Walk Through The Fire
Summery: After Joyce Summers death in 2001, Buffy's twin cousin comes to live with the Summer's girls, but Annette is more than she seems. B/S, X/D, F/We, I/G, Wi/T, D/Cn, A/An. AU.OC.
Author's Note: Re-written from the original version that I'd posted on Quizilla. To see the original, go to Anne30S2M's webpage on Quzilla. I do not own BtVS or AtS, that is the great Joss Whedon's honor and I am but a humble fan and servant of the master.
Chapter 1-On the Thoughts of Strangers
2001
"Annette, quickly. The Beast is coming. Join the circle." Father Celestine called in Latin. As quickly as she could, Annette ran to the circle of monks, who were completing the spell to transform her in to the girl she was to be for the rest of her life. "Picture the new life. Envision your role in their circles, Annette." And she did that. Annette saw herself in the life of the Chosen One and her friends. "Remember the mission. The mission is what matters." Father Celestine pressed. The Beast beat on the door of the monestary. They all continued to chant the spell, to complete it before the Beast entered. The wooden door was no match for the Beast and with a kick it slammed across the room, creating splinters.
"There you are!" The Beast said walking in.
"Go, now, Annette. Do not stop until you reach the key." Annette did as she was told and slipped out into the night, beyond the Beast's notice. She didn't let one tear fall, even knowing that the only family she ever had was dead. She felt faint and stumbled. Then with a rush, flashes hit her mind, memories. Mother and Father taking her to her first doctor's appointment. Visiting Aunt Joyce and Uncle Hank. Seeing baby Dawn for the first time. Playing doll's with Buffy. Moving in with Aunt Joyce, Dawn, and Buffy after Mother and Father were killed by Carthax demons and she was attacked and infused with their blood, causing her to gain in power, strength. Empathy, demonic strength, telepathy, telekinesis, and psychic. She remembered the feel of Xander Harris's arms around her and of Cordelia Chase's jealousy. She could feel the pain of when Angel turned into Angelus on Buffy's and her 17th birthday and how he came after her, found her, and raped her. She remembered attending Prom with no one, dancing only with Giles and Xander. She was there with them at graduation, helping Buffy kill the mayor. She could remember it all. But, her other memories were not lost. She retained them all. When Annette had the strength, she ran to 1630 Revello Drive. When she reached the door, she opened it, knowing that she was welcome. She called, "Buffy? Dawn? I'm home!" Buffy rushed in and gave Annette a hug. Annette considered how amazing it was that she looked exactly like Buffy, a complete carbon copy almost. Her eyes were the only mere difference. Buffy had blue and Annette had green.
"You don't know how happy I am to see you, Annie." Annette held her cousin close to her.
"I'm sorry, I should've come sooner." Anne told her. They began to talk about the last 2 years. The two years that Annette Summers was away at school in L.A. In the other life, she was, in fact, training. The only thing that really happened to Annette that was in Buffy's memory was when Angelus beat and rapped her.
Present (AU, 2005)
Annette stepped out of the taxi in front of Uncle Hank's house. She took in a deep breath, hoping that he would know where to find Angel. Walking up to the front door, slowly, realizing that this would be the first time that she would see her 'Uncle' outside of memories. Did she really want to see the absentee Hank? The man who hurt her family? No. But did she have a choice? She'd gone to the Hyperion to find Angel, he wasn't there and his room was bare. She took in a deep breath. Here goes nothing. She thought as she rang the doorbell. She heard someone grasp the door knob and twist. The door opened and Anne cast her eyes down. "Uncle Hank-"
"Buffy?" A familiar female voice asked. Annette looked up at once. "Anne!" Soon, Dawn's arms surrounded Anne in an affectionate hug.
"Dawn-Dawnie, I thought you were in Europe with Buffy and the others?" Anne questioned as Dawn ushered her into the house, grabbing one of Anne's suitcases.
"Buffy wanted me to finish school here." Dawn put the suitcase by the stairs and Anne followed suite. "What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Looking for Uncle Hank, is he here?" Anne asked looking around.
Dawn shook her head. "No, Dad's in France." Annette suddenly felt very angry. How could Buffy leave Dawn here on her own? "Xander's staying with me until Dad comes back." She told Anne at the look of anger and frustration on her face. Anne cooled down.
"Good." Anne went to the couch and sat down.
"What did you need with Dad?" Dawnie asked sitting down beside her.
Anne tried to decide how much to tell her. "I'm looking for someone and I thought he may know."
"Who?" Dawn questioned. Anne took in a breath. Dawnie was 17, she was old enough to know about the oogly booglies that come out at night. Hell, Buffy had even started training her after Will was sent to magical rehab. But, in Anne's mind, she was still little Dawnie who everyone tried to keep out of the dark.
"Angel." Anne decided she could tell her that much.
Dawn's smile faultered. "What? What is it, Dawnie?" Anne asked in a panic. What happened to Angel? Did something-Anne just couldn't think about that. She couldn't imagine Angel not in her life. She could remember the last time that she saw him.
2003(2 days before the destruction of Sunnydale)
Annette was patrolling in the cemetary while Buffy was searching a local crypt. It was a pyramid crypt that they hadn't seemed to notice until that day. She saw a limo near the crypt and searched her powers to find out whose it was-if it was a foe, she needed to rush in and help her cousin. She read the driver's thoughts, Mr. Angel better hurry, I hate Sunnydale. Angel? Here? Why? She decided to go to the limo and say her peace with Angel, just as she was going to do in a letter. She was finally going to tell him the full extent of her feelings for him. In her first set of memories, she had been in love with him ever since the day he left her with the monks, when she was a day old. In her second set, she fell in love with him the first day she met him, about 2 months before he turned into Angelus. Her love for Angel had not faultered just because Angelus had rapped her, she still loved Angel. When he came back, she spent more time with him, without Buffy, Giles, Aunt Joyce, or anyone's knowledge. Buffy never found out about her caring for Angel. She opened the door of the limo. "Are you with Mr.Angel?" The driver questioned. She nodded mutely and waited. Finally, Angel came in.
"Time to go home, Matt." Then Angel turned to Annette. "Annie? What are you doing here?" He asked, looking at her in shock and curiosity
"I needed to tell you something. No one is sure whether or not their going to make it through this thing. In fact, I'm positive that I'm not-" He placed a single finger on her lips.
"Shh. Don't say that-you'll make You have, too." He said looking at her with sad eyes.
Anne scoffed a bit and turned away. "Angel, please. I have as much chance as anyone to die. I can't see past this thing, and I should, shouldn't I?" He was silent. Annette looked up. "Buffy told you about her and Spike? She's in love with him. She's going to tell him that soon. I think that I should do the same."
Angel looked up. "What? Tell Spike that you love him, too?" Angel asked with a twinge of something on the edge of his voice. Anger? Jealousy? Jealousy over Buffy, maybe. Anne was positive that he had no feelings for her.
"No. Tell the man that I love that I do love him. And that I've loved since the day we met." She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Great. Who do you love?" He asked with a bite of sarcasm. She looked up and glanced at him.
"You." With that she opened the door of the limo and without turning around added, "Good-bye, Angel." And she left, closing the door. She'd said it, she'd said the words that she never said. Her policy had always been, don't say good-bye unless you meant it. Saying it now sealed her fate. She let but a single tear fall, knowing that she would never know Angel's love.
Present
"Dawn, tell me." Anne pleaded, not sure she wanted the answer.
"Andrew called a few days ago-Angel is running Wolfram and Hart." Nope, she didn't want the answer. Did that mean he was Angelus-no, Angelus wasn't a team player, there's no way in hell that he would take over Wolfram and Hart. How did Angel get it though?
"Great." Anne replied. "Um..ok, Dawnie. I'm going to go get him and I'll give you a call when I'm through and I'll take you to lunch. Ok?" She asked.
"Alright." Dawn said happily. Anne stood and gave Dawn a hug. Then walked out of the door."Wait, Annie. Do you have a place to stay?"
Anne turned and shrugged. "No, I was going to get a motel." She told Dawn.
"How about you stay here with Xander and me? We have Buffy's old room free." Anne looked at her younger cousin.
She smiled. "Sure, Dawn." And she left. Annette walked along the familiar road. This was the neighborhood where Buffy had taken her patrolling after discovering her destiny. She could remember what it was like when Buffy had told her. She'd believed her right away, even though Aunt Joyce and Uncle Hank had thought she was nuts. Anne never did. Because after Buffy had told her, they went patrolling and Anne staked her first vamp. Why hadn't it really happened? Anne craved a family, and she had one, one based on lies and deceit on her part. She knew what really happened when that was supposed to; she had been killing demons since she was 7, the monks would test her skills by locking her up with a demon and not check in on her for days. She had to kill or be killed. It was all in training for the moment that the Beast, or Glory, would come and try to take the Key. Vamps had been easy work for her at that point. She finally reached the entrance of Wolfram and Hart and took in a deep breath. Her demonic senses could tell that this place was evil. It's negative energy was radiating off of it in waves. How could Angel work for such a place? She crossed the threshold and walked up to the front desk. A blond vampire (by the smell of her) was hunched over the desk, searching through papers. There was something familiar about the vamp. Annette took in a deeper scent. "Harmony?" Anne said in disbelief.
Harmony looked up from her search. "Buffy? Hi, I didn't know you were coming-um, I'll get Angel." Anne shook her head. Idiot.
"Buffy?" A familiar British accented voice sounded from behind her. No. Its impossible. He died. She turned to have her hopes confirmed.
"Spike? Is it really you?" Anne asked walking to him at almost a run. Spike looked into her demonic green eyes, the color of neon green mixed with lime green and his eyes, a brilliant ice blue, brightened a bit. With happiness and caring and part worry.
"Annie." Before she knew it, she was in his arms. They hugged as tight as possible and didn't want to let go. "God, I've missed you, pet." He whispered in her ear. Annette and Spike had been lovers, and they had grown extremely close over the last 2 years. They were best friends and loved each other deeply. They just knew that they weren't true loves. They let go only enough to see each other's face. Spike looked at every inch of Annette's face in spectacular wonderment. "Harm said that it was Buffy, but I've got to tell you, love, I am far from disappointed." He hugged her again. Anne breathed in the scent of him.
"I thought you were dead." She said, her voice thick with choked back tears. He let go enough to look her in the eyes again, they were swimming with tears and one fell. He wiped it away with a flick of his gentle thumb.
"No tears, pet. I'm alive, by pure luck. That trinket brought me back here." He leaned down and laid a gentle kiss on her lips. It was a mere touching of lips, but it was enough to know that it was real.
"Buffy?" Angel's voice rang from a distance. She heard him, but couldn't keep her eyes off of Spike. "Spike, don't you have something better to do?" Angel asked angrily.
Spike continued looking at Annette. "No. Not at the moment." He winked and Anne knew what he meant. They kissed again, but it was far from chaste. His silky tongue entered her perfectly willing mouth and messaged against hers. Annette kissed back eagerly, feeling safer with every touch, perfectly fine with the fact that Spike wished it were Buffy he was kissing, and Spike perfectly fine with her wishing it were Angel. They broke, breathless.
"Buffy's lucky to have you, William." Anne whispered against his lips.
"If only she did." He whispered back. Out loud, he said, "I'll talk to you later, pet." And he smirked to Angel as he left. Anne looked up into the deep chocolate eyes of Angel and nearly fell, weak at the knees. But she held her composure.
"Angel." She said. He looked into her eyes.
"Anne, but Harmony said-"
"Harmony never learned the difference between Buff and I. I'm sorry to disappoint you." Annette told him, feeling very sad.
He looked back to where Spike had walked to. "So, Spike's got you too?" He asked angrily. Bitter, because he knew that Buffy was Spike's. Anne shook her head. "Why then? With the tongues?"
"To put your panties in a twist." Anne said. She wished desperately that he saw her and not Buffy.
He groaned. "Why are you here?" Anne walked away. What did she expect? It wasn't like she was special to him. She should just leave him to his apocalypse "Anne! Wait!" He ran after her. She stopped at turned to him, more tears coming out-God, why did he make her weak? Crying happy tears at Spike being alive was far better than crying sad tears over Angel not even saying 'Hello, happy to see you.' "Whats wrong?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter." She said wiping her face.
"Yes, it does. To me, it does." He wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you, Annette." He said with all of his feelings. She squeezed him tight.
"I missed you, too, Angel. God, I've missed you." They released each other and he kissed her forehead. "I have to tell you something."
Xander walked into the kitchen. He'd decided to come home at lunch and surprise Dawn. She was cooking him some grilled cheese and tomato soup and making a salad for dinner. Dawn was very domestic.She went to the cupboard and reached for a bowl, he followed her with his eyes. As she stretched, he could see the flat of her stomach, a hit of her lacy bra, the way those pants form tight-he looked away, praying that he didn't just think about what he thought he did. Ididn't just think about little Dawnie-but she's not that little anymore-shut up, don't think about that-I can't help it, she's grown up. Anyone would notice-no STOP, she's your best friend's sister for crying out loud! Think baby Dawnie, Dawn you used to babysit.-Baby Dawnie has filled ou-no! Don't go there! "Xand, could you get that bowl for me? Its too far in the back." She asked.
Xander stood up and says, "Sure thing, Dawnmeister." He grabbed the bowl and hands into her, looking into her blue eyes. Tension passes between them. She's standing very close and notices that he has two different looks to him. One is confused and trying to deny that the other look is lusting.
"Xander-" She said, her voice trembling a bit.
"Yeah?" He asked, unbudgingly.
"You're standing on my foot." She said. He looked down and jumped off.
"Sorry." He said. "I'll be-" He started and then ran out. You're a sick, sick man, Xander Harris. You're going to hell for this. He thought as he headed to the bathroom to release himself. .
The phone rang and she picked it up, wondering what that was all about. "Hello?" She asked.
"Dawnie? Its Anne." The other person said.
"Hey, Anne." Dawn replied. "Whats up?"
"I'm heading back to the house, do me a favor and call a cab for when we get there, alright?"
"Sure, Annie." Dawn told her.
"Ok, sweetie, I'll be there in a few minutes." And she hung up. Dawn hung up as Xander came in, looking stressed and self-loathing.
"Who was that?" He asked.
"Anne. She's going to stay here with us." Dawn told him.
"Good." He said relief washing over him. If Anne's here, maybe then he could control his dirty oldman-ness.
Annette came into the house about 5 minutes after Xander had left and she and Dawn went to get pizza. When they'd gotten their seats and ordered, Dawn looked at Anne. "Annie, can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure, sweety, what is it?" Anne asked looking at her younger cousin in curiosity
"Well, ok. I like this guy, right? I've liked him for awhile. Up until this morning, I thought he couldn't possibly like me. But this morning he blushed when he saw me and then he looked at me in a way I thought he never would and I don't know what that means." She said fast.
Annette looked at her a little shocked. "Um, ok. Who is this guy?" Anne asked.
"Um...I really don't want to say..." She said.
"Ook. Is he older than you?" Anne asked trying to narrow down the list, that and she had a sneaky suspicion of who it was. Annette prayed that it wasn't.
"Yes. But not too old, just older." She said. She seemed to get antsy and Anne had a horrible feeling that she was right.
"Do I know him?" She asked. Dawn nodded. No-no-no."Is it Xander?" Anne questioned. She blushed and Anne knew she was right. "No." Anne whispered. She took her hand and had a vision. Xander was looking at Dawn, scared, because she was naked in his bed. He was worried and freaking out because he didn't remember what had happened or why she was there. Anne looked at her and let go. "Great." She whispered.
After they were through with their meal they went home. Anne and Dawn settled her in to her room and waited for Xander to come home. When he finally did walk through the door, he saw Anne and smiled frightened. "Hi, Anne."
"Upstairs, Xander. Now." Annette told him and they walked upstairs. They entered Anne's room and she shut the door. "Alexander Harris! What is wrong with you?"
Xander looked at her like a deer caught in the headlights. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"I mean, Dawn is downstairs right now wondering if you are seeing her in a new light. She told me about what happened before I got home and guess what? I had a vision."
He looked completely afraid now. "What did you see?" He asked.
"Never mind. Dawn in off limits, Xander. I know that she'll be 18 in a couple months, but she's still a kid. You can't just go from big brother Xander to boyfriend, ok? It doesn't work that way. I can't allow it."
"I know, Annie. I don't want to be seeing her like that, at all. Part of me knows that its wrong. But then there's another part that keeps looking at her."
"I bet I can guess which part." Anne said looking at him disappointed. She sat down beside him on the bed. "Just-don't think about Dawn. Go out and get a date. If you screw up, everyone will be on your case-Buffy, Angel, Spike, Giles, everyone." Anne cautioned him.
"Spike?" He asked curiously.
"He's back." Anne couldn't stop the happiness from rising to her eyes.
A knock came at Angel's door after Anne left. He took a deep breath and said, "Come in, Spike." Spike opened the door. Angel knew what was coming and he shook his head.
"You didn't tell her." He inferred. Angel nodded. Spike came closer and and sat in the chair in front of Angel's desk.
"I don't feel like talking, Spike." Angel said quietly.
"Too bad, Mopey, we're going to do some talking." Angel glared at him for the nickname. "Now, why can't you just tell the girl how you feel? She's been mad on you for ages." Spike said leaning back and kicking his feet on top of Angel's desk.
Angel stood and pushed Spike's feet off and walked out to the window. He saw her walking slowly down the street towards Hemery High School. "I can't, Spike. I'm cursed." He said watching her. She thought he saw her as Buffy, because she looked so much like her. He didn't. He saw her as Anne. The most powerful half-demon he had ever known and the most beautiful.
"I'm not telling you to sleep with her-" Spike said.
"I don't mean that curse." Angel told him turning around.
Spike looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" He asked.
Angel sighed. "My first love, I killed her, then she came back, had our baby, killed herself. Then Buffy, I loose her, get her back, leave her, then she falls in love with you. Then Cordelia-she's in a coma right now, because she loved me and was taken over by a demon. I've lost every woman that I've ever loved, every person I've ever loved. My own son doesn't even know I exist, he was the only one to come out of this good. Because he has a normal family. I don't want to loose her or get her killed." He said turning back to the window. She was gone from his view now and he stared at his clasped hands.
"Angel, she's different. You know that. Do you think those sodding monks put her in our lives to further curse you? She's loved you since the moment you left her on their doorstep." Spike said.
"How? She was only 1 day old-wait-how did you know about that?" He asked turning back.
"She told me. But I didn't tell anyone else, mate. Its only me, you and Xander who know about the other reality." Spike told him. He put his feet back up on the corner of the desk.
"Why does Xander know?" Angel asked coming over to the desk and moving Spike's feet. He sat down where Spike's feet were so that he couldn't do it again.
"Because that Glory-bitch crashed the party. He got both memories. I only know because she told me." Spike explained. "When she comes in tomorrow, tell her." Spike ordered, standing up and leaving the office. "You're not cursed." And he closed the door.
The next day, Dawn was the first one awake. She walked into Xander's room and woke him up. He groaned loudly and fakely. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the bed, still pretending to be asleep. He thought she was Anne. He squeezed her against him and she giggled. Thats when he opened his eyes to see brown, not blond. He let go of her fast and rolled from the bed.
"Xander?" She asked laughing still.
"Hey, Dawnmeister." He said jumping up fast. She looked at him. He was in nothing but his boxers. She could see his well-toned, muscular carpenter body. Tan on his arms. He noticed her eyes drifting over him and he was suddenly turned on. As the tent started forming in his boxers he grabbed his pillow and covered up his body, and his surprise. She blushed when he did this.
"Um...I'm going to go get breakfast." She said turning around.
He looked down and realized that she might have seen it. "Damn." He whispered and he shuffled into the bathroom. Dawn was down stairs and kept playing that over and over in her mind. Was it her imagination or did Xander get a-gross-while she was-? Gross. But, exciting, maybe he was seeing her-She busied herself as he came in, fully clothed and red-faced.
"Hey, Dawnster." He said, refusing to meet her eyes.
"Hey." She said simply. "Um-about in the bedroom-"
"What happened in the bedroom?" Anne said in the doorway, arms crossed.
"What happened in the bedroom, Xander?" She asked coming in. Please tell me that after the talk we had last night that he didn't-
"I went in to wake him up for work and he thought I was you and he wrestled me down. I accidentally hit my knee on the dresser." Dawn answered. "Why? What did you think happened?" She asked.
Anne shrugged. She looked at Xander, who was looking shocked at Dawn.
"Xander?" Annette asked pointedly.
"Yes?" He asked, snapping his attention to her.
"That knife is about to fall." She said nodding at a kitchen knife that he had bumped. Anne floated it away when he didn't see it. The knife landed in the sink.
"Oh." He said.
"You're going to drop me off, right?" She asked. He nodded. "Good." Today, Anne was going to start working in Wolfram and Hart's Psychic Devision, so she could stay close to everyone. She wasn't entirely convinced by Xander and Dawn's pleas of innocence.
Attention: This is a revised version of the original and should make much more sense. Please review so I know how you like it. Don't be surprised if the revisions of the next ten pop up in the next week. If someone would like to do a versus report in a review, meaning read the original chapter one on Quizilla and read this one and give a comparison, it would be most welcome.