Promises To Keep
"WHOSE woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost
Dawn walked slowly into the cemetary. She had two roses, one white with a light pink color around the edge, the other a rich red. The first was for Buffy, as it was the newer wound, and the other was for Mom, the wound that had already covered her heart. It was symbolic. It was fitting. Even if Spike suggested it.
Slowly she placed the roses down on the ground before each headstone. She knelt between the two graves, just far enough back that she could see both epitaths at once. She felt the grief, the anger rising in her.
It was all her fault. She was had become convinced that whatever the monks did to implant memories of her into Joyce was what triggered her brain tumor. If the monks hadn't made her into Dawn, then the Summers women wouldn't have died. She believed this, and that made it true.
"It's my fault." Dawn said outloud, her voice cracking. "If I didn't come into your lives, you would have still been alive. The universe wouldn't have been in danger. Giles, and Anya and Tara wouldn't have gotten hurt. It's all my fault! Why? WHY? WHY?!?!" she cried tears of rage. "I should have just stayed a key."
She sat quietly crying. She was so caught up in her grief, she didn't notice the newcomer until a small bouquet of forget-me-nots and violets was left on the grave. Dawn looked up, mouth open. It was a young woman, slightly older than Buffy and Willow. She was small, with a thin frame, long dark hair, pale skin and dark, fatigue-rimmed eyes. It was the same look Dawn saw on Buffy's face when they were in the run-down gas station where they had a stand off with the monks. She held a small sheathed dagger, which she pulled out slowly, ritualistically. With a quick gesture, the blade went across the woman's hand, and blood dripped on Buffy's grave.
"I salute you, Slayer. May you enjoy the rest you've earned." She murmurred. Dawn watched in mute wonder as the wound closed up quickly, and the blood ceased.
"Who?" Dawn finally managed to find her voice. The woman turned to her and smiled gently, weakly.
"Hello, Dawn, I've heard so much about you." She said, placing the dagger back into her sheath.
"You have?" Dawn said defensively, "From who?"
"Lots of people. Glorificus, Gabriel, Lilith, Michael, the Monks." The woman said softly, "But the best stories were from Buffy."
"Buffy?" Dawn asked, then she narrowed her eyes, "Who are you? WHAT are you?"
"My name is Jacki. I have been many things. So many, I forgot who I really am." Jacki said, "There's more that needs to be done. I promised I would help. I swore..." she trailed off as she slide to the ground, exhausted.
Dawn was lucky that Xander had decided to come by the gravesite also. Jacki, as she called herself wasn't easy to carry. It took the two of them to get the unconscious form to the car. They decided to take her to Giles' Shop, where everyone else was.
Technically, it wasn't Giles' store anymore. He had moved to England, to help with training Faith. Faith, who broke down at the moment that Buffy died, feeling the full power of the Slayer rush to her, knowing the horrible horrible truth. She was borderline catatonic when Angel and Giles arrived to take her to England. It was almost like the way Buffy was, when Glory took Dawn.
"Giles," she begged, looking at the Watcher, "Please don't tell me it's true. Lie to me, tell me that she found a way to release the Slayer power to me. That's she living a quiet life as a normal girl, taking care of Dawn. PLEASE?"
Angel took the Slayer in his arms, and held her as Giles spoke.
"I'm sorry, Faith." Giles said, voice half-hollow, half-pained, "But Buffy sacrificed herself, to save the world. We weren't able to bring her back either. Buffy is dead. You are The Slayer."
"No." Faith said, her voice hard. "I have no right to that title. Buffy is The Slayer. She always will be. I'm just a Killer."
Faith flew to England with Giles without a fuss. Wesley was going to join them a few weeks later, after he tied up some loose ends in LA. Willow and Dawn saw them off. Willow never thought that she saw someone who looked so defeated. Then she realized that it was how she must of have looked to Faith.
"You take care of short-stuff here, Red." Faith said with an oddly accented voice, "Take care of the Hellmouth too. I'll be back to help when I've trained and proven myself." She then looked at Dawn, who they all knew was a part of Buffy, "You take care, Shorty. Be strong. In most of the ways that matter, you are Buff."
The young slayer hugged her predecessor's sister/childe and walked on the plane.
"You take care Dawn." Giles said, "And be sure not to get into trouble with the law. Willow's spell is powerful, but if anyone thinks about it they'll know the truth." He was referring to spell that Willow casted, making everyone believe that Xander was Dawn cousin, and thus legal guardian. They still couldn't find Hank Summers, and Giles was quietly getting concerned. He hadn't voiced his fear to anyone though, it was mystery he was going to solve on his own. But there were more important things to deal with. Other promises to keep.
So Giles got on the plane with Faith (which Willow thought was wonderfully poetic), and left the store in Anya's care.
The former demon was actually quite a natural for working in the store. She had vast knowledge of spells and potions, and magik objects, as well as shrewd business sense and liberal doses of...patriotism.
"Xander, why are you carrying a strange woman in your arms?" she demanded briskly, jumping to her typical illogical and slightly neurotic conclusions. "How could you cheat on me when we only just got engaged? After I risked my life, MY life, to save yours? Oh you're just like all those other misbegotten..."
"Anya, she came to Buffy's grave, and passed out after saying something about a promise. Xander happened to come by and I asked him to carry her. Besides if he was being unfaithful, which he WASN'T he wouldn't bring her to you!"
"Oh," Anya said, lightly, "You're right. Put her on the couch while I grab a scrying glass to find out who she is."
Xander shot a grateful glance to Dawn for diffusing his ex-demon fiance before placing the girl down. It was obvious that she had some great power. After a few years of battling demons and gods, Xander developed an eye for such things. Oddly, he didn't feel the least bit in trouble around her. He almost felt safer, like she was a protective force.
Anya came in from the back. "Hmmph! I can't find the scrying glass. Giles probably put it away in a poor place and it got sucked in by a portal or something. Maybe there's one..." she trailed off as she finally got a good look at Jacki's face. She then gasped loudly, "Caligo!" she exclaimed. "It's Caligo!" she ran over the girl and inspected her, muttering to herself and bustling off to grab some odd objects. She came back and placed an amulet of healing and rejuvination on her.
"Um, won't you need Willow or Tara to cast this spell?" Xander asked.
"Oh no, Caligo can do it herself. But do make sure she stays away from most magik items, I believe the distance is 2 feet in all directions, until she wakes and can actually control her power. Otherwise she'll activate all the different spells available."
The amulet began to glow and suddenly a small light engulfed the room. When it faded, Jacki began to stir and then opened her eyes. She sat up quickly, and glanced around.
"Anya?" she murmured, "It's good to see you. Buffy did say that you would be here. Engaged I see." She grinned, "And to think you spent all those years spurning men."
"Caligo." Anya said warmly, dropping to one knee, "It is good to see you."
"What's going on?" Xander asked, looking between his fiance and the newcomer. "Why are you bowing? How do you know Buffy? What's going on?"
Caligo laughed a rich laugh, solid like bells. "I am who was, I am who is, I am who will be."
"Ok, that's good and vague, almost as vague as what you told me before, when you said you were Jacki, Caligo."
"Well, um, Jacki was the name I was given when I was born to a mortal. My soul, my life force, my essence is Caligo. I am Immortal, given form and substance and thrown throughout time. My life began almost 22 years ago, but has lasted for a long as the universe. I fight and die only to return, for I am the Hero and Mentor. I am the Protector of Life trapped in the sea of Space/Time."
"She is the Queen of the Sol System," Anya told them.
Caligo waved a hand, "You know I make no claim on that title."
"But they are yours, in every way that matters." Anya said wisely, while Caligo scoffed.
"You're the Queen of the Solar System?" Dawn squeaked.
"When the Solar Empire fell and the Queen was dying without an heir, she passed the Title and rights to me. It didn't matter because that alliance has fallen, it like saying I'm the Empress of Russia."
"Why are you here then, Caligo?" Anya asked.
"First of all Anya, get up. I can't stand it when you do that, especially since I know that you're trying to yank my chain. Secondly, call me Jacki. It's my name, whereas Caligo is well, my title, species? I dunno, but it's not my name." Jacki said. "I'm here because of a promise I made a long time ago for me, probably two months ago, for you all."
"When Buffy died?"
"Bingo." Jacki said, "But we'll wait for the others to get here. I hate explaining myself over and over again."
"But they won't be here for..."
Just then the door opened with Willow, Tara, Angel and Cordelia.
"You!" All four of them cried at once.
"All of you know her?" Xander asked. "How come everyone knows her but me?"
"Xander, you know me." Jacki said slightly annoyed, "Right before Buffy showed. You probably thought it was a dream or something. And then not too long ago, for you that is."
"Ohmygod!" Xander cried, "You're the one who told me to be friends with Buffy." Then he borrowed his brow, "YOU! You helped me pick out a ring for Anya! The one I thought was too expensive, but turned out I had the money...that I didn't...you gave me the extra money too!"
"Gold star for you!"
"What are you doing here?" Angel almost growled. "If you hadn't sent me away, I could have..."
"She sent you away?" Cordelia asked, confused.
"Um, no. I reinforced his belief that he needed be away from Buffy. That was something you decided on your own, my good friend. Whereas with you, I just arranged for your acting opportunity to be close by." Jacki looked at her watch, "Trust him to be late." She muttered.
Just then Spike walked in muttering something about the reception in the crypt. He stopped short as he saw the whole crowd, "What the bloody hell is everyone doing here?" he then spied the newcomer. "I figured you'd pop up again one day. Why such a long wait?"
"Whine, whine, bitch moan. I was created to hold your hand, William." Jacki said with a grin. The Vampire scowled.
"So you've met everyone." Dawn said, crossing her arms. "And you know of me, so at this point introductions with be rather...well, redundant."
"Not really," Spike said, gruffly, "The Bint's popped in an out of my life, without once explain who or what she is. So what's the deal are you immortal? Demon? God? Angel? Devil?"
"Yes." She said, with a grin.
"Bugger. She'll never answer that question." Spike said throwing his hands in the air.
"Well then how about tell us why you're here?"
"That's a good question, Cordy, and it has been pondered my philosophers since the beginning of time..."
"Jacki." Willow said warningly. Jacki yawned.
"You're no fun, Wills. I'm here because of giri."
"Giri."
"that's Japanese for obligation, right."
"Yeah, you see, I made a promise. And I'm here to keep it." Jacki said, "I'm here to bring Buffy back."
Intrigued? Want more? Review me! Please don't flame. With all the alcohol I drank in college, I'm quiet sure I'll incinerate.
"WHOSE woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
-Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Robert Frost
Dawn walked slowly into the cemetary. She had two roses, one white with a light pink color around the edge, the other a rich red. The first was for Buffy, as it was the newer wound, and the other was for Mom, the wound that had already covered her heart. It was symbolic. It was fitting. Even if Spike suggested it.
Slowly she placed the roses down on the ground before each headstone. She knelt between the two graves, just far enough back that she could see both epitaths at once. She felt the grief, the anger rising in her.
It was all her fault. She was had become convinced that whatever the monks did to implant memories of her into Joyce was what triggered her brain tumor. If the monks hadn't made her into Dawn, then the Summers women wouldn't have died. She believed this, and that made it true.
"It's my fault." Dawn said outloud, her voice cracking. "If I didn't come into your lives, you would have still been alive. The universe wouldn't have been in danger. Giles, and Anya and Tara wouldn't have gotten hurt. It's all my fault! Why? WHY? WHY?!?!" she cried tears of rage. "I should have just stayed a key."
She sat quietly crying. She was so caught up in her grief, she didn't notice the newcomer until a small bouquet of forget-me-nots and violets was left on the grave. Dawn looked up, mouth open. It was a young woman, slightly older than Buffy and Willow. She was small, with a thin frame, long dark hair, pale skin and dark, fatigue-rimmed eyes. It was the same look Dawn saw on Buffy's face when they were in the run-down gas station where they had a stand off with the monks. She held a small sheathed dagger, which she pulled out slowly, ritualistically. With a quick gesture, the blade went across the woman's hand, and blood dripped on Buffy's grave.
"I salute you, Slayer. May you enjoy the rest you've earned." She murmurred. Dawn watched in mute wonder as the wound closed up quickly, and the blood ceased.
"Who?" Dawn finally managed to find her voice. The woman turned to her and smiled gently, weakly.
"Hello, Dawn, I've heard so much about you." She said, placing the dagger back into her sheath.
"You have?" Dawn said defensively, "From who?"
"Lots of people. Glorificus, Gabriel, Lilith, Michael, the Monks." The woman said softly, "But the best stories were from Buffy."
"Buffy?" Dawn asked, then she narrowed her eyes, "Who are you? WHAT are you?"
"My name is Jacki. I have been many things. So many, I forgot who I really am." Jacki said, "There's more that needs to be done. I promised I would help. I swore..." she trailed off as she slide to the ground, exhausted.
Dawn was lucky that Xander had decided to come by the gravesite also. Jacki, as she called herself wasn't easy to carry. It took the two of them to get the unconscious form to the car. They decided to take her to Giles' Shop, where everyone else was.
Technically, it wasn't Giles' store anymore. He had moved to England, to help with training Faith. Faith, who broke down at the moment that Buffy died, feeling the full power of the Slayer rush to her, knowing the horrible horrible truth. She was borderline catatonic when Angel and Giles arrived to take her to England. It was almost like the way Buffy was, when Glory took Dawn.
"Giles," she begged, looking at the Watcher, "Please don't tell me it's true. Lie to me, tell me that she found a way to release the Slayer power to me. That's she living a quiet life as a normal girl, taking care of Dawn. PLEASE?"
Angel took the Slayer in his arms, and held her as Giles spoke.
"I'm sorry, Faith." Giles said, voice half-hollow, half-pained, "But Buffy sacrificed herself, to save the world. We weren't able to bring her back either. Buffy is dead. You are The Slayer."
"No." Faith said, her voice hard. "I have no right to that title. Buffy is The Slayer. She always will be. I'm just a Killer."
Faith flew to England with Giles without a fuss. Wesley was going to join them a few weeks later, after he tied up some loose ends in LA. Willow and Dawn saw them off. Willow never thought that she saw someone who looked so defeated. Then she realized that it was how she must of have looked to Faith.
"You take care of short-stuff here, Red." Faith said with an oddly accented voice, "Take care of the Hellmouth too. I'll be back to help when I've trained and proven myself." She then looked at Dawn, who they all knew was a part of Buffy, "You take care, Shorty. Be strong. In most of the ways that matter, you are Buff."
The young slayer hugged her predecessor's sister/childe and walked on the plane.
"You take care Dawn." Giles said, "And be sure not to get into trouble with the law. Willow's spell is powerful, but if anyone thinks about it they'll know the truth." He was referring to spell that Willow casted, making everyone believe that Xander was Dawn cousin, and thus legal guardian. They still couldn't find Hank Summers, and Giles was quietly getting concerned. He hadn't voiced his fear to anyone though, it was mystery he was going to solve on his own. But there were more important things to deal with. Other promises to keep.
So Giles got on the plane with Faith (which Willow thought was wonderfully poetic), and left the store in Anya's care.
The former demon was actually quite a natural for working in the store. She had vast knowledge of spells and potions, and magik objects, as well as shrewd business sense and liberal doses of...patriotism.
"Xander, why are you carrying a strange woman in your arms?" she demanded briskly, jumping to her typical illogical and slightly neurotic conclusions. "How could you cheat on me when we only just got engaged? After I risked my life, MY life, to save yours? Oh you're just like all those other misbegotten..."
"Anya, she came to Buffy's grave, and passed out after saying something about a promise. Xander happened to come by and I asked him to carry her. Besides if he was being unfaithful, which he WASN'T he wouldn't bring her to you!"
"Oh," Anya said, lightly, "You're right. Put her on the couch while I grab a scrying glass to find out who she is."
Xander shot a grateful glance to Dawn for diffusing his ex-demon fiance before placing the girl down. It was obvious that she had some great power. After a few years of battling demons and gods, Xander developed an eye for such things. Oddly, he didn't feel the least bit in trouble around her. He almost felt safer, like she was a protective force.
Anya came in from the back. "Hmmph! I can't find the scrying glass. Giles probably put it away in a poor place and it got sucked in by a portal or something. Maybe there's one..." she trailed off as she finally got a good look at Jacki's face. She then gasped loudly, "Caligo!" she exclaimed. "It's Caligo!" she ran over the girl and inspected her, muttering to herself and bustling off to grab some odd objects. She came back and placed an amulet of healing and rejuvination on her.
"Um, won't you need Willow or Tara to cast this spell?" Xander asked.
"Oh no, Caligo can do it herself. But do make sure she stays away from most magik items, I believe the distance is 2 feet in all directions, until she wakes and can actually control her power. Otherwise she'll activate all the different spells available."
The amulet began to glow and suddenly a small light engulfed the room. When it faded, Jacki began to stir and then opened her eyes. She sat up quickly, and glanced around.
"Anya?" she murmured, "It's good to see you. Buffy did say that you would be here. Engaged I see." She grinned, "And to think you spent all those years spurning men."
"Caligo." Anya said warmly, dropping to one knee, "It is good to see you."
"What's going on?" Xander asked, looking between his fiance and the newcomer. "Why are you bowing? How do you know Buffy? What's going on?"
Caligo laughed a rich laugh, solid like bells. "I am who was, I am who is, I am who will be."
"Ok, that's good and vague, almost as vague as what you told me before, when you said you were Jacki, Caligo."
"Well, um, Jacki was the name I was given when I was born to a mortal. My soul, my life force, my essence is Caligo. I am Immortal, given form and substance and thrown throughout time. My life began almost 22 years ago, but has lasted for a long as the universe. I fight and die only to return, for I am the Hero and Mentor. I am the Protector of Life trapped in the sea of Space/Time."
"She is the Queen of the Sol System," Anya told them.
Caligo waved a hand, "You know I make no claim on that title."
"But they are yours, in every way that matters." Anya said wisely, while Caligo scoffed.
"You're the Queen of the Solar System?" Dawn squeaked.
"When the Solar Empire fell and the Queen was dying without an heir, she passed the Title and rights to me. It didn't matter because that alliance has fallen, it like saying I'm the Empress of Russia."
"Why are you here then, Caligo?" Anya asked.
"First of all Anya, get up. I can't stand it when you do that, especially since I know that you're trying to yank my chain. Secondly, call me Jacki. It's my name, whereas Caligo is well, my title, species? I dunno, but it's not my name." Jacki said. "I'm here because of a promise I made a long time ago for me, probably two months ago, for you all."
"When Buffy died?"
"Bingo." Jacki said, "But we'll wait for the others to get here. I hate explaining myself over and over again."
"But they won't be here for..."
Just then the door opened with Willow, Tara, Angel and Cordelia.
"You!" All four of them cried at once.
"All of you know her?" Xander asked. "How come everyone knows her but me?"
"Xander, you know me." Jacki said slightly annoyed, "Right before Buffy showed. You probably thought it was a dream or something. And then not too long ago, for you that is."
"Ohmygod!" Xander cried, "You're the one who told me to be friends with Buffy." Then he borrowed his brow, "YOU! You helped me pick out a ring for Anya! The one I thought was too expensive, but turned out I had the money...that I didn't...you gave me the extra money too!"
"Gold star for you!"
"What are you doing here?" Angel almost growled. "If you hadn't sent me away, I could have..."
"She sent you away?" Cordelia asked, confused.
"Um, no. I reinforced his belief that he needed be away from Buffy. That was something you decided on your own, my good friend. Whereas with you, I just arranged for your acting opportunity to be close by." Jacki looked at her watch, "Trust him to be late." She muttered.
Just then Spike walked in muttering something about the reception in the crypt. He stopped short as he saw the whole crowd, "What the bloody hell is everyone doing here?" he then spied the newcomer. "I figured you'd pop up again one day. Why such a long wait?"
"Whine, whine, bitch moan. I was created to hold your hand, William." Jacki said with a grin. The Vampire scowled.
"So you've met everyone." Dawn said, crossing her arms. "And you know of me, so at this point introductions with be rather...well, redundant."
"Not really," Spike said, gruffly, "The Bint's popped in an out of my life, without once explain who or what she is. So what's the deal are you immortal? Demon? God? Angel? Devil?"
"Yes." She said, with a grin.
"Bugger. She'll never answer that question." Spike said throwing his hands in the air.
"Well then how about tell us why you're here?"
"That's a good question, Cordy, and it has been pondered my philosophers since the beginning of time..."
"Jacki." Willow said warningly. Jacki yawned.
"You're no fun, Wills. I'm here because of giri."
"Giri."
"that's Japanese for obligation, right."
"Yeah, you see, I made a promise. And I'm here to keep it." Jacki said, "I'm here to bring Buffy back."
Intrigued? Want more? Review me! Please don't flame. With all the alcohol I drank in college, I'm quiet sure I'll incinerate.