Title: The Gift (7/?)
Author: Bert
Disclaimer: BtVS characters are owned by Joss Whedon, The WB and Mutant Enemy, no copyright infringement is intended, blah blah de-blah
Summary: Not nice
"You can come in now", those five little words shattered Buffy's life, in the time it took for them to be uttered her hopes were raised and dashed against the harsh brutal realities of existing on the hellmouth. Until he actually entered the room she clung onto the slim chance that she was mistaken, that she was sensing some other demon lurking nearby, maybe it was even Spike.
But it was not to be, as soon as he entered she knew what he had become, her very being screamed demon. Unable to cope with truth of her own eyes she took the easiest option available; remove the cause of her distress. Her heart broke when she saw that his features hadn't changed in the intervening years, a little darker maybe a little sadder but still the Xander Harris she knew so well.
Unwilling and unable to let this demon walk around with his face Buffy pulled out a stake and let out her rage at the unfairness of it all before plunging it deep into his chest.
Xander staggered back slightly under the impact, the smile of his greeting slipping away from his mouth. Looking down at the stake impaled in his chest he raised his gaze and looked deep into her eyes, "et tu Buffy?" he asked tears beginning to form in his sad eyes.
Buffy's tears matched his own, "I'm sorry, I can't.." she raised her hand for a last touch before he died.
Xander moved out the way, clutching at the stake as he stumbled around the room, "urgh.." the sound escaped his lips as he tripped against the table and crashed against the display cabinet.
"My cabinet!" shrieked Giles as the crockery tumbled out to shatter on the floor, pushing Xander aside he rushed to save what he could, the events in the room momentarily forgotten. "Oh my…" he said softly when he realized what was happening, "Xander" he said sadly before looking away and busied himself with tidying up, preferring to remember him the way that he was.
When Xander first entered the room Spike's heart sang with joy, he recognized the boy for what he was and was looking forward to the groups anguish. Instead what he got was the slayer going ape and plunging a stake into his heart without warning, 'maybe she does have limits' he thought wondering just how far he would be able to push. He watched with interest as Xander collapsed onto the floor still clutching onto the stake.
Cassie watched smirking as Willow ran from the room and up the stairs. The sound of the bathroom door slamming closed was heard before her soft sobs carried down through the house. Still smiling she turned her attention back to the occupants of the room.
Time seemed to slow for Buffy as he lay there, she knew what was coming, she had seen in countless times in the past but still she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. It was the least that she could do.
"Boring" complained Spike, "just how long does it take for him to die?" he asked before returning to his book.
Buffy looked up in shock, Spike was right it had taken too long. She looked over at Cassie and frowned, instead of being upset or worried she seemed faintly amused. "What's going on here?" she asked.
Cassie sighed and walked over to his prone figure, kneeling down on his chest she gripped the stake and yanked it out of his chest. A small splattering of blood flew across the room in an arc as it came free. Disgusted she threw it into the fire where it could do no more harm.
Xander opened one eye and looked at her, "What do you think?" he asked grinning faintly.
Cassie shared his smile, "definitely a five"
"A five?" he sat up in shock, "I would have rated it a ten. There were tears and everything" he said trying to boost the score.
"It was too melodramatic". Cassie stood up and help him stand upright, "et tu Buffy?" she mimicked, "what was that all about?" she asked.
"The heart" he said softly without smiling. He started to brush himself down when he stopped suddenly, "my shirt" he shouted annoyed as he pulled it out so that all could see the gaping hole, "she ruined my shirt."
Buffy could only stand there and stare as Xander stood up and acted as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't just staked him. By rights he should currently be a thin layer of dust over Giles' carpet, instead he was laughing and joking, very much real. This was a nightmare she realized, just a nightmare, this could not be happening. She didn't even register Giles' presence when he came to stand next to her, never even noticed his comforting arm.
Spike sat there open slack jawed and mouthed as he shook his head in disbelief. Never a dull moment around these jokers he thought, if they weren't so cloyingly good they'd be worth keeping around merely for the comedy value.
They stood there facing each other, neither willing to open up the communication between them. Finally Giles spoke up, "I think its time for some questions" he said not moving from his position at Buffy's side.
Xander shared a look with Cassie before answering, "You mean some answers?"
Giles fumed and motioned for him them to sit down, "You know what I mean," he said as he joined them, "just who and what are you?"
Buffy watched as Xander took the seat furthest from her, hurt that he would turn away from her so quickly. 'Nothing that you don't deserve' she mentally berated herself and kept quiet, she stood there and watched them talk.
His answer was simple and to the point, "I'm Xander"
Buffy opened her mouth to deny his claims but was silenced by Giles as he took charge, this was something that he could test. "Be quiet" he ordered as she tried to say something again, "Buffy get me that chest" he pointed to an old wooden box near the window.
Not taking her eyes from Xander, she silently did as she was told and dragged the heavy box ever to Giles. He flipped back the lid and started to rummage, pulling out ingredients for the spell to check is a soul really was present within the body.
Drawing out a rune on the table he grabbed Xander's hand and pulled it over the mark and chanted softly. As he finished the rune started to softly glow with a pale blue light. Seeing this Giles sat back shocked, "it's true".
Buffy moved forward to say something, to deny that he could be her friend and that it wasn't Xander that she tried to kill earlier. Instead found herself falling forward, as the world around her seemed to turn dark. In the distance she heard someone shout her name and tried to respond but was unable to do anything except blissfully slip unconscious.
The alarm penetrated her sleep, yawning Buffy reached over and threw the clock across the room silencing the annoying sound once and for all. Stretching she snuggled deeper into the bed as she attempted to recapture her dream, she was too comfortable lying there to get up.
Opening her eyes a crack she looked up at whoever was standing over her, "Hey" Xander smiled back down at her.
"Xander?" Buffy asked sleepily, "why are you here?" she asked struggling to sit up.
He sat down on the bed next to her, "Shh, it's ok" he gently stroked her hair away from her face, "you gave us quite a scare last night"
Buffy tried to clear her fogged mind, "what happened?" she asked trying to recall something, "I don't remember", she looked around the room not really registering anything, "where am I? This isn't my bed"
Xander smiled, "In Giles' spare room." He stood up to leave her to rest.
"I think I broke his clock" she said softly slipping back asleep, "are you back?" she asked struggling to stay awake.
Xander watched her as she fell asleep, "you can't get rid of me that easily" he grinned before slipping quietly out of the room. Gently closing the door he turned around to face Cassie and Giles' questions.
"How is she?" Giles spoke up first, his concern over Buffy's safety his primary concern.
"She's resting" Xander said, "has she fainted before?"
Giles shook his head, "never" he led them down the stairs where they could talk without disturbing Buffy, "maybe it was just shock at seeing you again"
"Yeah maybe" Xander replied unconvinced, he unconsciously moved closer to Cassie drawing comfort from her.
Giles watched them with interest as the interacted with each other, as far as he could tell they were genuinely fond of each other, maybe they were really a couple as she claimed. "I don't understand" he said finally.
"What?" Cassie tore her gaze from Xander with difficulty.
"You two" Giles nodded at them, "I don't have all the details" he stopped and corrected himself, "I have none of the details but how do you cope?"
"Cope?" Xander asked confused.
"With what you are" Giles clarified, "a potential slayer and a vampire", he started to stammer as he started to feel embarrassed for prying.
"Well" Cassie started looking across at Xander, "some day he'll turn me" she said.
"Or she'll find a way to kill me" he continued.
"But until then we just enjoy ourselves and accept what we can't change" she finished.
Giles frowned not sure if they were joking or not, "there's details in there that I'm not sure I need to know. I expect some answers later on, especially about where you've been for the last three years." He yawned, "Since the suns up you can have the attic. There's blood in the fridge"
"No thanks" Xander said a little too quickly, "I've drank a lot before coming here" he said as he desperately tried to cover his tracks, they weren't ready to know just how he lived.
"He does have his soul, right?" Giles asked Cassie, "despite what the spell said I want to hear it", he relaxed when she nodded in reply.
"No worries there G-man" Xander smiled as he gave a thumbs up before waving goodnight and started to walk up the stairs, "it was just my humanity they tried to destroy," he said too softly for anyone to hear.
Author: Bert
Disclaimer: BtVS characters are owned by Joss Whedon, The WB and Mutant Enemy, no copyright infringement is intended, blah blah de-blah
Summary: Not nice
"You can come in now", those five little words shattered Buffy's life, in the time it took for them to be uttered her hopes were raised and dashed against the harsh brutal realities of existing on the hellmouth. Until he actually entered the room she clung onto the slim chance that she was mistaken, that she was sensing some other demon lurking nearby, maybe it was even Spike.
But it was not to be, as soon as he entered she knew what he had become, her very being screamed demon. Unable to cope with truth of her own eyes she took the easiest option available; remove the cause of her distress. Her heart broke when she saw that his features hadn't changed in the intervening years, a little darker maybe a little sadder but still the Xander Harris she knew so well.
Unwilling and unable to let this demon walk around with his face Buffy pulled out a stake and let out her rage at the unfairness of it all before plunging it deep into his chest.
Xander staggered back slightly under the impact, the smile of his greeting slipping away from his mouth. Looking down at the stake impaled in his chest he raised his gaze and looked deep into her eyes, "et tu Buffy?" he asked tears beginning to form in his sad eyes.
Buffy's tears matched his own, "I'm sorry, I can't.." she raised her hand for a last touch before he died.
Xander moved out the way, clutching at the stake as he stumbled around the room, "urgh.." the sound escaped his lips as he tripped against the table and crashed against the display cabinet.
"My cabinet!" shrieked Giles as the crockery tumbled out to shatter on the floor, pushing Xander aside he rushed to save what he could, the events in the room momentarily forgotten. "Oh my…" he said softly when he realized what was happening, "Xander" he said sadly before looking away and busied himself with tidying up, preferring to remember him the way that he was.
When Xander first entered the room Spike's heart sang with joy, he recognized the boy for what he was and was looking forward to the groups anguish. Instead what he got was the slayer going ape and plunging a stake into his heart without warning, 'maybe she does have limits' he thought wondering just how far he would be able to push. He watched with interest as Xander collapsed onto the floor still clutching onto the stake.
Cassie watched smirking as Willow ran from the room and up the stairs. The sound of the bathroom door slamming closed was heard before her soft sobs carried down through the house. Still smiling she turned her attention back to the occupants of the room.
Time seemed to slow for Buffy as he lay there, she knew what was coming, she had seen in countless times in the past but still she couldn't tear her eyes away from him. It was the least that she could do.
"Boring" complained Spike, "just how long does it take for him to die?" he asked before returning to his book.
Buffy looked up in shock, Spike was right it had taken too long. She looked over at Cassie and frowned, instead of being upset or worried she seemed faintly amused. "What's going on here?" she asked.
Cassie sighed and walked over to his prone figure, kneeling down on his chest she gripped the stake and yanked it out of his chest. A small splattering of blood flew across the room in an arc as it came free. Disgusted she threw it into the fire where it could do no more harm.
Xander opened one eye and looked at her, "What do you think?" he asked grinning faintly.
Cassie shared his smile, "definitely a five"
"A five?" he sat up in shock, "I would have rated it a ten. There were tears and everything" he said trying to boost the score.
"It was too melodramatic". Cassie stood up and help him stand upright, "et tu Buffy?" she mimicked, "what was that all about?" she asked.
"The heart" he said softly without smiling. He started to brush himself down when he stopped suddenly, "my shirt" he shouted annoyed as he pulled it out so that all could see the gaping hole, "she ruined my shirt."
Buffy could only stand there and stare as Xander stood up and acted as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't just staked him. By rights he should currently be a thin layer of dust over Giles' carpet, instead he was laughing and joking, very much real. This was a nightmare she realized, just a nightmare, this could not be happening. She didn't even register Giles' presence when he came to stand next to her, never even noticed his comforting arm.
Spike sat there open slack jawed and mouthed as he shook his head in disbelief. Never a dull moment around these jokers he thought, if they weren't so cloyingly good they'd be worth keeping around merely for the comedy value.
They stood there facing each other, neither willing to open up the communication between them. Finally Giles spoke up, "I think its time for some questions" he said not moving from his position at Buffy's side.
Xander shared a look with Cassie before answering, "You mean some answers?"
Giles fumed and motioned for him them to sit down, "You know what I mean," he said as he joined them, "just who and what are you?"
Buffy watched as Xander took the seat furthest from her, hurt that he would turn away from her so quickly. 'Nothing that you don't deserve' she mentally berated herself and kept quiet, she stood there and watched them talk.
His answer was simple and to the point, "I'm Xander"
Buffy opened her mouth to deny his claims but was silenced by Giles as he took charge, this was something that he could test. "Be quiet" he ordered as she tried to say something again, "Buffy get me that chest" he pointed to an old wooden box near the window.
Not taking her eyes from Xander, she silently did as she was told and dragged the heavy box ever to Giles. He flipped back the lid and started to rummage, pulling out ingredients for the spell to check is a soul really was present within the body.
Drawing out a rune on the table he grabbed Xander's hand and pulled it over the mark and chanted softly. As he finished the rune started to softly glow with a pale blue light. Seeing this Giles sat back shocked, "it's true".
Buffy moved forward to say something, to deny that he could be her friend and that it wasn't Xander that she tried to kill earlier. Instead found herself falling forward, as the world around her seemed to turn dark. In the distance she heard someone shout her name and tried to respond but was unable to do anything except blissfully slip unconscious.
The alarm penetrated her sleep, yawning Buffy reached over and threw the clock across the room silencing the annoying sound once and for all. Stretching she snuggled deeper into the bed as she attempted to recapture her dream, she was too comfortable lying there to get up.
Opening her eyes a crack she looked up at whoever was standing over her, "Hey" Xander smiled back down at her.
"Xander?" Buffy asked sleepily, "why are you here?" she asked struggling to sit up.
He sat down on the bed next to her, "Shh, it's ok" he gently stroked her hair away from her face, "you gave us quite a scare last night"
Buffy tried to clear her fogged mind, "what happened?" she asked trying to recall something, "I don't remember", she looked around the room not really registering anything, "where am I? This isn't my bed"
Xander smiled, "In Giles' spare room." He stood up to leave her to rest.
"I think I broke his clock" she said softly slipping back asleep, "are you back?" she asked struggling to stay awake.
Xander watched her as she fell asleep, "you can't get rid of me that easily" he grinned before slipping quietly out of the room. Gently closing the door he turned around to face Cassie and Giles' questions.
"How is she?" Giles spoke up first, his concern over Buffy's safety his primary concern.
"She's resting" Xander said, "has she fainted before?"
Giles shook his head, "never" he led them down the stairs where they could talk without disturbing Buffy, "maybe it was just shock at seeing you again"
"Yeah maybe" Xander replied unconvinced, he unconsciously moved closer to Cassie drawing comfort from her.
Giles watched them with interest as the interacted with each other, as far as he could tell they were genuinely fond of each other, maybe they were really a couple as she claimed. "I don't understand" he said finally.
"What?" Cassie tore her gaze from Xander with difficulty.
"You two" Giles nodded at them, "I don't have all the details" he stopped and corrected himself, "I have none of the details but how do you cope?"
"Cope?" Xander asked confused.
"With what you are" Giles clarified, "a potential slayer and a vampire", he started to stammer as he started to feel embarrassed for prying.
"Well" Cassie started looking across at Xander, "some day he'll turn me" she said.
"Or she'll find a way to kill me" he continued.
"But until then we just enjoy ourselves and accept what we can't change" she finished.
Giles frowned not sure if they were joking or not, "there's details in there that I'm not sure I need to know. I expect some answers later on, especially about where you've been for the last three years." He yawned, "Since the suns up you can have the attic. There's blood in the fridge"
"No thanks" Xander said a little too quickly, "I've drank a lot before coming here" he said as he desperately tried to cover his tracks, they weren't ready to know just how he lived.
"He does have his soul, right?" Giles asked Cassie, "despite what the spell said I want to hear it", he relaxed when she nodded in reply.
"No worries there G-man" Xander smiled as he gave a thumbs up before waving goodnight and started to walk up the stairs, "it was just my humanity they tried to destroy," he said too softly for anyone to hear.