want you out to late Buffy”
This seemed to bring Xander back down from whatever high he was on and he immediately chimed in saying that he’d have Buffy home by eleven. This seemed to satisfy Joyce and she ushered them out of the house.
Location: Streets of Sunnydale (the bad side of town)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:15pm
Buffy and Xander walked down the quiet streets hand in hand; sometimes talking others were just in a comfortable silence. Both could feel the bond tingling between them, they knew already that with each passing moment just spending time together it grew. After walking a little further Buffy felt the familiar tingle of a vampire but it was tinged with something else that she just couldn’t explain. Xander could sense Buffys’ confusion and the tension that resonated throughout her body.
Only about a block or two from the Bronze Buffy pulled both of them into an alley and pushed Xander behind some crates leaving him there she looked up and found and ideal hiding place for herself. She jumped up grabbing onto the bottom of the metal beam and then hoisted herself up so that she was doing a handstand and waited for the person to reveal themselves.
The dark figure turned abruptly into the alley hoping to catch up with the pair, when he immediately catch sight of them he continued inward at a much more measured and cautious pace. He walked with a predator like grace listening for any sound that would give anything or anyone away.
As the figure passed underneath Buffy, she swings down and kicks him in the back. He is knocked to the ground, and Buffy positions herself above him with a foot on his chest. Buffy can feel Xanders’ apprehension about the situation and lets him know that she has it under control and to stay hidden for the time being.
“Ah heh, Is there a problem, ma'am?” the stranger asked from his position on the ground. Buffy hated to admit it but the guy was a total hottie even though he was beyond creepy.
“Yeah, there's a problem, why are you following me?” Buffy hoped that he’d forget about Xander, already knowing that he’d seen the two of them together.”
“I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I don't bite.” Again Buffy breathed a silent sigh of relief that he didn’t seem to interested in Xanders’ whereabouts. She lifted her foot off of his cheseppeepped back a few paces as she watched his body uncoil up from the floor. He practically towered over her but she was not in anyway intimidated…just annoyed more than anything.
“Truth is I thought you'd be taller or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though.” He rubs the back of his neck still reeling from being shoved to the concrete so roughly.
“What do you want?” She was clearly tiring of the conversation
“The same thing you do.”
With this statement Buffy lets her guard drop just a little, she still aware of what’s going on around her, she’s also extremely aware of her companions seething jealousy toward the good looking stranger. ‘I’ll just have to…reassure him that he may be yummy eye candy but that’s all cryptic guy is.’
“To kill them, to kill them all” he says taking a step toward her
“Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!” she already had to deal with the fact of living and fighting darkness forever now she had strange, annoying yeod lod looking creepy men following her in the dark. A girl can only take so much in one day…even if said girl is a Slayer.
“Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open.” This has caught the small blondes’ attention and she once again focuses on the stranger. When she faces him again she watches curiously as he goes into his breast pocket and pulls out small black case.
“Dt tut turn your back on this. You've gotta be ready.” He said as he tossed her the case
“What for?”
“The Harvest”
“Who are you?”
“Let's just say... I'm a friend” then turning to walk back out of the alley from which they came
“Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend”
He slowed his steps slightly before glancing back at her and throwing of his shoulder… “I didn't say I was yours”
Buffy looked down at the black velvet case he tossed to her and opened to reveal a simple silver cross that lay in pure white satin. When she looked up again the stranger was gone and Xander was starting to come from behind the crates.
“Okay, first who was that and second what the hell did he just give you?” just from the look on Xanders’ face she knew that he was upset. The waves of jealousy and possessiveness that were rolling off him at the moment were almost intoxicating. She made a note to talk to Giles about it; it was almost as if she craved these feelings from Xander. Buffy however was pulled from her musings as she felt Xander ripped the box from her fingers.
“You can’t take this, I mean you don’t if…if it’s been stolen or where it’s even been…You can not take this Buffy, let alone wear it!!!” his eyes were wide as he looked down at the petite blonde next to him
“Easy Xand, I wasn’t going to keep it” at his pointed look she relented. “Okay so maybe I might’ve but it doesn’t mean anything, I mean I think it’s pretty”
If she thought his eyes couldn’t get any wider, she was wrong. At that moment Buffy couldn’t understand how his were still in his head. Then just as suddenly the shock was gone and was replaced with anger. He raised the case to be eye level with her and began to wave it around.
“You think that it’s pretty!?! If you ever need or want anything ever again, you ask ME, understand?” Buffy looked at his face and took in the tone of his voice knowing that he wasn’t joking with her.
“Okay”
“Okay then” and with that Xander tossed the velvet box into one of the dumpsters and they both proceeded out of the alley unaware of the figure that watched them from the shadows.
Location: ‘The Bronze’
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:25pm
The club is packed with people, many are down in the pit just below the stage, and the entire place is pulsing with the beats of Believe by Sprung Monkey.
//Oh, I just want to believe
Can you hear me?
Can you see me?
What's inside of me?
Oh, I just want to believe
If my life can have a purpose
Help me to believe
Oh, I just want to believe
Can you hear me?
Can you see me?
What's inside of me?
Oh, I just want to believe
If my life can have a purpose
Help me to believe//
As soon as the sound hits the tiny blondes’ ears she begins to move a bit with the music. Her companion places a firm but gentle hand on the small of her back to guide her through the crowd.
//Everybody wants to find the circle
The line of truth that has no end
Because so many nights I've slept with the feeling of empty
And I say, right now I'm ready to believe//
They both head toward the bar, Xander ask his Slayer what she would like. She just points to a sugary looking coffee concoction. He smiles and nods placing both their orders.
Buffy spots and empty table and points to it indicating that’s where she is headed, Xander nods in reply and waits for their order. As she gets closer she spots the shy red head from earlier.
“Hey”
“Oh, hi” Willow looks up from the table top still curious as to why a girl like Buffy Summers would pay any attention to her, let alone openly associate with her in such a public forum that wasn’t school. Buffy walks around to take the seat opposite the red head.
“So are you here with someone?”
“No, I'm just here. I thought Xander was gonna show up.”
“Oh…are you guoingoing out?” Buffy she knew that on this particular topic she ought to tread softly. She had an inkling that the red head might have a ‘thing’ for her long time best friend but she was hoping to god that she was wrong.
“No, we're just friends. We used to go out, but we broke up.”
Now Buffy was even wearier than before.
“Yeah, well when did this happen?”
“Oh we were five, he stole my Barbie” she said as a matter-of-factly
“Oh…” before Buffy can continue Xander comes over and kisses her on the cheek while placing her drink in front of her, never noticing the look of shock that crossed his best friends’ face; Buffy however was not as oblivious to the red heads’ reaction to the innocent display of affection.
“Oh hey Wills, I didn’t even see you there”
“Uh yeah, I…um…have to…go…somewhere” with that Willow made a quick exit towards the restrooms leaving a confused soon-to-be Immortal and a guilty feeling Slayer behind.
“What was that about?” Xander asked while looking at his mate with confusion
Buffy sighed heavily; she still had trouble believing that Xander had NO idea about Willows’ life long crush on him.
“I think that kiss really upset her…you can’t mean to tell me that you had no idea about her…I mean she’s practically in love with you Xander” Buffy looked up at him with her big green eyes and Xander knew than that whatever argument he had was shot right out of the sky. So he just exhaled sharply and let his shoulders sag.
“I’ve known for awhile that Willow had a…‘thing’ for me but I seriously thought that she’d eventually out grow it. I mean she’s my best friend. I just don’t feel that way about her”
“I know that and I understand that but that doesn’t make it hurt her any less…I’m going to go see if I can talk to her, Okay? I might even see if she’ll come back and join us” Xander knew that even though it sounded like a question, asking if it was okay if she came back and joined them but he knew better, Buffy was basically telling him that Willow WOULD be back and that he’d better be gracious about it.
“Okay, you see if you can get Wills back and I’ll just chill here. And hey maybe I’ll even get spot a few vamps that could use some dusting” he said cheerily
Buffy just smiled softly giving him a quick peck on the lips before hopping off the stool and heading for the ladies room.
Location: ‘The Bronze’ (Ladies Restroom)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 7:45pm
Buffy slowly pushed the door to the restroom open; a few girls were standing in front of the mirrors fixing their hair or make-up. The door swings closed behind her muffling the sounds of the crowd and band within the club.
As the last of the girls that were in there left and the room was left in silence soft cries could be heard from one of the stalls. The little blondntinntinued to walk softly up to the stall just before knocking on the door which instantly caused the soft cries to cease.
“Will…Willow please open the door” Buffy asked softly, she didn’t have to wait too long before the door to the stall slowly opened revealing a small trembling red head with tears leaking out of her eyes.
“Oh Willow it wasn’t…you weren’t…this just happened…what I mean to say is…” Buffy continued to babble not really sure as to what she was trying to say but it seemed that Willow understood what she was trying to say.
“It’s okay Buffy; really…I dunno it just hit me kinda hard back there. I always knew that Xander would never be truly mine but a girl can dream can’t she?”
“Yeah…look Xander and I, well we would really like it if…maybe you came back and sat with us” Buffy looked at the red heads’ profile as they now had moved over to the sinks so that Willow could wash her face.
“I dunno…I mean I don’t want to intrude on your date or anything”
“Date…Xander and I are not on a date. He promised to show me around Sunnydale today and I promised to show him all about patro…oh look at that!” Buffy caught herself just in time before giving everything away.
Willow turned to look behind her and when she found nothing she looked back at Buffy, a mask of confusion was her face.
“There was a big…big bug! That’s it there was just this huge, disgusting bug…it was really gross” Buffy nodded her head, hoping to god that this flimsy lie was enough to fool the red head.
“Okay then...” Willow just shook her head and finished up at the sink before walking the short distance to the automatic hand dryer and placed her hands underneath thus triggering the device to start.
“So…um Buffy, how do you do it?”
“Do what?” now Buffys’ face was the picture of confusion
“Boys…” when Buffy still looked lost Willow elaborated “Well, when I'm with a boy I like, it's hard for me ty any anything cool, or, or witty, or at all. I-I can usually make a few vowel sounds, and then I have to go away.”
“It can’t be that bad”
“No, i-it is. I think boys are more interested in a girl who can talk.”
At that statement Buffy looked at Willow like she had grown a third head. “You really haven’t been into the whole dating thing”
“It's probably easy for you”
“Yeah real easy…and that was only with Xander thank you very much”
”I-I mean you don't seem too shy” Willow didn’t understand what it was about this girl but she made her want to be bolder, to not let what anyone else thought of her effect her.
“Well, my philosophy, do you wanna hear my philosophy?”
“Yeah, I do!” Willow replied eagerly
“Life is short” Buffy said simply
“Life is short!” Willow reited ted
“Not original, I'll grant you, but it's true. You know? Why waste time being all shy and worrying about some guy, and if he's gonna laugh at you. Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead.”
“Oh, that's nice!”
“Soooo…do you think maybe you might join Xand and I?”
Willow seemed lost in thought for a moment or so before telling Buffy to go on ahead without her. The little red head continued to be lost in her musings before heading back out into the crowds. Just as the door closed behind her she whispered to herself
‘Seize the moment’
Location: ‘The Bronze’ (The Catwalk)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:10pm
//I feel love with my friends
I feel love in my songs
If I could just hold love
Then all the answers might come
I said, oh, if we're all children of God
And we just turned away
I got a lack of belief
I said a world without faith
It's time we turn back around//
Buffy leaned up against the railing her back to the crowds below, Xander came forward and placed a hand on either side of her effectively trapping her in his embrace. Leaning down he lightly nuzzled her neck before placing a chaste kiss there and looking back up into her eyes.
“So how’s Willow doing?” Buffy smiled softly at the way his head was cocked to the side with just a bit of his soft chestnut colored hair falling over his eyes.
“She’s fine…or so she says but I reall thi think that she’ll be okay” she said sighing softly just before turning in his embrace to face the crowds. Xander came up even closer and pressed his body right up against hers.
“So any of the fang gang hangin’ around?” immediately slipping into Slayer mode
“I looked but I didn’t see any let alone feel any”
“Feel any? You’re able to feel vamps?” turning her head to see her companion better
“Well I get this funny fuzzy feeling on the back of my neck…don’t you? Or at least I think I get a funny feeling…I mean I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that we’re able to feel vamps”
“Maybe…” the Slayer mused to herself
“So what was Mr. Cryptic going on about in the alley…he said something about a…harvest or ‘The Harvest’” Xander asked
“I’m not sure and all I know is that he mentioned something about ‘The Harvest’ was coming and something about the Hellmouth…that its about to open. I dunno but he sure as hell gave me the wiggins.”
“Giles?”
“Giles”
The couple just continued to watch the crowd below them as the band finished up their last song and started up into the next one. Xander suddenly spots Jesse on the floor and it looked as though he was trying to make time with Cordelia and getting no where fast. He really did feel bad for his friend knowing how much he was into the voluptuous brunette and also knowing at the same time he could do so much better than ‘Spordeila’. Xander was soon pulled from his musing by a very frantic Buffy.
“Xander!”
“What is it Buff?”
”Vampire” Buffy just simply pointed below to wear it seemed said vampire was making time with a small read head who looked an awful lot like Willow Rosenberg.
“Oh my god, that’s…”
illoillow I know but….Oh you’ve got to be kidding me…” Buffy trailed off as Xander followed her line of vision wear he saw Jesse trying to make time with a small blonde. She was very pretty but she couldn’t even hold a candle to his Buffy but there was just something about her that didn’t seem right.
“Is she a…” Xander trailed off not really wanting to know the answer. Buffy finally turned to face him looking him straight in the eye giving him the answer she knew he really didn’t want to hear.
“Vampire, we just cannot win. Okay I’ll go talk to…damn they’re both gone. Alright I’ll go after Willow and you go after Jeand and then…I don’t know what but we’ll figure it out late” with that Buffy went bounding down the Catwalk with Xander hot on her heels, when they both reached the main floor they took off in opposite directions hoping to get to both of their of unsuspecting friends before it was too late.
//We're formed in liquid
Pushed out still dripping
A world was thrown before my eyes
Now paint a picture
Crayon stick figures
With blue-haired people, purple skies//
Location: Underground (exact location unknown)
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:10pm (same time)
Candles illuminate the otherwise dark and dreary area. The flames continued to flicker back and forth creating shadows that would terribly frighten a small child. The man falls to his knees looking on in awe and wonder with his saffron colored eyes as a form rises up out of the pool of blood on the cavern floor.
The figure looks around at his surroundings and breaths in deeply even though he doesn’t need to. He extends his hand and the man kneeling before him takes it without hesitation. He looks up into the red eyes of the man above him and speaks…
“Master”
The Master steps away from the pool and continues to take in his surroundings.
“I am weak” he states already knowing that he isn’t up to full strength.
“'In the Harvest he will be restored.'” Quoting an ancient scripture
“The Harvest” knowing full well what his companion speaks of
“We're almost there. Soon you'll be free!”
The Master reaches out to stretch and test his muscles. They’re as strong as ever but he himself is still weak and he knows it.
“I must be ready. I need my strength”
“I've sent your servants to bring you some food” he said as a matter-of-factly
“Good, and Luke?”
“Yes?”
“Bring me something... young” he said smiling maliciouarouaround a mouth full of fangs
Location: One of Sunnydales’ streets right next to a cemetery
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:40pm
Willow and her companion are walking along the darkened streets of Sunnydale. Not ever speaking to guys except for Jesse and Xander the little red head was at a loss for words.
“Sure is dark”
“Its night” the vampire stated bluntly
Well, that's a dark time, night, traditionally anyway. I still can't believe I've never seen you at school. Do you have Mr. Chomsky for history?”
The vampire continues to ignore the shy red heads incessant babbling and begins to head toward the cemetery. Noticing the change in direction Willow stops and looks at her companion, wondering if he knows exactly where it is they’re suppose to be going.
“Uh, the ice cream bar is this way. It's past Hamilton Street”
“I know a shortcut” he deadpans and grabs her hand leading her into the dark cemetery.
Location: Outside of ‘The Bronze”
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 8:40pm (same time)
Buffy continues to look around the outside of ‘The Bronze’ for the red head and the vampire who hoped for a snack. She was having no luck whatsoever she only hoped that Xander was doing much better than she was.
Just then she saw Xander jogging up towards her, at her hopeful look he just shook his head and she returned the favor in kind. They both stood there before a moment passed, neither of them really knew what to do but they both knew if they didn’t do something fast there were going to be two more dead bodies in the morning.
“Where would Willow go?”
“What was she doing with him anyway? I mean I love Willow and all but Willow and guys are not mixy things”
“She was ‘Seizing the Moment’….DAMNIT! This is all my fault, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before”
“See it? See what? What the hell are you talking about Buffy?” Xander was really starting to get worried with the way Buffy kept babbling and blaming herself for something he just didn’t know what.
“I told her…never mind we just have to go! I think I might know where they are!”
With that Buffy went bounding down the street at full Slayer speed with Xander following closely behind. Though he didn’t have Slayer speed he was a close second, he was coming more and more into his powers with each passing minute.
Location: A Cemetery (outside one of its many mausoleums.
Date/Time: September 13, 1996, approx. 9:00pm (same time)
Thepirepire eyed the little red head with hungry eyes yet all the while knowing that she wasn’t his to take. Knowing what Ness liked best would get him in good and possible move him up in the ranks. Everyone knew that his two favorites were Luke and Darla and the only reason that muscle bound jerk Luke was his favorite now was because Angelus left the fold.
“Hey! Ever been in one of these?” he asked pointing to the mausoleum
“No. Thank you” Willow turned abruptly trying to make a hasty retreat. She was getting creepy vibes off of the guy ever since they entered the cemetery but she just tried to ignore it. He was the first okay looking guy to ever approach HER.
“Come on, what are you afraid of?” he asked while pulling her long red hair to one side of her neck completely exposing the other. Unable to contain himself any longer he leans into her neck ready to make her his evening snack. Willow lets out a little yelp as he grabs her and pushes her into the mausoleum. The shy red head trips down the stairs and stops up against the stone coffin. She turns around to face the boy who isn’t as innocent as he appears.
“That wasn’t f” sh” she says gritting her teeth from her position on the floor
The vampire dressed in an outfit so retro the 70’s cd and and asked for it back but it did nothing to lessen the fear that was now rolling off the red head in waves. A calculated smirk appeared on his face as he backed her up into a wall.
“I think I’m gonna go” she says trying to edge closer to the door
“Is that what you think?”
He comes toward her again but she’s able to skirt past him but only because he allows it when out of now where the little blonde from earlier blocks her path.
“Is this the best you could do?” she asked looking at the girl with disdain
“She’s fresh!” he says indignantly
“Hardly enough to share Thomas” she says while giving the small red head the once over
“Why didn't you bring your own Darla?
The blonde gave him a look like ‘How could you even ask such a question?’ and then she answered him with a smug smile on her face.
“I did” Just then Jesse stumbles into the mausoleum holding his neck and looking a little worse for wear.
“Hey, wait up!”
”Oh my god, Jesse!” Willow sees her friends’ disheveled state and rushes to his aid. He’s weak from the rush of adrenaline and the blood loss and collapses onto the floor and into Willows’ arms.
“Y'know, you gave me a hickey” looking at Darla with glazed over eyes
Thomas just gave Darla a pointed look, both knew that these two weren’t their meals but ‘The Masters’’ She just returned the look with a simple ‘I got hungry on the way’
“Jesse, let's get outta here!”
“Oh, you're not going anywhere” Darla goes to intercept their poor attempt to escape.
”Leus aus alone!” Willow confronts the vampire finally attempting to take charge of a situation that she has no control over.
“You’re not going anywhere until we’ve…” Darlas’ pretty features instantly melted away revealing a hideously disfigured face with glowing saffron colored eyes and elongated fangs. “…*fed*!”
Willow screamed and fell backwards right onto Jesse. Buffy and Xander entered just as Thomas and Darla were about to pounce. Immediately trying to find away out of there that would get them all out alive and two dusted vampires…Buffy does the first thing that comes to mind, conversing with vampires.
”Well, this is nice. I-it's a little bare, but a dash of paint, a few throw pillows... call it home!” she says as she slowly descends the steps that lead into the mausoleum. Buffy then moves behind a coffin drawing the attention of the two vampiresy fry from the others and solely onto her.
“Who the hell are you?” looking at the little blonde with disgust
“You mean there's actually someone in this town who doesn't know already? Whew, that's a relief, I'm telling you! Having a secret identity in this town is a job of work.” She said only half joking about the subject
“Buffy we bail now…right?” Even though he knew that this was really happening and that he’d been somewhat mentally prepared for it, it just wasn’t realeal eal until he saw that blonde woman change her face like that.
“Not yet!” Thomas said
When Thomas finally made his presence known again Buffy turned to face him and gave him a piece of her mind, also another method to stall. She still had to find a way to at least get Willow and Jesse out of there unharmed.
“Okay, first of all, what's with the outfit? Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge!” The vampires begin to close in on her, neither knowing that they’re dealing with a Slayer let alone the last of the line, ‘The Immortal’.
“Now, we can do this the hard way or... well, actually there's just the hard way” Buffy didn’t let any of the fear she felt show, she just continued to converse with the two as if they were old friends.
“That's fine with me!” Darla said with a ugly sneer on her lips
“Are you sure? Now, this in not gonna be pretty. We're talking violence, strong language, adult content...” Thomas roars and lunges for the small blonde from behind. Before he can even touch the Slayer she whips out a stake and plunges it into his chest without looking away from the blonde in front of her. Thomas looks down and falls backwards…stunned before turning to dust. Darla looks at the girl in part shock and horror…this girl wasn’t the easy kill she thought she was.
“See what happens when you roughhouse?”
This seemed to pull Darla from her stupor and she immediately hardened. She looked back up at the Slayer with a set jaw determined not to let this little girl get to her.
“He was young and stupid!”
Buffy knew then that she had just run out of time and she needed to get the others out of there and fast. Though Xander was her mate he just wasn’t ready to fight vamps this strong, not yet anyway.
“Xander, go!” Xander looked at her as if she’d grown another head. There was no way in hell he was leaving her there alone with that thing. He sent all the emotions he was feeling, the main one being fear. Buffy tried to reassure him through the bond and told him once again to leave. The second time he listened and took Jesse and Willow with him.
Buffy and Darla began to have it out in the confined space. Darla threw a high punch which Buffy easily blocked. Darla again threw a backhanded punch but Buffy was able to block the attack and deliver a front snap kick to Darlas’ midsection. As Darla doubled over with pain Buffy slammed her elbow into Darlas’ back. Buffy continues her assault on Darla with a brutal serious of kicks and punches when a final blow sends Darla flying back into the concrete wall though she’s only winded a lot of the fight as already been knocked out of her.
Meanwhile Xander, Jesse and Willow struggle to get out of the cemetery before anymore vampires can show up. Jesse and Willow begin to bombard Xander with questions, wanting to know what ely wly was going on and why he wasn’t freaking out. The only thing he told either of them was that the things back there were vampires and that he’d explain the rest once they reached a friends house. Of course the mention of ‘a friend’ made even more questions arise. Xander just sighed and continued to guide his friends through the darkened cemetery when he got a bad feeling and told them an address and then took off running in the direction from which they came.
Back at the mausoleum Buffy was walking around the coffin while Darla lay on the floor still trying to collect herself froe Sle Slayers’ last attack.
“You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, y'know, maybe a dog... But, no, you had to come here, you couldn't go suck on some other town.” She said conversationally
“Who are you?” truly curious as to who this girl could be
“Don’t you know?” she asked as if the answer was that obvious
Suddenly Luke came up behind her and grasped her by the neck.
“I don’t care” he then threw the Slayer across the room and swiftly picked up Darla and ugly sneer on his lips. He was clearly upset that the Masters’ offerings were no where in sight.
“You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master! We're almost at Harvest, and you dally with this child!” he bitingly says while shaking her roughly
Darla looked fearfully at the other vampire, she knew that if they returned with nothing that she’d be in trouble but she was almost a little more afraid of the small blonde across the room than The Master himself.
“We had someone, but then she came. She killed Thomas. Luke, she's strong” she says. Luke just shrugged her off and told her that he’d deal with ‘the little girl’ while she went after the three that had already gotten away.
Luke approached Buffy as she began to pick herself up from off the ground. Darla
quickly climbed the steps and looked back once before running out of the door. Luke attacked Buffy with a double punch, but she blocked it and delivered a punch to his midsection and a hopping front snap kick to his jaw. He steps back, but isn't fazed.
“You are strong…”
He lands a solid backhand fist on her. She goes flying.
“…I am stronger”
Luke slowly approaches her; a menacing gleam illuminates his sickly yellow eyes.
“You're wasting my time”
“Hey I had other plans too” she said while slowly backing up toward the exit, this vampire was stronger than any other she had ever encountered. He approached the opposite side of the coffin from which Buffy was on.
Luke shoved the heavy lid off of the coffin. Reacting on instinct, Buffy did a cartwheel onto and over it to avoid it and kicks Luke in the chest with both feet, knocking him down. She grabs the stake from the floor and lunges at Luke, but he is too quick for her, and grabs her by the wrist.
“You have no idea what you're dealing with”
He then throws Buffy onto the rim of the now open coffin. She rolls off onto the floor, dazed. Luke gets up and starts toward her, he then begins to quote an ancient vampire text.
“And like a plague of boils, the race of man covered the Earth…But on the third day of the newest light would come the Harvest. And the blood of men will flow as wine…When the Master will walk among them once more... The Earth will belong to the old ones…”
Luke is now looking directly at the Slayer his eyes glowing brighter with each passing second
“…And Hell itselll cll come to town”
He then grabs Buffy and growls deep in his thoat. He lifts her by the throat and throws her toward the coffin. Buffy flips over in a front layout and lands in the coffin next to a skeleton, and lets out a quick scream, but then remains silent, only breathing. She can't see or hear Luke. She slowly starts to get up. Suddenly Luke jumps up and into the coffin. He smiles around his fangs glistening prettily in the moonlight. Lukes’ grin only widens before leaning in for the kill.
“Amen!”
End of Chapter Two
AN: I know its been a little while since an update an I apologize but RL has been a bitch lately. Anywayz I its its kinda short but the third chapter appropriatley titled 'The Harvest' is going to be kinda long especially with all the extras that I'm adding. Ok so there you have it Chapter two...let me know what you think. Hated it, Loved it, I wanna know damnit!