Complement

Complement
A BTVS & Angel Fanfic Novel
by Michele
Author: Michele(iadara@aol.com)
Date Stamp: Iadara - aka - Michele wrote this from 04/2001 - 11/2002
Rating: Overall Story NC-17
Pairing: F/B and the usual W/T, X/A etc...
Series: Complement: Prologue-Lilydale --- I - XXXIII --- Epilogue-Sleep
General Copyright/Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampirayerayer & Angel the syndicated series and all other characters who have appeared in both shows are the sole property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy & UPN. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for pr in in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices. All songs included in this fan fiction are the sole property of the Lyric writers and the Groups who performed them.
Note: All works remain the © copyright of the original author. These may not be republished without authauthor's consent.
Summary: Starts in my own AU future. Current BTVS & Angel with my own little twists. Then past the BTVS S5 Finalè into my AU. AU.
Author's Note: Any mythic beings in this story are strictly the product of my imagination and not to be taken literally. There was no intent to defame or disparage any of your beliefs. They were strictly used in this way for fun and to help move the story along. The poem Promises © Michele 12/00 (That would be me!) On a personal note, many, many thanks go out to my beta reader John O'Connor (who is a wonderful writer in his own right) for his kindness, suggestions,igenigence and of course for putting up with me for over a year!
Love/Sex Warning/Disclaimer: This story depicts a love/sexual relationship between consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country, in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturb you, you may wish to read something other than this story.
Content Warning: There is some graphic violence in later chapters. This story also deals with Faith's abusive childhood in later chapters as well as N/C (which I tried to depict/relate as non-graphical as possible) and its aftermath.
Archive: Please just drop me an email to let me know where it is going.
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Complement
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com¨ple¨ment n. 1.a. Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection b. Either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually complete each other
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Prologue – Lilydale

The old woman spread her red plaid blanket on the ground under the ancient oak tree. She placed her basket on top of the blanket and took out a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. With an agility and dexterity that belied her ninety-seven years, she spun the corkscrew between her fingers like it was a drumstick, and finished the motion by uncorking the wine. She sat down upon the blanket and carefully placed the wine bottle down next to her. 'No point in spilling good wine,' she thought to herself.

She looked up through the branches at the bright, cloudless sky and thought idly to herself that she had picked a good day for her picnic. A gentle breeze blew her hair, which had long since gone pure white, around her face. With hands that were wrinkled and spotted with age. Hands that were surprisingly steady and deceptively strong, she tucked the stray locks behind her ears.

She had picnicked often throughout the years under the massive oak. You could find her out here at least once a month. This was however the first time she had been here since she had brought her lover out here almost six months ago. She knew the others that lived on five-hundred acre ranch with her were worried about her. But the young always had a tendency to fret over the old. She expected that, they believed like she did when she was their age. That the old were pretty much helpless and could no longer take care of themselves. Then again, she never imagined she would ever even come close to the age she was now. She knew that their worries were more than about her being old, she had been old for quite some time now. What worried them was the sadness they saw behind her smiles, the sorrow they heard echoed in her laughter that even in the darkest of times had never been there. So, they fretted, fussed, and worried over her like a bunch of mother hens. It was endearing and she loved them all for it, though there were times, if she was honest with herself, that it annoyed the hell out of her!

She poured herself a glass of wine, and raised it in a silent toast to her family. She rested her back against the tree and for just a spilt second felt as ancient as it. In her heart though she would always be the passionate, stubborn, charming, cocky young woman she once was. She sighed and shook her head as if to clear the cobwebs from it, and gazed over at her family. They were all here now, every one of them. She paused briefly when she came to Anya, and smiled. It was her they had to thank for the beautiful sprawling ranch. Who knew that beneath the breast of the ex-vengeance demon beat the heart of a financial wizard? The investments she had made for all of them had made them all wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. In the way that all of them came to think of as Anyaspeak, she demanded that they give her money to invest, which they finally did when they tired of hearing her ask over and over again. They also gave in to help save poor Xander's sanity, from her constant questions as to why no one trusted her with their money. When she showed them their first returns, it was with an I told you so smirk on her face, and a hand out for more money to invest. After that, they never questioned her again, aventventually she became the manager for all of their portfolios. Together they had all bought the five-hundred acres of land, and had all eventually built homes and settled here.

The old woman continued her lazy inspection of them, coming at last to her lover. The woman who had brought such joy to her life, pain, sorrow, laughter, love and every other emotion in the spectrum. They had taught each other things about themselves that they hadn't imagined possible. There was a time when all they had been able to do was bring out the worst in each other. They had eventually figured out though, that they brought out the best in each other too. They were after all the Chosen Two.

They had done the impossible, something no other Slayer had ever done. They had loved, laughed, argued, and had children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren. They had built a home, a life with each other, and their family of friends. They had lived, and grown old together, despite all the odds, and those damn pesky prophecies. They had found their soul mate in each other's arms. Their strength and support came from each other, and in the form of their family of friends. Together they were strong, and with their family of friends, they were unstoppable. Most of all they had loved and been loved in return by each other, and by the friends who became more than that, had become their family. How could they have not beaten the odds? The old woman thanked the Powers That Be everyday for this, for giving them, her, all of them a second chance.

The old woman leaned her head back against the tree and let the peace and tranquility of this place surround and soothe her. Here in the private cemetery, where all of her loved ones were laid to rest, the old woman who was now just the Chosen One, closed her eyes and let herself remember.
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...some think it is so haunting ~ to be drawn to the cemetery ground ~ as we ~ God's acre is a fenced in ~ hollow ground -10,000 Maniacs
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Continued in Chapter I – Inside Your Head