Author's Note: This story is a collaboration by 6 writers (Calla, Lipton, Melville, Mommanerd, Nosleep, and Spiralled) from Yahoo's Buffy message board. (If you'd like to read our individual efforts go to The Baron's Keep of BtVS Fan Fiction, http://www.geocities.com/cardwelj/index.html ) It offers an alternative ending for Season 6: When Giles disappears, the gang must reunite to find and rescue him. If you enjoy reading it half as much as we enjoyed writing it, then we'll have had twice as much fun as you.
Spoilers: Through "Normal Again," Season 6
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: It's Joss Whedon's universe, we just write in it.
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A Special Kind Of Hell
The outdoor cafe was bustling. It was teatime and people were enjoying some afternoon refreshment. The waiter stopped by a table at one end of the deck and sat a cup of tea and a scone in front of a curvy brunette. Sneering, he placed a large iced Dr. Pepper in front of the blonde. Americans!
"Anya." Halfrek leaned across the table to address her companion. "I brought you here to England to have fun, and so far all you have done is sulk about that man."
"I know Hallie." Anya fingered her straw and took a halfhearted sip of her soft drink. "I'm trying not to think about him, but I really do miss him. Did I mention that he was my very best friend? I thought if we got married we could be best friends forever and make love and eventually make some babies. I really wanted to make babies with him someday." At that, Anya began to cry again.
Anya had been crying pretty much since Xander had left her at their wedding, and Halfrek had heard enough of it. She reached across to grasp Anya by the hand and she spoke to her sternly and directly. "No more weeping Anyanka. It isn't solving anything and he isn't worth your tears. If he had any character at all he would have stood beside you and told your friends and his family that he didn't want to go through with the marriage. Do you think it was right that he left you by yourself to clean up his mess?"
"No." Anya sniffed, swallowed and dried her eyes. "You're right. He isn't worth my time and tears," she paused, "except that I still love him, and I miss him so much."
Halfrek leaned back again to consider her old colleague thoughtfully. "You know Anyanka, we have the whole world for us to play in. Look around at all these people. If you were still a vengeance demon you could sense the pain and suffering all around you. Once upon a time you had the power to do something about that suffering, but now you are consumed with your own misery. What good does that do for mankind or you for that matter? I thought that if you came with me to England, where we had such great times together wreaking vengeance on the deserving, you might want to join me again. I've missed you. None of the others have your sense of fun nor your flair for interesting clothing combinations."
"We did have some great times, didn't we Hallie? Remember when we had that contest to see who could destroy the most lives in one week? I beat you by three."
Halfrek smiled at the memory. "Oh yes, but you had an unfair advantage. There was a power blackout that week and all those people were stuck in elevators together. So many extramarital flings that night! How could I compete with that?"
Anya smiled conspiratorially. "Halfrek, I never told you this, but I caused the blackout."
"No!"
"Yes! It was the wish of a housewife with five children who could never keep her husband home. She wanted him to be fired, so I made a little problem at his electric company that he was blamed for."
Both women broke out in happy laughter. "You see Anyanka? We could have fun like this again. All you have to do is come with me to see D'Hoffryn."
Anya took a deep breath. "You know Hallie, maybe I should..."
"Anya? Is that you?"
She turned, startled to hear the familiar male voice.
"Giles? Hello."
"Well, I must say I am surprised to see you here in England. And you have a friend."
"Oh yes! Giles, this is Halfrek. She is..."
"A vengeance demon." Giles was disapproving. "I've heard of your... friend. Wasn't she responsible for Buffy's extended birthday party?"
"As a matter of fact I was." Halfrek interrupted. "I was simply doing my job and granting a wish for that enchanting child whom everyone was ignoring." She fixed Giles with a withering glare. "I understand that you were a part of her feelings of abandonment."
"If Dawn was feeling... what I mean to say is sometimes we have to make decisions that... that is..." Giles tried to stammer out an explanation.
"Hallie," Anya intervened, "Giles has always been very supportive of both Buffy and Dawn. He is not her missing father, after all."
Halfrek sneered and turned her face away, dismissing Giles. "I suppose not. Well, I need to be going now. I have a pressing engagement." She waved her arms elaborately and disappeared. Curiously, no one at the cafe seemed to notice.
Giles turned his attention back to Anya and sat in Halfrek's now empty seat. "Why are you here Anya?"
"Hallie suggested we come here. We used to have some enjoyable excursions in Europe and she thought a trip might be the thing to cheer me up. I've been experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness." She smiled and nodded, happy to communicate her inner pain.
"That's perfectly understandable under the circumstances, but do you think spending time with a vengeance demon is in your best interest right now?"
"Oh Giles," Anya's tears threatened to spill over again, "How do I know what's in my best interest right now? I just couldn't stay there anymore while Buffy and Willow and everybody else rubbed my nose in it."
"I sincerely doubt that they would do that to you. When last I spoke with Buffy they were all most concerned with you. They mentioned that the shop was closed and you had disappeared without a trace. There was even some speculation that you might have returned to your, er, origins."
Anya just looked at him guiltily.
"So, I see you've given it some thought."
She nodded, still quiet.
"I would like to discuss this further with you this evening. Are you free?"
"Yes. What did you have in mind?"
"I'm having dinner at my flat tonight. A friend of mine will be there as well. I think it would be beneficial for you to have somebody to talk to who isn't so... so... well, demonic."
While Anya considered this, Giles wrote down directions to his flat and his phone number and handed them to her. "Please come. We will eat at eight. You are welcome to come earlier if you'd like."
"Thank you Giles, and please, don't tell anybody in Sunnydale that you've seen me."
Giles smiled warmly. "I won't. I'll see you tonight."
*****
Anya nervously shifted her weight back and forth from foot to foot and looked at the door and doorbell in front of her. She moved the gift she was holding from her right and to her left and reached tentatively for the small round button. It was no bigger than a dime, really. She pulled her hand back to her side before making contact, then frowned at the bell, almost willing it to ring itself. Drat. This would never do. She straightened her back and took a step in retreat from the imposing barrier, then turned to survey the street in front of the dwelling. There were few cars that had passed, and no neighbors. Not a soul was nearby to witness her ridiculous fit of jitters. "This is just Giles!" she told herself. It was just silly for her to be acting so irrationally.
She sighed, then resolutely turned back to the door, drew up her shoulders, repositioned the small present she had so that the bow she had tied around it faced forward, and determinedly readied her arm to reach out and complete the task at hand. Her index finger extended from her fist and slowly, but inexorably reached toward that dreaded white circle. She firmed her chin and poked it firmly. Inside the house she heard a buzz. She stood patiently and waited. Should she smile? She really wasn't used to formal social visits. How bad could it be? She looked at her watch. 7:16. He had told her to come early, so why wasn't he answering? She had already waited twelve seconds. "Giles, I know you're getting old, but are you already getting hard of hearing?" she muttered, before plastering her dazzling smile back in place and pushing the doorbell once again. This time she wanted to make sure he heard it. She held it in for a count of ten. She liked ten. It was one of her favorite numbers, and she liked numbers. As she stood straight again, beaming her radiance, the door opened revealing a rather exotic looking woman who was definitely not Giles.
"May I help you?" a velvety female voice inquired.