PART 1
Why can't my life ever be simple? Oh, yeah, that's right. How silly of me to have forgotten. I AM NOT A NORMAL GIRL!!! damn it.
**************
"Here vampy, vampy, vampy. Come on, I am getting bored out here."
The breeze was soft and smelled of early spring flowers. It was a clear sky and the stars twinkled. I looked up again and sought out the two that had given me so much comfort during the past 5 years. There they were, smiling down at me, loving me and supporting me. I twirled the stake in my hand and slowly made my way through the cemetery. It was a slow night so I decided to head home and catch a late movie with Dawn.
****
"Dawn, I'm back early." I closed the door behind me and walked into the living room. The woman sitting on the couch stood up and embraced me. "Slow night?" she asked.
"Yeah, no more wanna be big bads coming into town right now." I left my arms around her waste and accepted the warmth she offered to me.
"You were hoping for a good fight in order to vent, weren't you?" There were times when she knew me a little too well. I was able to muster a small smile and said, "howdja know?"
"I miss them too." The tear sliding down her cheek was a mirror of my own.
****
He stood in the shadows watching and waiting. The Powers had said they needed her now more than ever. His instructions were concise and pointed. The Balance would be sent back in order to aid The Champions in their battle.
****
"Thank you and have a good evening Miss Brody." The clerk at the cash register of the grocery store was always pleased to see the young, very single, brunette.
She was half way to her car when she stopped, listened, sniffed, and continued walking. After putting the groceries in the trunk, she casually turned and leaned on the car. "I'm not that stupid." She was talking to...herself?.....nobody?.....the shadows. It was a few seconds before he stepped out. "You still have absolutely no taste in clothing. What do you want Whistler?" She was a girl of little patience and the demon new it.
"I'm here to get you."
"Oh, joy." She was less than impressed by his obviously lacking response.
Whistler just stood there looking at her, he finally stepped forward until he was only a few feet in front of this dangerous beauty. He knew her, and he knew who her parents were. She was both of them. All of their strengths wrapped up into one young woman. By the time she was 13 she was already staking with the best of them. Her father had been opposed to her active involvement but he also knew that she was The Balance and that she would be trained and taught to the best of his abilities.
"Well? Are you going to answer me or am I just going to sit here?"
"You are being sent back." This short answer was not really descriptive enough for her short patience. He took another breath and stuck his hands into his pockets. He had no fear of her, just sympathy for what he was about to say.
"You are being sent back to Sunnydale of 2002."
Her expression went from impatience to shock to disbelief to fear and finally into anger and frustration. "What the HELL are you talking about?!?!" Oh, no. Now he may be in trouble but he still was not afraid of being hurt. He just looked into her suddenly golden glinting eyes and sighed. "You are needed to go back and aid them. I can't tell you what against or how to do it or what to say to them. That is completely up to you. I'll see you tomorrow evening. That will give you a day to prepare yourself. I knew you would need the time." As he finished he turned and walked back into the shadows. All she could do was stare after him with a stricken look on her now ashen face and tears threatening to spill from behind her once again blue eyes.
****
The loss, the complete and overwhelming loss and grief were almost too much. She climbed into the drivers seat and for a few minutes just stared. She had an almost empty expression on her face. Then she slowly turned the key in the ignition and backed out of her parking spot.
****
"Dawn! Dawn!" She was slamming the front door closed and setting the groceries on the table in the entryway. Her emotions were in such a turmoil that she could hardly think strait. "Anne? What is it? What's wrong?" Dawn's worried face was almost enough to make the tears start flowing again.
After getting no response from the girl in front of her, and seeing the pain etched on her features and in her eyes, the older woman stepped forward and embraced the younger. She didn't know what was wrong but she could only guess that it had to do with the girls parents.
****
~ ~ dark room...locked in...scared...door too strong...sounds...sounds of fighting...sarcastic banter...they're here... "Help!! I'm in Here!!!"
Her thinking was becoming more coherent as that drug wore off. She didn't know who took her or why. She stood up and started banging on the door again. Louder and more anxious. She knew they would get her out. They were the best and they never lost.
The girls hands started to bleed again from the cracks and sores she had created earlier. There were cuts and bruises on her legs and arms from her struggle while being captured. But now the pain did not matter because they were here and they would get her out. They were the best and they never lost.
"Get Back!" She heard the warning and crouched down in a corner of her cell. The explosion hurt her sensitive ears and jarred her nerves. Someone grabbed her arms and started leading and pulling her to freedom. Her brain was still foggy and her ears were ringing. The sudden change into a lighted room made her eyes ache as well.
Strong arms were supporting her and then she was passed to another set of arms. "Hold on kiddo, you're going to be just fine now." She squinted and turned her head to the voice that belonged to the arms, "Anya?"
screams...screams...Willow was hurt...Dawn with a crossbow...
A swirl of black and white caught the girls attention and she weakly leaned on Anya while she watched the figure in the black duster. The whole area smelled of blood and ash. Everything was a swirl of activity in her head. She saw both blondes fighting...
screams...blood...agony and death...ash...dust...
He looked up and ran towards her, shedding his duster as he ran. His eyes showed relief, love, and concern. When he reached them he wrapped his coat around the girl in Anya's arms and kissed her forehead. Then he was gone again and fighting.
Another scream followed by a flury of bodies and more mass confusion in her head. The blonde warrior fell...the vampire roared as his game face emerged and he ran for his fallen love.
they were together on the floor...he was leaning over her...he was holding her..Xander screams a warning...Dawn shrieks...death...dead...dead...horror...anguish...pain...both dead...NO!!...
There was just a moment when she heard nothing. The sounds of battle and anguish did not reach her ears. She saw red. Her face shifted as she fell to her knees and howled. Animalistic pain anger and grief fueled the heart wrenching sound coming from her throat. ~ ~
"NO!! Aarrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Anne! Anne?" Dawn ran into the bedroom and held her as she wept.
****
That morning they were both sitting in the kitchen. Dawn looked at the girl with sad eyes and said, "You had the dream again. Didn't you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.
"It's been quite a while since the last time you had it. Something happened while you were out last night. Tell me what happened."
Anne just sat and looked at the table. She was more composed and was handling life a little better now than she had last night or earlier that morning. Dawn just waited. After a few minutes, Anne looked at her. "I need you to tell me about everything you remember from after Buffy came back. Everything."
Dawn was a little shocked at this statement but she stood, refilled her coffee cup and started talking.
****
– Later That Evening –
They had talked all day, well, Dawn had talked and Anne had listened. Now she just waited. After much thought and some trepidation she finally decided what she would wear. Anne opened the jewelry box on her dresser and pulled out the silver cross. She fastened the clasp behind her neck and looked in the mirror.
The box under the bed was pulled out and the lid removed. She emptied the box and put on the contents. Without taking another look in the mirror she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
****
He watched and waited. Finally he saw her and stepped forward.
"Ready?"
"Does it matter?"
"Good luck kiddo"
"Go to Hell Whistler"
He reached out his hand and she disappeared.
****
"How is it my bloody fault?"
"Because you should have warned me. Look at me! I am covered in green goo. It's disgusting and it smells!"
"Well, at least you killed it." He really was enjoying this far too much, even if he was pissed that she was blaming it on him. They were back at her house and she was trying to figure out how to get to the shower without staining the carpet. Buffy grabbed a towel out of the laundry basket and tried to get off the worst of the fowl smelling slime. She knew he was watching her, he was always watching her.
"Instead of just standing around, why don't you just drag your butt back there and get rid of the body."
"What? But then I'll get covered in goo."
"Then be careful"
"Oh, Buffy, I'm touched. I didn't know you cared." She looked at him with disdain and he just smirked at her. Yup, this was definitely too much fun. Buffy turned back to her job at hand.
After a few seconds of silence he snickered, smacked her butt and headed out the door.
"You are so dead!"
"That's what I keep telling people."
****
There was a searing flash of light as a body dropped to the ground. Everything was dark and still again. The graveyard was quiet. Then there was a groan followed by an "Oh, bloody hell."
Why can't my life ever be simple? Oh, yeah, that's right. How silly of me to have forgotten. I AM NOT A NORMAL GIRL!!! damn it.
**************
"Here vampy, vampy, vampy. Come on, I am getting bored out here."
The breeze was soft and smelled of early spring flowers. It was a clear sky and the stars twinkled. I looked up again and sought out the two that had given me so much comfort during the past 5 years. There they were, smiling down at me, loving me and supporting me. I twirled the stake in my hand and slowly made my way through the cemetery. It was a slow night so I decided to head home and catch a late movie with Dawn.
****
"Dawn, I'm back early." I closed the door behind me and walked into the living room. The woman sitting on the couch stood up and embraced me. "Slow night?" she asked.
"Yeah, no more wanna be big bads coming into town right now." I left my arms around her waste and accepted the warmth she offered to me.
"You were hoping for a good fight in order to vent, weren't you?" There were times when she knew me a little too well. I was able to muster a small smile and said, "howdja know?"
"I miss them too." The tear sliding down her cheek was a mirror of my own.
****
He stood in the shadows watching and waiting. The Powers had said they needed her now more than ever. His instructions were concise and pointed. The Balance would be sent back in order to aid The Champions in their battle.
****
"Thank you and have a good evening Miss Brody." The clerk at the cash register of the grocery store was always pleased to see the young, very single, brunette.
She was half way to her car when she stopped, listened, sniffed, and continued walking. After putting the groceries in the trunk, she casually turned and leaned on the car. "I'm not that stupid." She was talking to...herself?.....nobody?.....the shadows. It was a few seconds before he stepped out. "You still have absolutely no taste in clothing. What do you want Whistler?" She was a girl of little patience and the demon new it.
"I'm here to get you."
"Oh, joy." She was less than impressed by his obviously lacking response.
Whistler just stood there looking at her, he finally stepped forward until he was only a few feet in front of this dangerous beauty. He knew her, and he knew who her parents were. She was both of them. All of their strengths wrapped up into one young woman. By the time she was 13 she was already staking with the best of them. Her father had been opposed to her active involvement but he also knew that she was The Balance and that she would be trained and taught to the best of his abilities.
"Well? Are you going to answer me or am I just going to sit here?"
"You are being sent back." This short answer was not really descriptive enough for her short patience. He took another breath and stuck his hands into his pockets. He had no fear of her, just sympathy for what he was about to say.
"You are being sent back to Sunnydale of 2002."
Her expression went from impatience to shock to disbelief to fear and finally into anger and frustration. "What the HELL are you talking about?!?!" Oh, no. Now he may be in trouble but he still was not afraid of being hurt. He just looked into her suddenly golden glinting eyes and sighed. "You are needed to go back and aid them. I can't tell you what against or how to do it or what to say to them. That is completely up to you. I'll see you tomorrow evening. That will give you a day to prepare yourself. I knew you would need the time." As he finished he turned and walked back into the shadows. All she could do was stare after him with a stricken look on her now ashen face and tears threatening to spill from behind her once again blue eyes.
****
The loss, the complete and overwhelming loss and grief were almost too much. She climbed into the drivers seat and for a few minutes just stared. She had an almost empty expression on her face. Then she slowly turned the key in the ignition and backed out of her parking spot.
****
"Dawn! Dawn!" She was slamming the front door closed and setting the groceries on the table in the entryway. Her emotions were in such a turmoil that she could hardly think strait. "Anne? What is it? What's wrong?" Dawn's worried face was almost enough to make the tears start flowing again.
After getting no response from the girl in front of her, and seeing the pain etched on her features and in her eyes, the older woman stepped forward and embraced the younger. She didn't know what was wrong but she could only guess that it had to do with the girls parents.
****
~ ~ dark room...locked in...scared...door too strong...sounds...sounds of fighting...sarcastic banter...they're here... "Help!! I'm in Here!!!"
Her thinking was becoming more coherent as that drug wore off. She didn't know who took her or why. She stood up and started banging on the door again. Louder and more anxious. She knew they would get her out. They were the best and they never lost.
The girls hands started to bleed again from the cracks and sores she had created earlier. There were cuts and bruises on her legs and arms from her struggle while being captured. But now the pain did not matter because they were here and they would get her out. They were the best and they never lost.
"Get Back!" She heard the warning and crouched down in a corner of her cell. The explosion hurt her sensitive ears and jarred her nerves. Someone grabbed her arms and started leading and pulling her to freedom. Her brain was still foggy and her ears were ringing. The sudden change into a lighted room made her eyes ache as well.
Strong arms were supporting her and then she was passed to another set of arms. "Hold on kiddo, you're going to be just fine now." She squinted and turned her head to the voice that belonged to the arms, "Anya?"
screams...screams...Willow was hurt...Dawn with a crossbow...
A swirl of black and white caught the girls attention and she weakly leaned on Anya while she watched the figure in the black duster. The whole area smelled of blood and ash. Everything was a swirl of activity in her head. She saw both blondes fighting...
screams...blood...agony and death...ash...dust...
He looked up and ran towards her, shedding his duster as he ran. His eyes showed relief, love, and concern. When he reached them he wrapped his coat around the girl in Anya's arms and kissed her forehead. Then he was gone again and fighting.
Another scream followed by a flury of bodies and more mass confusion in her head. The blonde warrior fell...the vampire roared as his game face emerged and he ran for his fallen love.
they were together on the floor...he was leaning over her...he was holding her..Xander screams a warning...Dawn shrieks...death...dead...dead...horror...anguish...pain...both dead...NO!!...
There was just a moment when she heard nothing. The sounds of battle and anguish did not reach her ears. She saw red. Her face shifted as she fell to her knees and howled. Animalistic pain anger and grief fueled the heart wrenching sound coming from her throat. ~ ~
"NO!! Aarrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Anne! Anne?" Dawn ran into the bedroom and held her as she wept.
****
That morning they were both sitting in the kitchen. Dawn looked at the girl with sad eyes and said, "You had the dream again. Didn't you." It wasn't a question, it was a statement of fact.
"It's been quite a while since the last time you had it. Something happened while you were out last night. Tell me what happened."
Anne just sat and looked at the table. She was more composed and was handling life a little better now than she had last night or earlier that morning. Dawn just waited. After a few minutes, Anne looked at her. "I need you to tell me about everything you remember from after Buffy came back. Everything."
Dawn was a little shocked at this statement but she stood, refilled her coffee cup and started talking.
****
– Later That Evening –
They had talked all day, well, Dawn had talked and Anne had listened. Now she just waited. After much thought and some trepidation she finally decided what she would wear. Anne opened the jewelry box on her dresser and pulled out the silver cross. She fastened the clasp behind her neck and looked in the mirror.
The box under the bed was pulled out and the lid removed. She emptied the box and put on the contents. Without taking another look in the mirror she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
****
He watched and waited. Finally he saw her and stepped forward.
"Ready?"
"Does it matter?"
"Good luck kiddo"
"Go to Hell Whistler"
He reached out his hand and she disappeared.
****
"How is it my bloody fault?"
"Because you should have warned me. Look at me! I am covered in green goo. It's disgusting and it smells!"
"Well, at least you killed it." He really was enjoying this far too much, even if he was pissed that she was blaming it on him. They were back at her house and she was trying to figure out how to get to the shower without staining the carpet. Buffy grabbed a towel out of the laundry basket and tried to get off the worst of the fowl smelling slime. She knew he was watching her, he was always watching her.
"Instead of just standing around, why don't you just drag your butt back there and get rid of the body."
"What? But then I'll get covered in goo."
"Then be careful"
"Oh, Buffy, I'm touched. I didn't know you cared." She looked at him with disdain and he just smirked at her. Yup, this was definitely too much fun. Buffy turned back to her job at hand.
After a few seconds of silence he snickered, smacked her butt and headed out the door.
"You are so dead!"
"That's what I keep telling people."
****
There was a searing flash of light as a body dropped to the ground. Everything was dark and still again. The graveyard was quiet. Then there was a groan followed by an "Oh, bloody hell."