Sequel to And I Am Not
Spoilers: Bargaining Parts 1 & 2; Afterlife; Flooded; All The Way; Once More, With Feeling; Tabula Rasa; & Smashed (and possibly Wrecked)
Summary: A continuation of "To Me", "Best Laid Plans", "Head Under Water", "Working Class Girl", "Tasty Little Morsel", "Out Of Character", and "And I Am Not" Ongoing, week-by-week rewrite of Season 6. My own twisted little universe. :)
Author's Note: The musical didn't happen. This is where things *really* start splitting off in continuity. I'm a little late on getting this out, just had personal issues to deal with.
Author's Note 2: Stating this right away, for any B/S 'shippers who stumbled into this fic. Well, if you've made it this far, I must suck at writing. This piece is B/X. I am a B/Xer. I state, wholeheartedly, that I do not like the idea of Buffy and Spike doing the deed together. However, I'm a tolerant person. I'm not going to go here and beat up the current characterization of Spike on the series. Nor am I going to take pot-shots at what Buffy has turned into. I simply don't like what's going on on the show, that's all. But it is what's happening on the show, and cannot be changed. I'm blathering on here a little, but all I'm trying to say is we need to practice tolerance. If you're a B/Xer, don't trash B/Sers(or any shippers for that matter). And if you're a B/Ser, and someone says they're something else or that they just don't like B/S, don't flame. This world needs a HELL of a lot more peace and tolerance, we all need to accept that people are different. Or else, we're all pretty much doomed. Harmony, people, and I'm not talking Spike's ex. I now return you to your regular fic reading.
*FADE TO: The Mall. Buffy and Dawn are window shopping.*
"Ooo, that would look cute on me!" Dawn exclaimed,
pointing towards a flashy dress.
Buffy saw it, and it's pricetag, and rolled her eyes, "So would a toga,
and it's a lot cheaper. I mean, hey, wrapped in a bedsheet. The 'in' fashion,
I'm predicting."
Dawn put her hands on her hips, "Come on, Buffy. I see how expensive it
is. I know we've got money troubles, but..."
"We don't." Buffy said quietly.
"We don't what?"
"Have money problems. Not anymore."
"Buffy, you're not being delusional, are you? I saw the bills myself."
Buffy brought Dawn over to a nearby bench, "I got some help, Dawn. The
bills have been paid off."
Dawn smiled, "Oh!" Her smiled turned into a frown, "Oh... you
got help? What kind of help? You didn't take Anya's idea about charging for
slaying, did you?"
Buffy laughed, "No, Dawn, I'm of the sane." She paused, "Xander
helped me out. He gave me the money."
Dawn was speechless, "Gave?"
Buffy nodded, "Yep, gave. He said he and Anya were making enough money
now, they could part with enough to keep us in a house."
Dawn continued to be monosyllabic, "Wow."
"Pretty much my reaction, too." She gave her sister a big hug, "So...
we're okay. Thanks to Xander." She smiled faintly.
Dawn looked at her, and came to a realization, "You're got fluffy feelings
for Xander, don't you?"
Buffy looked terrified, "I... no... I..."
Dawn grabbed her sister's hand to calm her, "It's okay, Buffy... Anya probably
wouldn't like that idea very much... but I'm cool with it. Remember my huge
crush on him? Completely understanding here." She laughed, "Just kind
of wondering what took you so long."
Buffy frowned, "I guess I had to die twice to find out how great he was...
he was there afterwards both times..."
Dawn smirked, "I knew he was great right away, and I didn't even have to
die at all."
Buffy glared at her mockingly, "So, to recap... we're okay, and we don't
exactly have to do *only* window shopping. We just can't go crazy with it. Xander
is a god to us now."
Dawn smiled, "Again, known that for a long time."
"You're just begging me to close the wallet, aren't you?"
"I'm doing no such thing. Just hitting the "it's about time"
button over and over."
Buffy shook her head and pulled her sister up, "Let's go."
*CUT TO: The Magic Box. The gang is gathered for an announcement by Giles.*
"So, G-Man... what's the what?" Xander queried.
"I... I need just a moment longer, Xander."
He emerged moments later carrying a medium-sized, closed box. He placed it carefully
on the research desk, immediately smacking Xander's hand as he tried to open
it.
"What's with the present, Giles?" Buffy asked.
He stuttered a little, "I-its not exactly a present... in the strictest
sense, Buffy." He sighed, "I supposed I should get straight to it,
right?"
"Straight to what?" Willow squeaked mousily.
"The point." Giles replied grimly, "I believe it would be to
our advantage for me to go to England in search of a solution to this problem.
I have many more contacts there than here in the States, and many of them need
me to show up in person. So I've brought you all here to tell you what I plan
to do."
"You're going to England to look for clues? Cool, that's a great idea,
Giles." Willow cheered.
"Yes, it is..." He looked down towards the box.
Tara picked up on his discomfort, "T-that's not all, is it?"
"No, Tara, that isn't all. I'll be going to England for my contacts, but..."
He paused dramatically, "I won't be coming back."
"What?" The group chorused.
He looked slightly annoyed, "I thought I made it pretty clear there. I'm
going back to England, for good."
Buffy jumped up, "Giles! You can't, I need you! You can't just leave."
He sighed, and pulled her to him in a hug, "Buffy, I can't go back and
forth to England forever... it's incredibly expensive, and it's not fair to
you or me. As much as I love you, Buffy... as much as I love you all... You're
all grown up, and all my presence here does is stand in the way of you becoming
adults. My going is the best thing I can do for you all."
"But... but... Giles! Don't leave me!" Anya jumped up and wrapped
herself around him. After a few moments, Xander stood up and peeled her off
him. She looked around, semi-confused, "I... I don't know where that came
from."
Everyone proceeded to quickly ignore her outburst, and Xander spoke up, "Giles,
I agree with your reasoning. There's a time when every parent needs to let go...
but, I don't agree with your method. What happens if we encounter something
really big? Something that your expertise would be helpful with?"
Giles smiled faintly, "I'll only be a phone call away, from any of you.
I simply need to do what I need to do." He halted further conversation
on the issue, and moved to open his box. First he pulled out a small, intricately
designed dagger. Looking to Anya, he handed it to her, "I believe you'll
recognize the language inscribed on it... since you were likely around when
it was in use... It is a series of words meant to instill financial stability
and growth."
Anya looked at the gift with astoundment. Not waiting for a response, he moved
on to Dawn. A small pendant was her gift. She looked at it gratefully, "What's
this represent?"
He laughed, "Nothing, actually, I just thought it was beautiful and that
you'd like it." Dawn smiled in reply, and Giles moved on.
He stepped to Xander next, pulling out a wicked-looking, albeit short battle
axe. Xander made a grab for it, but Giles held him off, "I know that sometimes,
nerves were assaulted often between the two of us..." A small laugh was
exchanged, "But never let that cloud your judgement so much that you think
that I don't love you, like a son I never had the privelege to have. I certainly
hope this weapon will aide you in protecting all that you hold dear, just like
I trust you to do." He held the axe at an awkward angle, in order to display
a small button in the handle of the weapon. Upon pressing it, the axe extended
approximately another foot and a half in length, making it look adequately devastating.
He pushed the button again, retracting the axe and offered it to the young man.
Much to his surprise, Xander stood up and pulled the man into a crushing hug.
Tears could be seen in Xander's eyes, a rarity which Giles knew the immensity
of, and caused Giles to pause a moment as Xander took the weapon from him. Xander
hoarsely let out, "Thanks, Rupert." Another laugh was exchanged.
Giles continued giving gifts to his charges, his ability to withold his dire
need to cry weakening with each one. When he was finished, they'd each had an
item from him... including Spike, who Giles had jokingly given a stake to drop
himself on. Spike had exited the shop shortly afterwards, not much one for a
joke, apparently.
They all bid farewell for the night, promising be there when his flight left
in a few days. All except for Spike, of course. Unless he wanted to become food
for a dustbuster. Xander had to stifle his encouragement of that plan.
*CUT TO: The Summers' front porch. Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Tara are sitting around moping.*
"This isn't fair." Buffy grouched.
"Just as unfair as the other ten times you've said it, I know, Buff."
Xander smirked. She gave him a sour face.
"How can he just abandon us?" Willow demanded.
"He's not abandoning us, Willow." Tara softly replied.
Xander jumped on the bandwagon, "Tara is right, you two. Giles is just
doing what anying loving parent has to do... there's a time when you have to
just let your kids go. That's what we are to him, his children. His big, dysfunctional
children."
Buffy frowned, the point striking home, "I've already lost one parent,
Xander. My mother." The comment came out bitingly, causing Xander to flinch,
"I don't want to... *can't* lose another one. I need Giles. We *all* need
Giles."
Xander sighed, giving Buffy a side-hug. "Giles is a person, too, Buffy.
With thoughts, and feelings, and wants... when was the last time we saw Giles
do something he wanted to? I mean, *really* wanted to." Tara intoned wisely.
They were all speechless for a few minutes, before Willow whispered, "Olivia."
Xander chuckled slightly, "And that presents an interesting visual. Tara
is right again. We've basically been running Giles' life since Buffy parted
with the council. He has the right to live and love, like any of us. He hasn't
spoken to Olivia since your Freshman year. Other than her, the only thing he
had was us. And we were basically living vicariously through his every waking
moment."
"We took over control of his life? He... he didn't seem to mind."
Buffy responded feebly.
"Buffy, he's British." Willow pointed out, starting to understand
where her two friends were coming from.
Buffy sighed, "Right... Stiff upper lip and all that other stuffy crap.
Just... I love him. He's the closest thing to a father I've had for a long time,
and I don't want to lose him. I don't know if I can make it on my own."
"Don't you see, Buffy? Giles wouldn't leave if he didn't have the utmost
faith in your abilities. He knows you can do it, because you *aren't* alone.
We're here to help you, just like you're here to help us. I'm getting married,
you think I'm not already recruiting you for decorating and other stuff I'm
too much of a guy to handle?"
A slight chuckle passed around them, one that was not shared by Buffy. The subject
was quickly changed, "So... what are you all getting me for Christmas?"
This time they all laughed, "You've got a one track mind, don't you Xander?"
Buffy joked.
He smiled mockingly, "Me, me, me."
Buffy smiled, before asking, "Wills, any leads on how to get rid of our...
uh, Thermo-genesis, or whatever?"
Willow reluctantly shook her head, "There isn't much information about
*how* it brings spirits from this plane into the person... or how to get them
back out safely. I'm kind of hoping Giles' sources have more information for
me to use."
Buffy sighed and nodded, "I suppose it's time for me to do patrol... anyone
want to help me wander around in hopes of running into and staking Spike?"
Xander threw his hand up, "Ooo, ooo! Me, me!" His shoulders suddenly
slumped, "Aww, I can't, though... Anya and I are going out to dinner."
He got up and collected his things, "But bring me a bag of ashes if you
get lucky, please?"
After he left, Buffy looked to Willow and Tara. Tara was the first to speak,
"I-I will, if you want. I haven't been on patrol since you first c-came
back. It might be fun." She looked to Willow, who she could see looked
worried, "I-if it's all right with you, sweetie."
Willow realized she'd had a worried look, and shook her head, "No, no,
you can go... just try to be careful?"
Tara smiled, "Always." With that, they left and Willow went back inside.
She walked up the stairs quietly, hoping to avoid waking Dawn. She went into
her and Tara's room, and shifted a bookcase out of the way. She quietly whispered,
"Revele!" The wall behind the bookcase warped, until it revealed a
small door with a combination lock. Apparently a safe Joyce Summers had built
into the wall to keep things safe.
Willow didn't even bother with the combination, whispering more words to do
it for her. The door swung open, to reveal a few of Joyce's remaining possessions,
as well as some thick books. Willow pulled out the books, closing the safe again,
and pulled herself back against the bed to read. Instead of turning on the lights,
she conjured a small floating light nearby to aid her task.
*CUT TO: Indescript sidewalk, simultaneous. Xander is walking home from Buffy's house.*
Xander kept up a quick pace, hoping to make it home before
Anya had a fit. He was startled when he heard a twig snap behind him. He spun
around quickly, pulling a stake out of his jacket pocket. He was surprised to
see no one there when he turned around. He focused his ears to hear the approach
of any adversary, before replacing the stake in his jacket and turning around
to continue home.
He managed to barrell right into an unhappy looking Spike. Xander was both amused
and annoyed at the vampire's presence, "Watch it, Spike, you could have
had an accident there."
Spike gave no response, just continued glaring menacingly. It didn't have it's
desired effect, however, as Xander knew Spike had no way to follow through.
Instead, Xander used his shoulder to knock Spike out of the way, before continuing
his journey.
Much to his dismay, Spike started to follow him. He didn't let it bother him
at first, as Spike was only good as a stalker against humans now. It wasn't
until Spike started talking that he started letting it get to him.
"You think you can just take her?" Spike put out vaguely.
Mistaking the identity of who he was talking about, Xander retorted, "That
kinda comes with the deal, Spike."
"The wench loves you. It isn't bloody fair." He whined.
Xander half-turned around, "And you're just complaining about it now? Shouldn't
you have voiced your... concerns or whatever the hell you'd call this... *before*
the engagement? And don't call her a wench, or I'll hurt you."
Spike was confused for a moment, before realization hit, and a demented grin
spread over his face, "She didn't tell you? Hah." He stopped and contemplated
further, "Musta been someone else then."
While Spike lowered his head to think, Xander stalked over to him. He grabbed
the vampire by his lapels, hoisting him around roughly, and demanded, "What
the hell are you talking about, Spike?"
Spike just kept grinning, "Wouldn't you like to know, mate?"
He threw the vamp away from him in disgust, "It was the point of asking.
Nevermind, you're a crazy vampire anyway, what should I trust about what you
say?" He walked away calmly.
Spike stood confidently, "I'll find the bloke she loves, mate. I'll kill
him, and then I'll kill you."
Xander just rolled his eyes, "Promises, promises."
*CUT TO: Sunnydale International Airport, afternoon. The gang, sans Spike, has collected to wish Giles off.*
They were all unsure of just what to say. They'd all done this
before, well except for Buffy, and it was just as hard the second time around.
"Giles, I hope you won't mind if I come over there sometime to raid your
fridge... never really thought about it, but I want to see what you stock when
you're *really* home." Xander said for a laugh.
Giles did laugh, and gave him a hug, before whispering in his ear, "I wish
you the best of luck in finding the path that is right for you."
Xander smiled, "Thank you."
Anya gave him an oddly long hug, and a quick peck on the lips, before blinking,
"I really don't know where that came from."
Dawn gave Giles a bear hug befitting a departing father, and thanked him again
for his present.
Willow and Tara gave him simultaneous hugs, and wished him the best.
It was finally down to Buffy. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she looked about
to lose it again, "I'm not gonna lie, Giles. I want to kick your ass right
now. But I want you to be happy, and I'll get over it... just, like Xander said,
you have to promise to let us visit whenever we want... I love you, Giles."
She pounced on him with a hug.
Barely able to breath, he managed, "I love you too, Buffy. I love all of
you, and will not soon forget the things we've shared. And yes, you have permission
to visit me anytime you want, so long as you don't show up on my door with Spike."
They all laughed briefly. Giles' flight number was called, and he regretfully
had to go, "Buffy, I will call you when I arrive, and I'll let you know
any information as soon as I get it. No, you all have to promise not to forget
me..." He had attempted it as a joke, but saw immediately it had the wrong
effect. They all began crying in unity, a sight he never thought he'd see. One
last group hug, interspersed with a chorus of "we'll never forget you"
Giles wandered off with his bags down the hall leading to the plane. They continued
crying, all staring out a nearby window, until well after Giles' plane had taken
off. They offered each other as much consolation as they could as they walked
away to go home, but there was a definite hole in their lives now.
