TITLE: THE QUESTING
AUTHOR: STEPHEN HOWE
E-MAIL: sh01@bigpond.com.au
FEEDBACK: Sure.
DISTRIBUTION: Ask and ye shall receive!
DISCLAIMER: All characters
belong to Joss! He created everything!
Set in season 6.Xander cannot stop blaming himself for Buffy's death and
has a death wish of his own. A CEMETARY IN SUNNYDALE.
Spike sees a vampire flying through the air moments before it's
dusted." Well that's just...Neat!" Spike picks up speed as he hears
the sound of more fighting. He enters the clearing and can't believe his undead
eyes. Xander is beating the un-life out of a Vampire. Spike grins." Well
looks like droopy grew a pair!" He lights up a cigarette and draws in the
smoke and leans against a tombstone. Xander stabs the vamp repeatedly around
the heart until he draws back his arm and finally dusts him before jumping up
to his feet. Xander spits out a mouthful of blood and glares at the remaining
three demons, holding his arms out wide. Then Spike's grin freezes at Xander's
words." So don't any of you have the balls to take out a stupid
norm?" He rips open his shirt and exposes his
neck as tears begin to form in his eyes." Come on! I'm begging ya! Take me
out!" The three of them look at each other and one speaks up. " Hey! What's your problem dude? If
you want us to kill ya just don't fight!" Xander shakes his head."
Doesn't work that way scaly! See if I just lie down and let you suck the life
out of me then she died for nothing. But if I go down fighting at least her
spirit can rest knowing she had made a difference." The speaker shrugs and
charges him but Xander still can't just roll over and die. Xander wipes the
green blood from the stake on the demons still quivering body but is then
thrown against a tombstone by the two remaining vampires .One almost crushes
his hand until he drops the stake then the other pulls Xander's neck to one
side and bares his fangs. Xander sobs." About freaking time!" However before the vamp can drain him Xander
feels the pressure fall away and dust fall over him. He opens his eyes and sees
Spike fighting with the remaining Vampire. Xander struggles to his feet as
Spike finishes his fight. Spike walks up to him. " Listen droopy mate you
really should take more time off before you try take up the Slayers
slack." Xander's fist catches Spike by surprise knocking him to the
ground. Xander stands over him flexing his fists before he points to him.
" Don't you EVER do that again asshole or so help me God, Buffy's friend
or no I'll dust your ass!" Spike moves his jaw with his hand as he
watches Xander stalk off." You my son have a major friggin death
wish!" XANDER'S
APARTMENT. Anya watched as Xander threw his
coat onto the floor and kept watching as the rest of his clothes followed. She
knew what he had been doing for the past week and, despite her best efforts,
she couldn't get him to stop. As he slipped between the sheets she cuddled up
to him but he just pushed her away." Please Ann not tonight." She
looked into his eyes and knew without a doubt his soul craved to join that of
'his' Slayer. She had seen it a thousand times before in the women that she had
revenged. She knew most of them that had that look would kill themselves as
soon as she left. Just like she heard him as he re fought the final battle in
his sleep. He blamed himself for hesitating for that brief moment in time when
he stopped and thought of Anya instead of doing what he always did and barged
in to help Buffy. She knew he would eventually find a vampire or demon that
would over power his will to fight on and give him what he craved the
most... Death so his soul could
join that of his first, and only, loves. Still she had to know if
he would give his life for that of Buffy's. She twisted her sheet in front of
her as she asked him." Xander if I were to tell you there was a way to
bring her back..." She jumped as he gripped her arms." Do it! For the
love of God why have you waited till now?" Anya looks him in the eyes and tells him." It could mean
your death and I wasn't willing to risk it. " She turned to him, tears
running down her face as she stroked his cheek." But it would be better
than watching you die inch by inch, wasting away in the hope some creature would
kill you." She breaks
from his grip and slips out of bed, draping a robe over herself as she grabs a
pillow from their bed." I'll see Willow tomorrow and we'll begin the
spell." She stops at the door and sobs to him." No matter what
happens always know I love you." She shuts the door behind her and Xander
places his hands behind his head and has the first good nights sleep he's had
in the three months since Buffy's death. THE NEXT DAY - BUFFY'S HOUSE. Willow and Tara are sitting in a
pentagram with Anya and Giles as they prepare to open a gateway to an alternate
Universe. Willow asks Anya for the thousandth time. " You're sure it will work
this time? Cuz I don't want that other me wondering around here like the last
time." Anya looks at Xander as she answers." I'm as sure as I can be
Willow." Giles asks her." And as soon as you have the necklace you
will bring Buffy back then destroy the amulet?" Anya smiles, praying she
can hold up the facade for long enough." Yes Giles I'll grab the amulet,
wish Buffy back then we can all destroy it together before D'Hoffran realises
Anyanka's back." Giles nods and they begin the spell,
the sand runs into the dish and in a blink of an eye the necklace is once more
in Anya's hands. The spell finishes and they hear Xander as he lets out a sigh
of relief. Dawn releases his hand and hugs him." I know this is a great
risk for Anya and you and I just want to say thank you for all you are trying
to do." He looks at her as Anya turns to him and says." What is your
wish?" He looks around the room and then kisses Dawn on the lips."
Give that to Buffy when you see her... Just in case something goes wrong."
Dawn blushes as his lips brush hers and the girlish crush she had on him when
she was first created comes flooding over her once more." Aww you can give
it to her when you see her yourself." Xander
turns to Anya." I wish that Buffy Anne Summers was returned to us of sound
mind and body.." There was a clap of thunder and Anya changed into
Anyanka. " DONE!" A blinding light filled the night-darkened room and
when it faded Buffy stood before them. She felt her face and looked around at
them in amazement." Am I alive?" Her eyes brimmed with tears as she
touched each and every one of her friends. Then Dawn hugged her followed by
everyone else until the ones she loved surrounded her. All except Anya and Xander. Anya slipped her
hand in his and asked him." Could I see you in the kitchen for a moment
honey?" Xander nodded and looked at Buffy for one last time, burning her
image into his mind. An image he hoped would last him till he was reborn again
in a time when, maybe, he hoped she would look on him as more than a friend.
As the kitchen door closed behind him Buffy looked around the room for
him , the questions the others asked becoming background noise to her as she
looked for the one she knew would be there." Hold on a minute Dawn,
where's Xander? Surely he would be here?" Just then the front door slammed
open and Spike was at the threshold." Listen I know I can't come in but I
really need to tell you guys about Droopy! He's got some sort of mega
death...." He notices Buffy and freezes." Slayer? SLAYER! How the
bloody hell?" Willow
beams." It was Anya and Xander's idea! We reached back and brought
Anyanka's necklace back, then she granted Xander a wish and bam! Heeeeere's
Buffy!" Spikes eyes grow wide." Bloody hell you mean that bitch is
back!" Willow waved a hand at him." Don't worry Spike Anya said as
soon as Buffy was back she'd destroy the amulet trapping the demon back
in...." She looked around." Where is Anya?" Buffy asks them." And where is
Xander?" Just then the night is torn by a
soul-wrenching scream from the kitchen. They race in to see Anyanka grin as she
grips Xander's head between her hands. His screams build up then begin to
vanish along with his body. Buffy grips the demon and spins her around but
Anyanka speeds across the room out of her touch. Buffy glares at her. "
What have you done with him bitch?" Anyanka
hovers above them." Oh wouldn't you like to know! Then maybe you
wouldn't... You didn't seem to give a damn when he was alive.." She holds
a hand over her mouth." Oops! But maybe you did? More than you would
say?" She looks down sadly at them." He helped me overcome my hatred
of man and I even fell in love with him..." Her visage turns evil."
And you know I couldn't leave a thing like that go unpunished!" She starts
to fade but Buffy's cry halts her. " What did you do? Where is he?" "
What did I do! Why nothing my dear. He's still alive... For now that is."
She zooms over to them." But you have 24 hours to find him." She
brushes her sleeve of imaginary dust." Olaf was right he is very puny and
I don't give him any longer than that.. Depending on which reality he went to
that is." She taps her watch." There are sixteen realities he could
be in." She points to Buffy." And it all depends on you! If you
deserve him you will find the real Alexander Harris and bring him back to this
reality. But be warned not all realities are as good and safe as this
one!" She takes off her watch, one that Xander had given Anya for their
first anniversary, and threw it to Buffy." Tap the face three times and it
will take you to another reality. Tap it four times to return to this one. But
be warned you must be holding the hand of the Xander from this zone or you will
remain where you are forever." Willow's eyes are turning black as she
prepares to curse Anyanka but Anyanka blows her a kiss and Willows eyes return
to normal." Oh pulease! You think you can take on one such as I? I've had
a thousand years experience at the dark arts little one so don't piss me
off!" She twirls around and starts to vanish again." Goodbye and
thanks for the use of the loser it was a real slice guys!" END OF ONE
So? Should I continue?
Or just let the Zeppo go free?
