Disclaimer: I own no rights to any of these characters. "The Others" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" belong entirely to their creators, but I thank them for allowing me to play with them. The situations I place the characters are my own.
Gist: This is a story about a little family reunion which occurs over March Break in Sunnydale.
Feedback: I'd love some ;
catalysts@home.comDedication: To Syl because she completely kicks ass and she wrote a Buffy/Nightwing crossover and that made me ponder a crossover of my own creation…
More of my work:
http://jane.crimescene.org/~wench/Note: (*) indicates thoughts
Family Reunion Part 1 of ?
By C.D. Hackett
Life was strange and complicated for Marian Kitt. She was still seeing a psychologist and having to leave out pertinent information regarding her alleged suicide attempt. She knew that no one would believe that she had channeled the spirit of a girl who had died in her old dorm room. Well, no one but The Others.
Marian smiled to herself as she thought about her new "family." Her new teacher, Elmer Greentree… the original Other of the group, was a sweet, kind and gentle man. He was an extremely powerful medium. He was the one she was the most comfortable with. Partly because she'd always lacked a strong father figure. Or any figure. Her family had always been a little bit leery of Marian.
Except for her cousin, Willow. Marian smiled when she thought about the funny email she'd received earlier in the day from the Sunnydale resident. She hadn't seen Willow since Uncle Herbert's funeral 6 years ago, but they'd always kept in touch. Connected by their sense of family and the knowledge that they were considered "odd" within the encompassing family circle.
Shaking her head, Marian stopped in front of Elmer's home. It was almost time for The Others meeting. She stood outside shyly for a moment or two. Things were kind of awkward since Satori was obviously still interested in Mark and Mark seemed torn between the psychic and herself. With a heavy sigh, Marian pushed open the door.
******
"Pet," Spike nudged Willow gently, "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
"Sod off, you wanker, I'm sleeping," Willow griped.
Spike raised an eyebrow, "I can't let you get away with talking to me, the man you love, like that. you'll have to be punished."
Willow smiled into the pillow, "I love this part."
"You love all the parts," Spike smiled.
An odd sense of déjà vu enveloped the young Witch at that moment. She shook it off and then looked at her watch.
"I'm sorry, I've gotta get back to the dorm. I actually have some work to do."
Cold lips pressed against the pulse point on her neck. Fangs began to lightly nip the area. Her head fell back and she grabbed on to Spike to steady her balance.
"Maybe I can stay a little longer."
******
Marian stormed out of the meeting. Albert had been his usual cantankerous self. That hadn't bothered her, but the waves of jealousy and unease coming off of Satori had been hard to ignore.
(*)Every time Mark even looked at me, she got that cold, hurt look in her eyes. And it's not like I've done anything to encourage him. I don't even really know him yet. God, between him and Warren just being Warrenish I can't take it. They're making me feel crazy.(*)
She sighed and stalked off towards her new abode.
(*)I need to get the hell out of here for awhile. Maybe I'll go surprise Willow, after all, it is Spring Break, and I've got my share of that reward money for helping that little boy get home to his Mom.(*)
Marian shivered as she remembered how close to death she had been and her decision was made, she needed and deserved a vacation. She'd never been to California before, and Sunnydale sounded like such a warm, friendly place.
(*)It'll be so nice to get away and get to be normal for a week. Basking in Sunnydale, California might be just what I need to help me kick back and relax.(*)
******
Willow was exhausted, happily, and was going to go to bed, but she had to check her email first. She was an email addict. Maybe Marian had sent her something. It was so nice to hear about Marian and her normal life. Sometimes Willow found herself envying her favourite cousin. She had everything going for her and didn't live on a Hellmouth.
Willow sighed.
"Ooh, new mail," she smiled.
(*)Oh Goddess. Marian's coming here?! Now?! Jeez Louise,(*) Willow checked the clock, (*)She's already hopped a plane. What am I going to do? Why did she have to be so impulsive?(*)
******
Marian splurged on renting a car at the airport. She bought a bag of Smartfood popcorn and a Nestea Ice Tea to keep her tummy from grumbling and then consulted the map.
"Sunnydale, here I come."
******
A van was parked on campus. It was a beaten up old thing with freshly tinted windows and specialty locks. One would wonder about such a van, especially if the inside was visible. It contained a strong metal cage and when the moon was full a howling, fur-covered creature could be found in that cage. Thank goodness the van was soundproofed. But it was still three more nights until the full moon, so the occupant was merely sleeping.
******
Marian had not realized how long it would take to get to Sunnydale from the airport. She found herself dozing off at the wheel. She slapped herself.
(*)Get it together, we're almost there. Stay awake.(*)
She saw the sign on her right and smiled, and then was seized by one of the most terrifying visions she'd ever had. Marian lost control of the car and ran down the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign.
Her head fell against the horn and it blared into the night, like the sound of a dinner bell to the many predators in Sunnydale.
******
Willow walked nervously out of Stevenson Hall. She was waiting for a cab to shuttle her down to the airport. (*)Goddess, I hope Marian is there. Or else I don't know how to find her.(*)
She sighed. Then an idea popped into her head. Perhaps, magic could lead the way. Willow closed her eyes and murmured a location spell.
The response was strong. She ran after the floating light, forgetting entirely about her cab.
******
There was a blaring noise. An alarm clock or a phone. Marian raised her head carefully, and the sound stopped. She put a hand to her head and felt an unfamiliar moistness there.
Blood.
"Oh, what have I done," she moaned, "I don't even have a cell phone."
"Then you can't call for help."
She turned and a fist came through the driver's window, grabbing her by the neck. Marian screamed and then there was a hiss and smoke rose.
"Fucking God-worshipping bitch!"
Marian looked at the creature, the vampire, cradling its burnt hand.
"Help!"
******
Albert bolted up in bed, sweating. With trembling hands, he dialed a familiar number.
"You probably know, but Marian's in trouble."
He spoke with Elmer awhile longer, but there was not much they could do from where they were, they could only hope that her strength would see her through.
******
Mark had just gotten home from the hospital. He was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep before even undressing. His dreams were fitful and troubled and he was awoken by a pounding on the door.
"Christ, it's the middle of the night."
He stumbled to the door and let Warren in. He was babbling about signs and portents (surprise, surprise) and Mark was too drained to make heads or tails of it all.
"Later Warren. We'll talk tomorrow. Goodnight."
The empath felt a little guilty about pushing Warren out the door in such a manner, but he'd always found Warren disorienting. His mind was so powerful in its bizarre way that Mark could never read him or tune into him. And Mark knew if something was really up, someone else would contact him. Usually Satori or Marian or Prof. Miles.
Mark flopped back down on the bed and was asleep in an instant.
******
Marian gunned the engine and dodged the vamp. She didn't know where she was going, except away from that horrible thing.
(*)A vampire. I can't believe I came here for a well-needed vacation and I get assaulted by a mythical creature.(*)
She saw an information sign indicating the direction of Sunnydale University and followed it. Marian had almost convinced herself that it had been a delusion from the accident when she felt a cold shiver crawl up her spine.
She quickly glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure she'd lost him. Marian breathed a sigh of relief, nothing was back there. The annoying prickling was still igniting at the base of her spine so she turned her head and peered out the hatch of the car. (*)Oh my God! He's still there and he brought friends!(*)
Marian turned to look again and when she faced forward again, she screamed and slammed on the brakes.
A body flew up over the hood and then landed on the roof.
From her vantagepoint, everything had happened too fast to do anything about it. There'd been no time for even the smallest of spells. Willow screamed, "Buffy!"
To be continued