Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
etc... except of course the ones I make up.
Summary: While Dawn is dealing with balancing school, slaying and dating, Buffy and Spike are dealing with their relation. And all together they are dealing with impending apocalypse.
Spoilers: Well, it takes place about a year and a half after "Normal Again", but it's pretty AU. Xander and Anya are married and Tara is alive.
Continuity: It's the sequel to "The Delegation of Aurelius". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It sort of just picks up where "TDoA" left off.
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APOCALYPSE NOW... AGAIN
Chapter 16: Around Those You Love
Dawn stepped out of her shower and walked briskly to her room. Everyone was downstairs waiting. Amazingly everyone had once again ended up at the Summers' residence again. But this time, Dave was coming.
Dawn jumped into a cute 'just-laying-around-the-house' sort of outfit and pulled her long, wet hair into a loose bun on top of her head. She sighed happily as she reapplied her lip gloss. The young slayer then checked herself as she guiltily looked back into the mirror at her reflection. She shouldn't be happy; she was facing an apocalypse.
But I can't help it, she thought. I'm truly, truly surrounded by everyone I love.
And it was true. She now had her own Scoobies to contribute to the dynamic. She knew she could die in a day, but she was surrounded by everyone that she loved.
Dawn left her room and practically skipped down the stairs to where the gang, now including her best friend and boyfriend sat. Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend, she thought to herself. I like the sound of that.
Janice and David had been talking to one another but when he saw Dawn the young man stood and she walked to him. They kissed each other sweetly. Janice stifled a happy giggle for her friend and Spike cleared his throat loudly. Dawn chose wisely to ignore him.
When they finally pulled away from one another, Dawn interlaced her fingers in Dave's. "I'm really, really glad you came."
"Yeah? Me too."
"So, the whole apocalypse thing doesn't completely freak you out?"
Dave pondered the question for a moment. "Surprisingly no," he told her honestly. "Besides, apocalypse or none, it's worth a little Dawn-time."
Dawn blushed. "Really?"
"Absolutely," he told her leaning in for another kiss.
"Guys!" Buffy interrupted them. "As much as I appreciate young mushy feelings, we really need to get to business."
Dawn nodded in understanding agreement and sat down between Dave and Janice. She was so happy she thought she would burst.
"Right," Giles began. "So, Anya, Ayanathla was able to teleport you to... uh... wherever it is that she is. Why is that? Wasn't she bound."
"Yes, but she's been down there apparently for centuries more than I thought due to the different dimensional plain she's on so she obviously had time to replenish her energies and power. It obviously took a lot to take me too her. Also, she's getting glimpses?"
"Oh dear, oh dear."
"Glimpses?" Xander asked. "What does that mean?"
"It's like little peeks into our lives. Fortunately, she hasn't gotten enough power yet to be watching us all the time."
Giles looked at her interrogatively. "Are you sure?"
Anya nodded and Buffy giggles. "Geez Giles, you seem a bit worried about the whole thing. Have we been naughty?"
Giles rolled his eyes. "Honestly Buffy, this isn't exactly the best time for levity."
Dawn snorted.
"What is it now?"
Dawn looked up at her watcher. "Nothing."
Giles groaned at the lack of respect he was getting from his slayers. "No Dawn, if something is bothering you I think you should let us know."
"It's just that there's never a time for levity. I mean, we could all be dead in a week, what's the big deal?"
Giles was about to retort when Anya beat him to it. "Dawnie, as much as I hate to admit this and in public, Giles is right. What we're facing here is very serious and joking around isn't going to help us stop Ya- Ayanathla."
Anya suddenly felt as though she was being consumed by grief. The sinking feeling in her stomach returned and she put her hand on her head as if to stop from spinning.
Xander looked at her with concerned. "Are you okay?"
Anya looked up and smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah. I'm fine," she lied. "I'm just going to get some fresh air."
Xander stared slack-jawed at his wife as he watched her walk out the front door. "I don't know what to do with her. I try and try and try but she won't talk to me," he confessed helplessly to the gang.
"I'm might," Spike said offhandedly. Xander absently waved his hand at him as if to give him silent permission and wish him good luck. The vampire nodded and as he walked out the door he heard Xander mumble something about hormones.
He saw her sitting on the porch swing hold her legs with her head resting on her knees. The unnaturally blonde man crept up stealthily behind the ex- demon and stopped when he was standing just behind her.
"You are *not* fine," he told her seriously.
Anya sighed and moved over a bit so that he could sit down next to her. "There's no point in me trying to convince you to just leave me alone, is there?"
Spike shook his head. "Nope."
"Okay, then I won't."
"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong or am I going to tell you?"
Anya turned and looked at him angrily. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Talk to me like you know me better than I know myself. You don't so just don't."
"I've known you for a long time, Anya so-"
"Stop it."
"Why?"
"We agreed that we wouldn't talk about that. As far as anyone else is concerned we've known each other for four years."
"So what's the problem if it concerns us?"
"It was... it was a long time ago, and we were drunk. Very, *very* drunk."
"Indeed we were," Spike chuckled. "But that isn't the point. It may not concern them but you concern me. I shouldn't but I do worry about you sometimes."
"Well just stop it then."
"It's not that easy. So are you or am I?"
Anya sighed heavily. "Go ahead. But I'm fine so-"
"Right. You're upset because you're afraid for her. I know it, and I understand why it upsets you. BY all mean you are a good person, Anya. And you feel terrible for worrying about her... Ayanathla. You know you shouldn't, but you do because she was and in some way always will be your friend. But just so you know, even if it doesn't mean a bloody thing coming from me, it's okay to feel for her."
Anya merely stared at him with a puzzled expression.
"What?"
"When did you become Mr. Insightful?"
"Pretty recently, why?"
"It's very disturbing."
"Tell me about it," Spike said as he got up to leave but he stopped when Anya spoke.
"Oh no you don't"
"What?" He asked, turning around with a puzzled look on his face.
"You aren't going to get off that easily. We discussed my pain, now we get to discuss yours. So sit!"
Spike obeyed plopped back down on the swing causing is to sway back on forth. Once the motion stopped and Anya didn't feel quite so nauseous, she spoke.
"So, you don't think you're good."
Anya stared wide-eyed at the woman's bluntness. "What? How did you... Xander. Bloody ponce told you?"
"After much undignified prying and begging, yes. I got him to spill. Anyway, how I know is not important. What's important is that you're wrong."
"I wish I were. I can't even express how much I wish you were right but I don't think that He" Spike motioned to the sky "would agree with you."
"Silly Spike, of course He doesn't, not yet anyway. But it's all about best intentions in the end. I see you, everyday trying so hard to be a man, a really good man, and as much as you seem to fight it, it's what you are becoming. The world is lucky to have a man as good as you."
Spike grimaced thoughtfully and considered what Anya had just told him. Did it really make a difference what his intentions were? His train of thought was interrupted by Anya, who was know standing by the front door.
"And Spike, you should frown less. You're whole face lights up when you smile."
The ex-demon walked inside felling rather satisfied, and leaving a very confused Spike sitting in awe of her on the porch.
TBC...
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Okay you guys, I'm getting tired of begging, so please review!!!!!
Summary: While Dawn is dealing with balancing school, slaying and dating, Buffy and Spike are dealing with their relation. And all together they are dealing with impending apocalypse.
Spoilers: Well, it takes place about a year and a half after "Normal Again", but it's pretty AU. Xander and Anya are married and Tara is alive.
Continuity: It's the sequel to "The Delegation of Aurelius". However, you don't really need to read it to understand this fic. It sort of just picks up where "TDoA" left off.
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APOCALYPSE NOW... AGAIN
Chapter 16: Around Those You Love
Dawn stepped out of her shower and walked briskly to her room. Everyone was downstairs waiting. Amazingly everyone had once again ended up at the Summers' residence again. But this time, Dave was coming.
Dawn jumped into a cute 'just-laying-around-the-house' sort of outfit and pulled her long, wet hair into a loose bun on top of her head. She sighed happily as she reapplied her lip gloss. The young slayer then checked herself as she guiltily looked back into the mirror at her reflection. She shouldn't be happy; she was facing an apocalypse.
But I can't help it, she thought. I'm truly, truly surrounded by everyone I love.
And it was true. She now had her own Scoobies to contribute to the dynamic. She knew she could die in a day, but she was surrounded by everyone that she loved.
Dawn left her room and practically skipped down the stairs to where the gang, now including her best friend and boyfriend sat. Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend, she thought to herself. I like the sound of that.
Janice and David had been talking to one another but when he saw Dawn the young man stood and she walked to him. They kissed each other sweetly. Janice stifled a happy giggle for her friend and Spike cleared his throat loudly. Dawn chose wisely to ignore him.
When they finally pulled away from one another, Dawn interlaced her fingers in Dave's. "I'm really, really glad you came."
"Yeah? Me too."
"So, the whole apocalypse thing doesn't completely freak you out?"
Dave pondered the question for a moment. "Surprisingly no," he told her honestly. "Besides, apocalypse or none, it's worth a little Dawn-time."
Dawn blushed. "Really?"
"Absolutely," he told her leaning in for another kiss.
"Guys!" Buffy interrupted them. "As much as I appreciate young mushy feelings, we really need to get to business."
Dawn nodded in understanding agreement and sat down between Dave and Janice. She was so happy she thought she would burst.
"Right," Giles began. "So, Anya, Ayanathla was able to teleport you to... uh... wherever it is that she is. Why is that? Wasn't she bound."
"Yes, but she's been down there apparently for centuries more than I thought due to the different dimensional plain she's on so she obviously had time to replenish her energies and power. It obviously took a lot to take me too her. Also, she's getting glimpses?"
"Oh dear, oh dear."
"Glimpses?" Xander asked. "What does that mean?"
"It's like little peeks into our lives. Fortunately, she hasn't gotten enough power yet to be watching us all the time."
Giles looked at her interrogatively. "Are you sure?"
Anya nodded and Buffy giggles. "Geez Giles, you seem a bit worried about the whole thing. Have we been naughty?"
Giles rolled his eyes. "Honestly Buffy, this isn't exactly the best time for levity."
Dawn snorted.
"What is it now?"
Dawn looked up at her watcher. "Nothing."
Giles groaned at the lack of respect he was getting from his slayers. "No Dawn, if something is bothering you I think you should let us know."
"It's just that there's never a time for levity. I mean, we could all be dead in a week, what's the big deal?"
Giles was about to retort when Anya beat him to it. "Dawnie, as much as I hate to admit this and in public, Giles is right. What we're facing here is very serious and joking around isn't going to help us stop Ya- Ayanathla."
Anya suddenly felt as though she was being consumed by grief. The sinking feeling in her stomach returned and she put her hand on her head as if to stop from spinning.
Xander looked at her with concerned. "Are you okay?"
Anya looked up and smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah. I'm fine," she lied. "I'm just going to get some fresh air."
Xander stared slack-jawed at his wife as he watched her walk out the front door. "I don't know what to do with her. I try and try and try but she won't talk to me," he confessed helplessly to the gang.
"I'm might," Spike said offhandedly. Xander absently waved his hand at him as if to give him silent permission and wish him good luck. The vampire nodded and as he walked out the door he heard Xander mumble something about hormones.
He saw her sitting on the porch swing hold her legs with her head resting on her knees. The unnaturally blonde man crept up stealthily behind the ex- demon and stopped when he was standing just behind her.
"You are *not* fine," he told her seriously.
Anya sighed and moved over a bit so that he could sit down next to her. "There's no point in me trying to convince you to just leave me alone, is there?"
Spike shook his head. "Nope."
"Okay, then I won't."
"So, are you going to tell me what's wrong or am I going to tell you?"
Anya turned and looked at him angrily. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Talk to me like you know me better than I know myself. You don't so just don't."
"I've known you for a long time, Anya so-"
"Stop it."
"Why?"
"We agreed that we wouldn't talk about that. As far as anyone else is concerned we've known each other for four years."
"So what's the problem if it concerns us?"
"It was... it was a long time ago, and we were drunk. Very, *very* drunk."
"Indeed we were," Spike chuckled. "But that isn't the point. It may not concern them but you concern me. I shouldn't but I do worry about you sometimes."
"Well just stop it then."
"It's not that easy. So are you or am I?"
Anya sighed heavily. "Go ahead. But I'm fine so-"
"Right. You're upset because you're afraid for her. I know it, and I understand why it upsets you. BY all mean you are a good person, Anya. And you feel terrible for worrying about her... Ayanathla. You know you shouldn't, but you do because she was and in some way always will be your friend. But just so you know, even if it doesn't mean a bloody thing coming from me, it's okay to feel for her."
Anya merely stared at him with a puzzled expression.
"What?"
"When did you become Mr. Insightful?"
"Pretty recently, why?"
"It's very disturbing."
"Tell me about it," Spike said as he got up to leave but he stopped when Anya spoke.
"Oh no you don't"
"What?" He asked, turning around with a puzzled look on his face.
"You aren't going to get off that easily. We discussed my pain, now we get to discuss yours. So sit!"
Spike obeyed plopped back down on the swing causing is to sway back on forth. Once the motion stopped and Anya didn't feel quite so nauseous, she spoke.
"So, you don't think you're good."
Anya stared wide-eyed at the woman's bluntness. "What? How did you... Xander. Bloody ponce told you?"
"After much undignified prying and begging, yes. I got him to spill. Anyway, how I know is not important. What's important is that you're wrong."
"I wish I were. I can't even express how much I wish you were right but I don't think that He" Spike motioned to the sky "would agree with you."
"Silly Spike, of course He doesn't, not yet anyway. But it's all about best intentions in the end. I see you, everyday trying so hard to be a man, a really good man, and as much as you seem to fight it, it's what you are becoming. The world is lucky to have a man as good as you."
Spike grimaced thoughtfully and considered what Anya had just told him. Did it really make a difference what his intentions were? His train of thought was interrupted by Anya, who was know standing by the front door.
"And Spike, you should frown less. You're whole face lights up when you smile."
The ex-demon walked inside felling rather satisfied, and leaving a very confused Spike sitting in awe of her on the porch.
TBC...
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Okay you guys, I'm getting tired of begging, so please review!!!!!