Look at the last chapter for all that junk before!
Feedback Is a must! I need it like air to breath lease if you hate something love something tell me!!! That is all
d-f out!
…Darkness
"So Dawn are you going to Lia's party?" Asked Janice across Ashlee's shoulder.
"I don't know, I think I can get out to go, but it's a matter of getting back in my house."
"Just sleep over at mine!" Whispered an exasperated Janice. "Can't, no sleepovers for a month, remember Halloween." She winced. "Well the party's tonight and you can so sneak back in, and it's like the social event of the year." Janice pleaded. Dawn glanced at the newcomer who was looking concerned to Dawn. "Do you wanna come?" Inquired Dawn. "Sure might as well." Ashlee said a grin springing to life on her face. "Then it's a deal us three head to Lia's at say seven hang around there for awhile and then before Dawn has to go home she can show you the Bronze." Janice spoke pleased. "Sounds like a plan to me." agreed Dawn. Ashlee looked un-sure, though. "Uh, guys what's a Bronze?" "I guess its time to fill you in on the scene then." Janice winked. "Guess it is."
*
Buffy awoke in Angel's arms and it…it was safe. She missed the sense of security she always had when with him. this is why she didn't want to go home…now. See in Sunnydale she always had to be the strong one, the one who always saved the day, the strong one the fast one…the hero. And here she just didn't have be. At home she couldn't be injured around them, it would scare them too much. Wreck her little family. Here, it didn't matter. This is why she would stay…
**
"That was an awesome party don't you think Ash?" asked a still excited Dawn.
"Pretty cool." Responded the amused newcomer.
"Sorry we couldn't stay longer I have a way over protective family." She ground out through clenched teeth. "S'kay I kinda wanna see this Bronze, and the guys were getting ever so slightly drunk." Ashlee laughed. "Ashlee I hardly know anything about you except whats on your permanent record," She looked away slightly ashamed. "Tell me something about you that's not been catalogued." Ashlee looked thoughtful for a moment then… "My goal is to live to twenty, and have fun while I survive." She smirked in a sad sort a way. "What come on! We are booth going to live to be old biddies, why be such a cynic?" "Cause Dawn, there's a lot of scary things in this world. I can't run from them forever." She smiled suddenly. "Look were hear, lets go speak of lighter things!" Ashlee cheered as she raced her confused new friend to the club.
***
Angel slid carefully out of Buffy's bed for he wouldn't wake her for the world… She looked so at peace, no nightmares plagued her rest. And he was glad that he could give her this tiny moment of peace. They still hadn't talked about the accident, about why Buffy had swam out… so, so far. He wouldn't think of it now, he didn't need to be thinking of her…dying anymore. Because she was here and here he could keep her safe.
He turned and walked into day, though not literally.
****
"Dawn this place is completely killer! Gushed the excited Ashlee. "I know you've been saying so for the past half hour." She smiled to soften the bite of her words. "I'm sorry to ruin your night but its eleven o'clock and this girl's got to get home before someone has a cow." "Oh…okay I think I'll stay a little longer though."Ashlee waved absently. Intent on bobbing her head in time with the music. "See you later alligator." Dawn tossed over her shoulder as she walked into the night.
*****
"Cordelia can I talk to you for a minute." Asked Angel quietly. "Uh sure boss." She nodded nervously. There was a time to burn bridges and to mend them. Angel thought that the latter was probably the better choice, as he'd smashed there bridge to bits. He led her to Wesley's office, and shut the door behind them. He knew he was scaring her, and deep in the pit were Angelus lived Angel enjoyed the fear coming off her in waves. Her heartbeat quickened further as he stepped closer to her. Still not releasing her from his steel like grasp. "Cordelia.." He purred in a clear Angelus tone. "I'm sorry for being angry with you lately." He surprised her. "Its okay Angel, I, uh, I almost got Buffy killed remember?" She squeaked. "No it's not okay. I shouldn't of taken my pain out on you." She relaxed, which angered his inner beast further. "But if you ever keep information that important from the team again…" He squeezed her delicate arm. "I will be forced to take, more extreme measures." Her hart beat quickened once again. "But for now, Can we be friends again?" He released his grip took a small step back looked at her the way one would to lover. "Of course Angel I thought you'd never ask."
*****
Willow was at the bar of the bronze again. Alone. She was brooding over the shambles of her torn life. When she was interrupted. "Can I sit here?" questioned a beautiful bronzed Brunette in spiked heels a leather mini skirt and a red t-shirt with a cartoon monkey on it. "Oh sure, I'm a lone kitten tonight." Willow smiled at the newcomer. There was something fresh yet familiar about her. "Thanks, my friend had to go home so I guess I'm a lone kitten too." The stranger smiled, and Willow was blinded for an instant of hidden beauty. "My name's Willow." She extended her hand. "Hi I'm Ashlee." "How come I've never seen you about town before." Inquired the ex- witch. "Just got here yesterday, I'm large with the new." Ashlee smirked. "Cool where from?" "L.A. darling." She spoke with the fake aristocrat accent. Willow giggled, she had a feeling she already liked this girl. "I'm sorry not trying to be racist or anything but I kinda can't figure your, a , race out." Willow whispered embarrassed. "Don't worry hardly anybody ever can. My mom was white my dad was black, and now I'm brown all over." "Cool, what do you mean was?" "My dad was killed in a car accident when I was three and my mother was killed in a car accident when I was twelve." Ashlee looked at her shoes sadly. "Oh I'm so sorry I shouldn't have asked!" Willow tried to back pedal. "Its okay better I tell you now then it come later when were best friends." Ashlee said with a half smile. At that thought Willow's heart grew lighter, she had a feeling they would be great friends. Ashlee looked down at her watch. "I'm sorry Willow but I'm on now!" Ashlee began to get up. "Don't go!" Willow almost pleaded. "And where are you going?" "I'm supposed to sing, on stage. Like now. Don't worry as soon as my set is over I'll come back and learn everything in the giant book of Willow." She winked and walked on stage.
"Hi everybody I'm Ashlee! You probably want a real band but I'm all they could get, so…I'm going to sing a song by Sarah McLaughlin its called Full of Grace and I hope you don't boo me off!" Willow new the song, new how beautiful it sounded when song by the original artist, new it would be hard for Ashlee to pull off. Then willow heard Ashlee start the ballad and swore she was hearing Angels.
"The winter here's cold, and bitter, its chilled us to the bone…" Ashlee could sing and willow felt better just listening. Ashlee put her heart and soul into it. And a light shone from the new girls eyes as if she was showing you one piece of the long road of life just as it was meant to be shown. "Fell just like I'm sinking and I claw for soild ground."
"And oh darkness I fell like letting go…" A single tear fell from Willow's eye. Blazing a trail down her cheek. "Pulled down by the under tow…" It was beauty at its purest, beauty at its brightest… "I know I can love you much better than this…Full of grace." The song ended and a single red tear fell from Ashlee's eye un-noticed by her audience.
*******
Buffy awoke in a sunlight filled room. And instantly panicked that Angel was now dust. Then she remembered he had left so quietly, so stealthily, as not to wake his injured charge. Buffy tried to rise to see what time it was and found…she couldn't. Her legs could barely twitch under her own power. So she decided she'd just have to roll out of bed. It sounded like a good idea at the time but, when actually tried she found that the floor was really hard. "Opps she said to a silent room." She crawled snake style to her wheel chair. When situated in it as best she could she pulled on the rob left neatly on the bed. "Downstairs we go!" she whispered to herself. "To face an un-welcome day."
********
Angel was silently watching a very happy Cordelia type innocently on her computer. He smiled to himself about the exotic beauty that was so willing to give her heart to him. When he heard the elevator doors open and looked to see.. "Buffy what are you doing out of bed." He leapt to her side. She smirked at him "Angel its okay. All I did was fall out of bed and push an elevator button," "I know but the doctor told you to take it extremely easy." The concern evident on his face. "Well we both no that impossible, I get bored rather easily." She chided. "Buffy just don't push it. Okay?" "Whatever you say Angel. Now where do you keep the pickles?" There day was spent in heavenly sort of way. No real issues came up and they were happy to just be. It was filled with pickles and ice cream, poetry and weapons. He showed her his favorite broad sword and she in turn admired it. As the sunset they went out into the garden a book in his hand. They sat down against an oak. Similar to the at her mothers funeral and he began to read.
" And I am wanting
I am needing you here inside the absence of fear
Muscle and sinew
velvet and stone
this vessel is haunted
it creaks and moans
my bones call to you
in their separate skin
make myself translucent
to let you in
my hands will adore you
through all darkness aim
they will lay you out in moonlight
and reinvent your name
for i am wanting
i am needing you
here inside the absence
of fear." He finished a far away look on his face. "Sounds like a spell." Buffy sighed contented. "I use to think it was too… I, when I left and moved to L.A. I'd read this poem to myself every night, wishing I was reading to you. And then one day I stopped." 'Because you found your friends right/"Buffy gussed. "No because, I realized I loved you to much to pretend things were different, that it was against everything we had sacrificed to pretend." "I get that."she whispered. As they both fell asleep under a blackened night.
******************
Buffy was once again rapped in the lose gauze. Hers and Angelus's bloody hands pressed to her fall en form right on the heart. And there in that instant in a land between sleep and awake life and death. Her fallen form opened her eyes. And there Buffy realized that she was not the same as this girl on the ground. The was Buffy Anne Summers, slayer, protector, sister, lover and friend A hero. And she, gazing at herself waking on the ground, was something that had yet to be discovered, all she new was: she had to become the slayer again; she had to raise the hero. She looked to the girl with the bloody red tears and saw the girl nod. Buffy had a very long twisted road to wonder, in hell.
************************
In Sunnydale, the hell mouth, Boca del inferno. Ashlee Colleen O'Connor got a fiery chill. A message: Trouble's coming…
TBC
A/N: Faith is not dead; Ashlee is not the new slayer. Buffy is trying to wake the slayer inside herself! Though that might help! And I know there was a lot of B/A this ch but A/C fluff coming up and more B/A angst!!!!!!!! Please review!!
Feedback Is a must! I need it like air to breath lease if you hate something love something tell me!!! That is all
d-f out!
…Darkness
"So Dawn are you going to Lia's party?" Asked Janice across Ashlee's shoulder.
"I don't know, I think I can get out to go, but it's a matter of getting back in my house."
"Just sleep over at mine!" Whispered an exasperated Janice. "Can't, no sleepovers for a month, remember Halloween." She winced. "Well the party's tonight and you can so sneak back in, and it's like the social event of the year." Janice pleaded. Dawn glanced at the newcomer who was looking concerned to Dawn. "Do you wanna come?" Inquired Dawn. "Sure might as well." Ashlee said a grin springing to life on her face. "Then it's a deal us three head to Lia's at say seven hang around there for awhile and then before Dawn has to go home she can show you the Bronze." Janice spoke pleased. "Sounds like a plan to me." agreed Dawn. Ashlee looked un-sure, though. "Uh, guys what's a Bronze?" "I guess its time to fill you in on the scene then." Janice winked. "Guess it is."
*
Buffy awoke in Angel's arms and it…it was safe. She missed the sense of security she always had when with him. this is why she didn't want to go home…now. See in Sunnydale she always had to be the strong one, the one who always saved the day, the strong one the fast one…the hero. And here she just didn't have be. At home she couldn't be injured around them, it would scare them too much. Wreck her little family. Here, it didn't matter. This is why she would stay…
**
"That was an awesome party don't you think Ash?" asked a still excited Dawn.
"Pretty cool." Responded the amused newcomer.
"Sorry we couldn't stay longer I have a way over protective family." She ground out through clenched teeth. "S'kay I kinda wanna see this Bronze, and the guys were getting ever so slightly drunk." Ashlee laughed. "Ashlee I hardly know anything about you except whats on your permanent record," She looked away slightly ashamed. "Tell me something about you that's not been catalogued." Ashlee looked thoughtful for a moment then… "My goal is to live to twenty, and have fun while I survive." She smirked in a sad sort a way. "What come on! We are booth going to live to be old biddies, why be such a cynic?" "Cause Dawn, there's a lot of scary things in this world. I can't run from them forever." She smiled suddenly. "Look were hear, lets go speak of lighter things!" Ashlee cheered as she raced her confused new friend to the club.
***
Angel slid carefully out of Buffy's bed for he wouldn't wake her for the world… She looked so at peace, no nightmares plagued her rest. And he was glad that he could give her this tiny moment of peace. They still hadn't talked about the accident, about why Buffy had swam out… so, so far. He wouldn't think of it now, he didn't need to be thinking of her…dying anymore. Because she was here and here he could keep her safe.
He turned and walked into day, though not literally.
****
"Dawn this place is completely killer! Gushed the excited Ashlee. "I know you've been saying so for the past half hour." She smiled to soften the bite of her words. "I'm sorry to ruin your night but its eleven o'clock and this girl's got to get home before someone has a cow." "Oh…okay I think I'll stay a little longer though."Ashlee waved absently. Intent on bobbing her head in time with the music. "See you later alligator." Dawn tossed over her shoulder as she walked into the night.
*****
"Cordelia can I talk to you for a minute." Asked Angel quietly. "Uh sure boss." She nodded nervously. There was a time to burn bridges and to mend them. Angel thought that the latter was probably the better choice, as he'd smashed there bridge to bits. He led her to Wesley's office, and shut the door behind them. He knew he was scaring her, and deep in the pit were Angelus lived Angel enjoyed the fear coming off her in waves. Her heartbeat quickened further as he stepped closer to her. Still not releasing her from his steel like grasp. "Cordelia.." He purred in a clear Angelus tone. "I'm sorry for being angry with you lately." He surprised her. "Its okay Angel, I, uh, I almost got Buffy killed remember?" She squeaked. "No it's not okay. I shouldn't of taken my pain out on you." She relaxed, which angered his inner beast further. "But if you ever keep information that important from the team again…" He squeezed her delicate arm. "I will be forced to take, more extreme measures." Her hart beat quickened once again. "But for now, Can we be friends again?" He released his grip took a small step back looked at her the way one would to lover. "Of course Angel I thought you'd never ask."
*****
Willow was at the bar of the bronze again. Alone. She was brooding over the shambles of her torn life. When she was interrupted. "Can I sit here?" questioned a beautiful bronzed Brunette in spiked heels a leather mini skirt and a red t-shirt with a cartoon monkey on it. "Oh sure, I'm a lone kitten tonight." Willow smiled at the newcomer. There was something fresh yet familiar about her. "Thanks, my friend had to go home so I guess I'm a lone kitten too." The stranger smiled, and Willow was blinded for an instant of hidden beauty. "My name's Willow." She extended her hand. "Hi I'm Ashlee." "How come I've never seen you about town before." Inquired the ex- witch. "Just got here yesterday, I'm large with the new." Ashlee smirked. "Cool where from?" "L.A. darling." She spoke with the fake aristocrat accent. Willow giggled, she had a feeling she already liked this girl. "I'm sorry not trying to be racist or anything but I kinda can't figure your, a , race out." Willow whispered embarrassed. "Don't worry hardly anybody ever can. My mom was white my dad was black, and now I'm brown all over." "Cool, what do you mean was?" "My dad was killed in a car accident when I was three and my mother was killed in a car accident when I was twelve." Ashlee looked at her shoes sadly. "Oh I'm so sorry I shouldn't have asked!" Willow tried to back pedal. "Its okay better I tell you now then it come later when were best friends." Ashlee said with a half smile. At that thought Willow's heart grew lighter, she had a feeling they would be great friends. Ashlee looked down at her watch. "I'm sorry Willow but I'm on now!" Ashlee began to get up. "Don't go!" Willow almost pleaded. "And where are you going?" "I'm supposed to sing, on stage. Like now. Don't worry as soon as my set is over I'll come back and learn everything in the giant book of Willow." She winked and walked on stage.
"Hi everybody I'm Ashlee! You probably want a real band but I'm all they could get, so…I'm going to sing a song by Sarah McLaughlin its called Full of Grace and I hope you don't boo me off!" Willow new the song, new how beautiful it sounded when song by the original artist, new it would be hard for Ashlee to pull off. Then willow heard Ashlee start the ballad and swore she was hearing Angels.
"The winter here's cold, and bitter, its chilled us to the bone…" Ashlee could sing and willow felt better just listening. Ashlee put her heart and soul into it. And a light shone from the new girls eyes as if she was showing you one piece of the long road of life just as it was meant to be shown. "Fell just like I'm sinking and I claw for soild ground."
"And oh darkness I fell like letting go…" A single tear fell from Willow's eye. Blazing a trail down her cheek. "Pulled down by the under tow…" It was beauty at its purest, beauty at its brightest… "I know I can love you much better than this…Full of grace." The song ended and a single red tear fell from Ashlee's eye un-noticed by her audience.
*******
Buffy awoke in a sunlight filled room. And instantly panicked that Angel was now dust. Then she remembered he had left so quietly, so stealthily, as not to wake his injured charge. Buffy tried to rise to see what time it was and found…she couldn't. Her legs could barely twitch under her own power. So she decided she'd just have to roll out of bed. It sounded like a good idea at the time but, when actually tried she found that the floor was really hard. "Opps she said to a silent room." She crawled snake style to her wheel chair. When situated in it as best she could she pulled on the rob left neatly on the bed. "Downstairs we go!" she whispered to herself. "To face an un-welcome day."
********
Angel was silently watching a very happy Cordelia type innocently on her computer. He smiled to himself about the exotic beauty that was so willing to give her heart to him. When he heard the elevator doors open and looked to see.. "Buffy what are you doing out of bed." He leapt to her side. She smirked at him "Angel its okay. All I did was fall out of bed and push an elevator button," "I know but the doctor told you to take it extremely easy." The concern evident on his face. "Well we both no that impossible, I get bored rather easily." She chided. "Buffy just don't push it. Okay?" "Whatever you say Angel. Now where do you keep the pickles?" There day was spent in heavenly sort of way. No real issues came up and they were happy to just be. It was filled with pickles and ice cream, poetry and weapons. He showed her his favorite broad sword and she in turn admired it. As the sunset they went out into the garden a book in his hand. They sat down against an oak. Similar to the at her mothers funeral and he began to read.
" And I am wanting
I am needing you here inside the absence of fear
Muscle and sinew
velvet and stone
this vessel is haunted
it creaks and moans
my bones call to you
in their separate skin
make myself translucent
to let you in
my hands will adore you
through all darkness aim
they will lay you out in moonlight
and reinvent your name
for i am wanting
i am needing you
here inside the absence
of fear." He finished a far away look on his face. "Sounds like a spell." Buffy sighed contented. "I use to think it was too… I, when I left and moved to L.A. I'd read this poem to myself every night, wishing I was reading to you. And then one day I stopped." 'Because you found your friends right/"Buffy gussed. "No because, I realized I loved you to much to pretend things were different, that it was against everything we had sacrificed to pretend." "I get that."she whispered. As they both fell asleep under a blackened night.
******************
Buffy was once again rapped in the lose gauze. Hers and Angelus's bloody hands pressed to her fall en form right on the heart. And there in that instant in a land between sleep and awake life and death. Her fallen form opened her eyes. And there Buffy realized that she was not the same as this girl on the ground. The was Buffy Anne Summers, slayer, protector, sister, lover and friend A hero. And she, gazing at herself waking on the ground, was something that had yet to be discovered, all she new was: she had to become the slayer again; she had to raise the hero. She looked to the girl with the bloody red tears and saw the girl nod. Buffy had a very long twisted road to wonder, in hell.
************************
In Sunnydale, the hell mouth, Boca del inferno. Ashlee Colleen O'Connor got a fiery chill. A message: Trouble's coming…
TBC
A/N: Faith is not dead; Ashlee is not the new slayer. Buffy is trying to wake the slayer inside herself! Though that might help! And I know there was a lot of B/A this ch but A/C fluff coming up and more B/A angst!!!!!!!! Please review!!