Title: "Dominoes"
Spoilers: After the season finale, "Graves". Set in the beginning of season seven.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, Greenwolf, and UPN own the show and it's characters. So there. For this chapter, I don't own the characters Loraine and George either.
Summary: B/S (and others) and post-"Graves" fiasco, set in season 7. My first fanfic. Ever.
*italic text indicates thought and stress in dialogue.
Feedback: *giggles* Thanks for the reviews so far.. it turns out that feedback is like writing gas for me. hint hint. :P Then again, I know there's certainly room for improvement. So.. nitpicks welcome. --this all still applies. :D


The raconteur could barely muster the last bit of her story, she was breathless from all of the contagious giggling. She gasped and grinned during the holes of her sentences.

Anya: "And...and then he poured the Yoo Hoo over the door knob, causing the whole situation!!"

At that point Willow, Buffy, and Dawn burst into even more laughter. Anya's enchanting story had even the super powered Slayer's side splitting. Willow was rolling spastically with her teehees on the couch, and Dawn guffawed like that of a donkey. It took several minutes for the room to calm down. In the back of their minds, they all took note of how much they missed this. The utter disregard for melodrama and sheer quality time with just-friends. Anya let out a sigh.

Anya: "This is all so very humorous!"

Then the doorbell rang.


Xander clicked on the "philter" link and his eyes went devious as he read.

Xander: Skink root, essence of rose thorn, canary feathers.. blah blah blah. Got it. Geez, this site is so tacky. Five heart animations in a row? Pfft.


The erudite Brit quickly and abruptly gathered up all of his research materials in one sweep and stuffed them in a briefcase. His mind reeled with all of the implications, and was hit with the sudden clarity of it all.

Giles: It must be him. He and the prophesized are completely coeval. It's kismet, it's remarkable kismet. William must've been unique. An unparagoned formula of humanity so domineering that once given the chance to reign, it conquers the demon! Spike just might initiate the entire.. oh dear.. this is.. this is huge. Redemption rewarded with a soul? Oh the perspicacity!

Giles: "Ow!"

Giles shrugged off the stubbed toe and continued to marvel at a hundred thoughts a minute as he locked up his abode and rushed to get to Buffy's.


Spike stood on the doormat (that didn't say welcome) wearing his finest black shirt and dark worn jeans. He fiddled with his collar and swore he could feel his undead skin sweat.

Spike: Come on you stupid git, don't be a bumbling idiot. It's just Buff..

Spike: "Buffy."

If he had breath, it'd be taken away right then. The undead's heart nearly beat at the sight of her. She was smiling pure and simple. The girl was beaming, brilliant, radiant..

Spike: Effulgent.

He hoped his showing up wouldn't take that away from her. Luckily, whatever it was that made her happy was strong enough to set her at a neutral smile, rather than the usual frown.

Buffy: "Spike. What's up?"

The way Spike looked at her made her break. As if she was the single most beautiful thing in the world. His expression was so.. real. So she at least didn't give him the cold shoulder this time. Spike contained his adoration the best he could and tried to set his eyebrows back down to a less hokey position.

Spike: "Actually I came with some news. For the lot of you."

Spike: "You didn't uninvite me."

Buffy: "What's the news?"

Spike: "In point of fact, I'd rather tell you all at once."

Buffy shut the door. Spike knitted hs eyebrows and sighed as he turned around and headed back for the crypt.

Spike: How am I supposed to tell her anytime soon if I'm going to be such an incredible poof?

Buffy: "Spike? Where are you going?"

Spike turned around to see Willow, Dawn, and Anya gathered around the reopened front door.

Buffy: "So what's the big lowdown, guy?"