New Horizons: Chapter Sixty-One
The Continuance
By Annie
2002-08-19
Tara stretched.
She hadn't slept this long in ages and it felt more than good. Summer had finally started, it seemed. She turned her head and noticed that Willow had decided to sleep in as well. She couldn't help but smile when the thought that that might have something to do with herself entered her mind. It seemed like yesterday she slept in this bed for the last time, how long had it been now?
Well, surreal, it seemed, that she had even left.
Then the betrayal by Willow came clearly into her mind and she sighed a little.
"Have you really changed, hon?" she asked silently, reaching out a hand to touch Willow's hair.
It was soft, and there, and she realized she had missed so much the feel of everything that was Willow.
I want so to believe it, she thought. And you have been so good, so...controlled, haven't you? You didn't even help me yesterday.
Willow murmured something in her sleep and turned over, facing Tara and the latter smiled at the content expression on the former's face.
"Willow," Tara whispered gently, leaning closer. "Willow, wake up."
Willow drew a small breath and then opened her eyes, a small smile spreading as she met Tara's eyes.
"Hey," she said. "Are you still here?"
Tara laughed a little, then nodded.
"What time is it?" Willow asked and Tara smiled wider.
"I'm not really sure...but personally I think it's time for us to not be apart anymore." she then said and Willow stared at her, not really daring to let herself think that what Tara was saying was...
"What are you saying?" she asked quietly.
Tara grabbed one of her hands in hers and held her gaze as she answered:
"I'm saying, I'm ready...and I think you're ready...for us to be together again."
Willow felt a smile slip over her mouth just as Buffy's voice was screaming for them to get up, she had great, huge, incredible, wonderful news which she couldn't bare to wait another second before sharing.
***
Dawn could hardly believe the fact that another chapter in the oh-so-creepy history of Sunnydale was finished, that it was over, months and months of the Trio doing coups, and the whole time travelling and the whole Torah thing and demons time travelling and the baby and Buffy and Spike together and.
She shook her head a little and rolled over on her bed.
And Giles. Most importantly, Giles was staying. She was so happy. It always felt reassuring and most of all like they were all one great big family whenever he was there, and now he would be there for as long as forever, at least. She shared her sister's joy more than anything.
The party tonight. Should be fun, all of them in a dance-jump-and-have-fun mood without any worries what so ever in the back of their minds. Should be more than fun, it should be the most fun they'd had in ages.
She thought she should call up Anya and ask if there was anything she could help with, any last minute preparations or so. Anya was holding most of the strings since they were holding the big event at the Magic Box. Giles and she should right about now be arguing over what color the punch should be.
"Yep," she said to herself as she reached over to grab her phone, "they can definitely use my help."
Just as she was about to pick up the receiver the phone rang and she drew a sharp breath with surprise before relaxing, shaking her head to herself as she picked up and said:
"Summer's residence, we are not in right now but if you leave a message at the sound of the 'beep' well be sure to call right back, thank you. Oh, and don't forget to leave a 'bleeping' number where we can 'bleeping' reach you, courtesy message from Spike. Have a great day!...'BEEP'!"
"Eh...hi. My name's Devon and I'm a friend of Dawn's... I hope I've gotten the right nu-..."
"You have! Hi," Dawn couldn't help but giggle. "So sorry about that, I was expecting someone else."
"Oh?" Devon asked, sounding amused and Dawn felt relief fill her, at least he didn't immediately classify her as a nutcase. "Someone I should KNOW about?" he then added and she tried not to blush, but it was a little hard, she was growing more and more nervous and also happy that he had called.
"Well, no, I don't think so. I just thought it was my substitute big- brother who's also the dad to my sister's baby. Spike's his name and he's just so cool, but he can be a little intimidating the first time you meet him and he's a little protective of me sometimes...Sorry, over load on the info as usual."
"No, no, not at all. I'm glad you told me 'cause I was thinking about asking you out tonight... and then I would probably meet him in the most real sense of the word and, well, I can only ask you to put in a good word for me," Devon stated wryly and Dawn laughed before she suddenly choked on it as the first part of that little speech came back to her.
"A-Ask me out tonight?" she wondered and now Devon laughed.
"Uh-huh, if you think that's okay with you. They're showing this movie at the Arcade and I think you'd like to see it.Well, me too, of course," he answered and she swallowed a little.
"Oh, right, the way friends go do stuff sometimes," she said, trying not to sound too disappointed.
"Well," he said, now he suddenly sounded slightly nervous. "Well, no, actually. Eh... See... Okay, Dawn, I really like you and I think you're really nice and great and everything and I'd like to go out with you...on a date, I mean. A real one...with you."
Silence.
"Dawn?"
"Yeah, I'm-I'm still here, sorry again. I just... Really? I mean, I do, I want to. I mean, yes!" she answered and then she smiled happily before it faded and she remembered the party. "But I can't tonight, it's this thing I'm supposed to go to and I've really been looking forward to it."
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm not leaving Sunnydale unless it's in the trunk of a car or in a coffin so no worries, we can always do it another night," he stated and Dawn swallowed even harder than before and then she couldn't help but giggle.
If only Devon knew what risk he actually ran of having that statement come true. Well, she shouldn't laugh about it, should she? It was just so silly, wasn't it? That he had no idea what kind of world she dealt with every day... not in the true sense of it, anyway.
"Sorry, AGAIN," she then said. "Um, would you like to come?"
"Come where?"
"Duh, with me, to the party I'm going to? I mean, it's not anything huge, just my closest friends and stuff, but it'd be great if you'd like to come. Please?"
Devon paused for a moment before he answered:
"Okay, when and where and what should I wear?"
She laughed at that and then she said:
"If you come by my house around seven we can walk there together, and wear whatever's comfortable, like I said, it's nothing really fancy. Come as you are."
"Okay, sounds great. We'll do the movie thing another time, then?"
"So, you're already sure there'll be 'another time'?" she asked, smiling to herself.
"Of course I am," he answered her. "No matter what - we were friends first, right?"
She nodded and then shook her head at herself.
"Yeah, that's right," she agreed. "I'll...see you tonight."
"See you!"
They hung up and she rolled over on her back clasping her hands together and wanting to jump or do anything to get this burst of energy inside of her out. Finally she got up and ran downstairs to tell Buffy, hoping it would be alright that she brought Devon and positive it would be, and to see if she could help with the cleaning.
***
"NO! You can't buy green cups and expect them to go well with the red ones, Giles, I absolutely must protest to this! This isn't a Christmas theme we're having here, have you even looked outside lately? It's summer, it's summer, it's summer, I can't stress that enough!" Anya exclaimed as an aggravated Giles held two packs of plastic cups in each hand; one dark green, the other bright red.
His eyebrows were coming together in a dangerous way and he was just about to open his mouth and retort when the door to the Magic Box opened and then closed, seemingly by itself since no one entered.
Anya stared at Giles for a moment longer, defiantly, and then she turned her head towards the entrance of the shop, spying for any sign of a client in need of her help.
"Hello?" she called out, finally loosing her already too short span of patience and then she brushed past the Watcher to walk up the steps and cross the small area at the top of them leading to the door. "Anyone in need of some...?"
"Aaaah! You stepped on my foot!" a raspy old voice exclaimed close to her left.
Anya jumped back and stared at the air in front of her.
"I-I'm terribly sorry," she apologized, squinting slightly and then she had a very bright idea. "I see!" she said, nodding. "You're here for a spell to heave this...invisibility, of course! And do I have the perfect..."
There was a small tremble in the air and then a short and very old looking man stood before her.
"Darn it, you could fix that yourself," she grumbled as she eyed him closely. "I mean, that's very good, for you...only it's not for me since then you won't need my services. Or perhaps you do! I apologize again, my head's filled with thoughts of party preparations, and people who try to help but only end up making a huge mess of things," she said the last sentence with a glare at Giles who shook his head as he grabbed the bag he had brought what he had bought back from the store in and then headed for the door. "Where are you going now?" Anya asked as he walked past them with a nod at the strange little man before turning to the vengeance demon.
"I'm going to return these," he answered with a gesture at the bag now containing the cups, "and get some in a more summer-y color. Happy?"
Anya smiled, and then nodded approvingly as he left the store.
"Much," she said before remembering her might-very-well-be costumer. "Ah," she said as she noticed he had walked down the steps and was headed towards the ladder leading up to the small library on the second floor. "Eh, sir, we don't allow customers up there," she added, quickly following in his footsteps and walking down the stairs to come stand before him as he stopped and turned to her with a small smile.
She now observed him a little closer, finding that he didn't reach higher than to her waist, something that she had hardly even thought about before, which to her was a little peculiar. He was dressed in a worn and torn brown cotton trench coat and a checkered hat with a hole to the right showing some of the gray hair, which was sticking out from under the brim as well.
His face was extremely wrinkled, but his eyes were bursting with life as they looked up at her, chocolate brown and intelligent.
"Xander owes me a small favor, my lovely," he said and Anya frowned in surprise and wonderment.
"You know Xander?" she asked and the little man nodded.
"I helped him find you, Anyanka. And for that he promised me a favor, that was my price," the man elaborated and Anya stared at him.
"What do you want here then?" she asked and the man smiled wider.
"A book that once was mine, but was stolen. My diary, in fact," he answered and Anya crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, I'm sorry, but Xander hasn't said anything about this to me and so I think you need to wait 'til he gets here and can confirm this. I'm NOT giving you anything until I know that you're telling me the truth," she said and the man observed her for a few seconds before nodding a little and then walking over to the table to jump up on one of the chairs.
He did this with surprising ease and when he had sat down he rested both his wrinkly hands on his lap before looking up at her again.
"Fair enough," he said. "I will wait until he comes."
Anya looked at him for a moment longer and then she nodded.
"Okay," she said with a small nod. "Like I said, I'm preparing a party and so I have to get back to that, that is if you're sure there might not be something of the other merchandise in here that you could need...?"
The man smiled again, shaking his head.
She shrugged a little and walked over to where Giles had put the rest of the things he had bought and got back to work.
An hour later Giles got back with a bag filled with cups in different colors which he demonstratively put down with a bow at Anya's feet, the little man still seated on the chair observed the scene with growing amusement and then the bell signalled the door opening once more and Xander walked in.
Anya gave Giles a shake of the head, but she couldn't keep from smiling a little when he grabbed the bag and started accounting for all the different shades of pastels which the store-worker lady had assured him were very much connected with summer.
Pinks and greens and yellows and blues and light orange and plum and violets.
"They're perfect," Anya said, laughing. "Now stop and please go sweep or do something productive. We don't have time for this."
Giles smiled, nodding.
"Wow, that you have such a sense of humor," Xander said sarcastically, joining the two and putting an arm around Anya as Giles raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I can be very funny, when I choose," he then answered and Xander grinned.
"Always on your terms, right?" he asked and now Giles smiled back, nodding.
"There is no other way," he confirmed and then he turned and walked up to the door to the basement to go see if he could find some lights and such.
"You're late," Anya said with a small pout and Xander smiled disarmingly before bending down and kissing her softly.
"I had something to take care of," he said. "The police wanted another statement and..." he sighed. "I'm here now, aren't I?"
She nodded, putting her arms around him and hugging him. He did the same and held her close, then he whispered:
"Where did master Yoda come from?"
Anya frowned slightly and then she remembered the little man and turned around towards him as Xander let her go.
"You don't recognize him?" she asked, voice lowered, looking at Xander and then back at the man.
Xander eyed him as inconspiculously as he could and then shook his head.
"No...but there IS something familiar about him," he answered her and walked a few steps to stand in front of the man, still sitting on the chair with his hands on his lap and his eyes glittering. "Do I know you?" Xander asked and the man smiled, then nodded.
"I think you might know me better like this, though," he then said and his appearance changed into an aged Chinese wearing a blue silk robe and with hair and beard gray on the border to white.
Xander's eyes grew slightly as he immediately remembered their last encounter.
"The sorcerer," he said and the man changed forms again, back to what he had looked like before and then he jumped down from the chair.
"Correct," he said, voice still slightly hoarse with age, not the same he had used with Xander the last time, and first time they met. "I'm here to claim my favor and there's not very much time, I need to get back to my own place in the scheme of things, I just need my diary first."
"Diary?" Xander asked and the man nodded, face serious.
"Yes. I want it now," he stated, pointing up the ladder he added: "It's up there."
Xander looked at the man and then he glanced at Anya. The latter raised her eyebrows slightly, shrugging a little she seemed to hand over the decision entirely to him and Xander turned to the man once more.
"What are you gonna have the diary for? I mean, it's harmless, right?" he asked and the man smiled again.
"This you owe me, Alexander," he pointed out simply, before adding: "You have no right to question me no matter how much you may doubt me. Now, climb up there and get it for me. It's large, bound in crimson leather and it has a feather imbedded on the front."
Xander swallowed and then, with another look at Anya and with a sudden fear of what might happen to her if he didn't own up to his promise he turned around and climbed up.
It didn't take him very long before he found the book in question. The feather seemed to be forged into the front cover of the heavy book and it was very pretty, shiny and black with little white dots at the top and thin stripes from the middle and to the sides at the bottom. Very strange looking, though. He wondered what bird it might come from.
He turned around and walked back to the ladder, descending it quickly and turning to the man who stared at the object clasped in Xander's hands.
"Is this it?" the latter asked and the man nodded, licking his lips and holding out his hands to take it.
"Thank you," he said with that small smile as Xander handed it to him. "This means a lot to me," he added and Xander smiled hesitantly back, nodding a little.
"Well, then," he then said and the man nodded as well.
"Yes, well then, and good-bye," he said and then, just like that, he was gone.
Xander looked at the spot where he had been standing a second earlier and then he took a step back, swallowing once more before meeting Anya's gaze.
"Do you think we just made a mistake?" she asked and he drew a small breath and then answered:
"Let's just hope not, Ahn. I really hope not."
***
Buffy was putting the final touches to her make-up when Dawn came into her room, lighting up when she saw her sister's appearance and taking a seat on the bed before saying:
"Wow."
Buffy smiled a little, turning around to face her sister.
"Same to you," she then said, her eyes growing a little at the sight of Dawn who looked absolutely stunning in a pale blue dress which was snug and fit her perfectly. "Where did you get that dress from?" she added as she walked up to sit down next to her.
"I bought it," Dawn answered. "Or actually Giles bought it for me," she added with a smile and Buffy smiled as well.
"It's just perfect, I'm sure Devon will love it," she stated and Dawn looked down on her hands, suddenly slightly shy, or so it seemed. "Oh, I think I understand," Buffy said, nodding a little. "You came in here to...talk," she added and Dawn smiled before looking up again and then nodded as well.
"Do you think Devon is a nice guy? I mean, what if he's...?"
"Don't," Buffy interrupted, shaking her head. "There's no use living if you're too scared to take a chance once in a while...right? And the whole love thing is just all about chances and daring to take them, making decisions and sticking by them, you know? Now, your first impression of Devon was really good, am I right?" Dawn nodded. "So, then you should stick with that," Buffy concluded, grabbing one of Dawn's hands and giving it a squeeze. "You need to be prepared, sure. Everything may not be perfect and you might find out, sooner or later, that he's not for you, but whether he's a bloodsucking, flesh-eating or in general just not very nice monster you can't find out unless you take that chance. And I'm here, and Spike's here, and the whole Gang is here to back you up."
"Buffy, are you trying to calm me or yourself?" Dawn interrupted and Buffy drew a breath and then she smiled.
"I'm not sure," she answered and Dawn returned the smile before hugging her.
"I know I can trust you guys to watch my back, and now that you've given me such great advice I have to agree," Dawn said and then pulled back as she continued: "and the fact that Devon just might be some creepy, slimy, weird, deformed, scary thing is just something I have to live with."
"Did I hear someone describe your average Big Bad, or was that just me you were talking about?" Spike's voice was heard from the door and both heads turned with smiles growing as he entered.
"Spike!" Buffy said, leaning her head back and meeting his kiss as he bent down and let his lips meet hers. "Where have you been all day?" she added as he pulled back and smiled at Dawn.
"Getting some stuff done, seeing Clem, that sorta thing," he answered and then he took a step back as he looked at both of them. "My God, what did I do to deserve the company of the three most beautiful girls in the world?" he asked and Buffy smiled again, then raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Three?" she asked and he stepped up to the bed again, leaning down and stroking her stomach he then nodded.
"Three," he confirmed and Dawn and Buffy exchanged a look of pure awww.
Then Dawn laughed a little.
"You're gonna be that kinda dad who just spoils his child rotten, aren't you?" she asked and Spike grinned at her as he straightened his back.
"'Course," he said with a shrug.
"Yeah, a regular Rhett Butler," Buffy stated and got to her feet, kissing him on the cheek before proceeding to her desk.
"Well, I don't think you want a spoiled brat, though," Dawn said and both Buffy and Spike laughed at that, shaking their heads.
"No," Buffy agreed, meeting Spike's eyes. "We don't want her to be that," she added and Spike shook his head a little, reflecting what Buffy felt in his eyes and she smiled as she walked up to him and simply put her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"I love you," he said, stroking her back gently and she nodded.
"I love you too," she retorted and Dawn watched them for a moment before getting to her feet as well.
"I'll see you downstairs," she said, walking past them as they agreed with uh-huhs.
Dawn was just beginning to descend the stairs when the door-bell rang. She threw a glance at her wrist watch and her heart leapt when she realized that it might be Devon, even though then he would be a little early.
She straightened out her dress and made sure her hair was lying as it should before she grabbed the knob and opened the door.
But it was just a delivery for "Ms. Summers" and she sighed as she grabbed the form, signing her name at the bottom and not noticing the admiring look the young man was giving her. She smiled a little when she handed him his board back, along with the pen, and then she said thank you before closing the door.
The envelope was light and she frowned slightly.
Looking at the front she saw it was addressed to both her and Buffy and so she tore it open, reaching inside and pulling out a single, folded note.
It said:
"Look to your right."
Dawn frowned and then a sudden movement to her right made her turn her head. Her eyebrows came down even harder as she stared at the mirror, standing behind the couch and the table, leaned against the wall in the living room.
Then the glass seemed to strain itself, staring back at her before slowly growing darker.
Dawn gaped as she turned facing it and against all her sudden impulses took a step forward.
A light suddenly grew inside the mirror and Dawn sheltered her eyes with one hand as she shut them tight, turning her head partially away. Then it disappeared and she was scared it would have blinded her straight through her eyelids. She hesitantly opened her eyes again and met a pair of blues in a face she recognized.
"It can't be," she mumbled, eyes growing as she lowered her hand. "Sarah?" she added, her tone marvelled as the lady smiled and then nodded.
The Continuance
By Annie
2002-08-19
Tara stretched.
She hadn't slept this long in ages and it felt more than good. Summer had finally started, it seemed. She turned her head and noticed that Willow had decided to sleep in as well. She couldn't help but smile when the thought that that might have something to do with herself entered her mind. It seemed like yesterday she slept in this bed for the last time, how long had it been now?
Well, surreal, it seemed, that she had even left.
Then the betrayal by Willow came clearly into her mind and she sighed a little.
"Have you really changed, hon?" she asked silently, reaching out a hand to touch Willow's hair.
It was soft, and there, and she realized she had missed so much the feel of everything that was Willow.
I want so to believe it, she thought. And you have been so good, so...controlled, haven't you? You didn't even help me yesterday.
Willow murmured something in her sleep and turned over, facing Tara and the latter smiled at the content expression on the former's face.
"Willow," Tara whispered gently, leaning closer. "Willow, wake up."
Willow drew a small breath and then opened her eyes, a small smile spreading as she met Tara's eyes.
"Hey," she said. "Are you still here?"
Tara laughed a little, then nodded.
"What time is it?" Willow asked and Tara smiled wider.
"I'm not really sure...but personally I think it's time for us to not be apart anymore." she then said and Willow stared at her, not really daring to let herself think that what Tara was saying was...
"What are you saying?" she asked quietly.
Tara grabbed one of her hands in hers and held her gaze as she answered:
"I'm saying, I'm ready...and I think you're ready...for us to be together again."
Willow felt a smile slip over her mouth just as Buffy's voice was screaming for them to get up, she had great, huge, incredible, wonderful news which she couldn't bare to wait another second before sharing.
***
Dawn could hardly believe the fact that another chapter in the oh-so-creepy history of Sunnydale was finished, that it was over, months and months of the Trio doing coups, and the whole time travelling and the whole Torah thing and demons time travelling and the baby and Buffy and Spike together and.
She shook her head a little and rolled over on her bed.
And Giles. Most importantly, Giles was staying. She was so happy. It always felt reassuring and most of all like they were all one great big family whenever he was there, and now he would be there for as long as forever, at least. She shared her sister's joy more than anything.
The party tonight. Should be fun, all of them in a dance-jump-and-have-fun mood without any worries what so ever in the back of their minds. Should be more than fun, it should be the most fun they'd had in ages.
She thought she should call up Anya and ask if there was anything she could help with, any last minute preparations or so. Anya was holding most of the strings since they were holding the big event at the Magic Box. Giles and she should right about now be arguing over what color the punch should be.
"Yep," she said to herself as she reached over to grab her phone, "they can definitely use my help."
Just as she was about to pick up the receiver the phone rang and she drew a sharp breath with surprise before relaxing, shaking her head to herself as she picked up and said:
"Summer's residence, we are not in right now but if you leave a message at the sound of the 'beep' well be sure to call right back, thank you. Oh, and don't forget to leave a 'bleeping' number where we can 'bleeping' reach you, courtesy message from Spike. Have a great day!...'BEEP'!"
"Eh...hi. My name's Devon and I'm a friend of Dawn's... I hope I've gotten the right nu-..."
"You have! Hi," Dawn couldn't help but giggle. "So sorry about that, I was expecting someone else."
"Oh?" Devon asked, sounding amused and Dawn felt relief fill her, at least he didn't immediately classify her as a nutcase. "Someone I should KNOW about?" he then added and she tried not to blush, but it was a little hard, she was growing more and more nervous and also happy that he had called.
"Well, no, I don't think so. I just thought it was my substitute big- brother who's also the dad to my sister's baby. Spike's his name and he's just so cool, but he can be a little intimidating the first time you meet him and he's a little protective of me sometimes...Sorry, over load on the info as usual."
"No, no, not at all. I'm glad you told me 'cause I was thinking about asking you out tonight... and then I would probably meet him in the most real sense of the word and, well, I can only ask you to put in a good word for me," Devon stated wryly and Dawn laughed before she suddenly choked on it as the first part of that little speech came back to her.
"A-Ask me out tonight?" she wondered and now Devon laughed.
"Uh-huh, if you think that's okay with you. They're showing this movie at the Arcade and I think you'd like to see it.Well, me too, of course," he answered and she swallowed a little.
"Oh, right, the way friends go do stuff sometimes," she said, trying not to sound too disappointed.
"Well," he said, now he suddenly sounded slightly nervous. "Well, no, actually. Eh... See... Okay, Dawn, I really like you and I think you're really nice and great and everything and I'd like to go out with you...on a date, I mean. A real one...with you."
Silence.
"Dawn?"
"Yeah, I'm-I'm still here, sorry again. I just... Really? I mean, I do, I want to. I mean, yes!" she answered and then she smiled happily before it faded and she remembered the party. "But I can't tonight, it's this thing I'm supposed to go to and I've really been looking forward to it."
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm not leaving Sunnydale unless it's in the trunk of a car or in a coffin so no worries, we can always do it another night," he stated and Dawn swallowed even harder than before and then she couldn't help but giggle.
If only Devon knew what risk he actually ran of having that statement come true. Well, she shouldn't laugh about it, should she? It was just so silly, wasn't it? That he had no idea what kind of world she dealt with every day... not in the true sense of it, anyway.
"Sorry, AGAIN," she then said. "Um, would you like to come?"
"Come where?"
"Duh, with me, to the party I'm going to? I mean, it's not anything huge, just my closest friends and stuff, but it'd be great if you'd like to come. Please?"
Devon paused for a moment before he answered:
"Okay, when and where and what should I wear?"
She laughed at that and then she said:
"If you come by my house around seven we can walk there together, and wear whatever's comfortable, like I said, it's nothing really fancy. Come as you are."
"Okay, sounds great. We'll do the movie thing another time, then?"
"So, you're already sure there'll be 'another time'?" she asked, smiling to herself.
"Of course I am," he answered her. "No matter what - we were friends first, right?"
She nodded and then shook her head at herself.
"Yeah, that's right," she agreed. "I'll...see you tonight."
"See you!"
They hung up and she rolled over on her back clasping her hands together and wanting to jump or do anything to get this burst of energy inside of her out. Finally she got up and ran downstairs to tell Buffy, hoping it would be alright that she brought Devon and positive it would be, and to see if she could help with the cleaning.
***
"NO! You can't buy green cups and expect them to go well with the red ones, Giles, I absolutely must protest to this! This isn't a Christmas theme we're having here, have you even looked outside lately? It's summer, it's summer, it's summer, I can't stress that enough!" Anya exclaimed as an aggravated Giles held two packs of plastic cups in each hand; one dark green, the other bright red.
His eyebrows were coming together in a dangerous way and he was just about to open his mouth and retort when the door to the Magic Box opened and then closed, seemingly by itself since no one entered.
Anya stared at Giles for a moment longer, defiantly, and then she turned her head towards the entrance of the shop, spying for any sign of a client in need of her help.
"Hello?" she called out, finally loosing her already too short span of patience and then she brushed past the Watcher to walk up the steps and cross the small area at the top of them leading to the door. "Anyone in need of some...?"
"Aaaah! You stepped on my foot!" a raspy old voice exclaimed close to her left.
Anya jumped back and stared at the air in front of her.
"I-I'm terribly sorry," she apologized, squinting slightly and then she had a very bright idea. "I see!" she said, nodding. "You're here for a spell to heave this...invisibility, of course! And do I have the perfect..."
There was a small tremble in the air and then a short and very old looking man stood before her.
"Darn it, you could fix that yourself," she grumbled as she eyed him closely. "I mean, that's very good, for you...only it's not for me since then you won't need my services. Or perhaps you do! I apologize again, my head's filled with thoughts of party preparations, and people who try to help but only end up making a huge mess of things," she said the last sentence with a glare at Giles who shook his head as he grabbed the bag he had brought what he had bought back from the store in and then headed for the door. "Where are you going now?" Anya asked as he walked past them with a nod at the strange little man before turning to the vengeance demon.
"I'm going to return these," he answered with a gesture at the bag now containing the cups, "and get some in a more summer-y color. Happy?"
Anya smiled, and then nodded approvingly as he left the store.
"Much," she said before remembering her might-very-well-be costumer. "Ah," she said as she noticed he had walked down the steps and was headed towards the ladder leading up to the small library on the second floor. "Eh, sir, we don't allow customers up there," she added, quickly following in his footsteps and walking down the stairs to come stand before him as he stopped and turned to her with a small smile.
She now observed him a little closer, finding that he didn't reach higher than to her waist, something that she had hardly even thought about before, which to her was a little peculiar. He was dressed in a worn and torn brown cotton trench coat and a checkered hat with a hole to the right showing some of the gray hair, which was sticking out from under the brim as well.
His face was extremely wrinkled, but his eyes were bursting with life as they looked up at her, chocolate brown and intelligent.
"Xander owes me a small favor, my lovely," he said and Anya frowned in surprise and wonderment.
"You know Xander?" she asked and the little man nodded.
"I helped him find you, Anyanka. And for that he promised me a favor, that was my price," the man elaborated and Anya stared at him.
"What do you want here then?" she asked and the man smiled wider.
"A book that once was mine, but was stolen. My diary, in fact," he answered and Anya crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well, I'm sorry, but Xander hasn't said anything about this to me and so I think you need to wait 'til he gets here and can confirm this. I'm NOT giving you anything until I know that you're telling me the truth," she said and the man observed her for a few seconds before nodding a little and then walking over to the table to jump up on one of the chairs.
He did this with surprising ease and when he had sat down he rested both his wrinkly hands on his lap before looking up at her again.
"Fair enough," he said. "I will wait until he comes."
Anya looked at him for a moment longer and then she nodded.
"Okay," she said with a small nod. "Like I said, I'm preparing a party and so I have to get back to that, that is if you're sure there might not be something of the other merchandise in here that you could need...?"
The man smiled again, shaking his head.
She shrugged a little and walked over to where Giles had put the rest of the things he had bought and got back to work.
An hour later Giles got back with a bag filled with cups in different colors which he demonstratively put down with a bow at Anya's feet, the little man still seated on the chair observed the scene with growing amusement and then the bell signalled the door opening once more and Xander walked in.
Anya gave Giles a shake of the head, but she couldn't keep from smiling a little when he grabbed the bag and started accounting for all the different shades of pastels which the store-worker lady had assured him were very much connected with summer.
Pinks and greens and yellows and blues and light orange and plum and violets.
"They're perfect," Anya said, laughing. "Now stop and please go sweep or do something productive. We don't have time for this."
Giles smiled, nodding.
"Wow, that you have such a sense of humor," Xander said sarcastically, joining the two and putting an arm around Anya as Giles raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I can be very funny, when I choose," he then answered and Xander grinned.
"Always on your terms, right?" he asked and now Giles smiled back, nodding.
"There is no other way," he confirmed and then he turned and walked up to the door to the basement to go see if he could find some lights and such.
"You're late," Anya said with a small pout and Xander smiled disarmingly before bending down and kissing her softly.
"I had something to take care of," he said. "The police wanted another statement and..." he sighed. "I'm here now, aren't I?"
She nodded, putting her arms around him and hugging him. He did the same and held her close, then he whispered:
"Where did master Yoda come from?"
Anya frowned slightly and then she remembered the little man and turned around towards him as Xander let her go.
"You don't recognize him?" she asked, voice lowered, looking at Xander and then back at the man.
Xander eyed him as inconspiculously as he could and then shook his head.
"No...but there IS something familiar about him," he answered her and walked a few steps to stand in front of the man, still sitting on the chair with his hands on his lap and his eyes glittering. "Do I know you?" Xander asked and the man smiled, then nodded.
"I think you might know me better like this, though," he then said and his appearance changed into an aged Chinese wearing a blue silk robe and with hair and beard gray on the border to white.
Xander's eyes grew slightly as he immediately remembered their last encounter.
"The sorcerer," he said and the man changed forms again, back to what he had looked like before and then he jumped down from the chair.
"Correct," he said, voice still slightly hoarse with age, not the same he had used with Xander the last time, and first time they met. "I'm here to claim my favor and there's not very much time, I need to get back to my own place in the scheme of things, I just need my diary first."
"Diary?" Xander asked and the man nodded, face serious.
"Yes. I want it now," he stated, pointing up the ladder he added: "It's up there."
Xander looked at the man and then he glanced at Anya. The latter raised her eyebrows slightly, shrugging a little she seemed to hand over the decision entirely to him and Xander turned to the man once more.
"What are you gonna have the diary for? I mean, it's harmless, right?" he asked and the man smiled again.
"This you owe me, Alexander," he pointed out simply, before adding: "You have no right to question me no matter how much you may doubt me. Now, climb up there and get it for me. It's large, bound in crimson leather and it has a feather imbedded on the front."
Xander swallowed and then, with another look at Anya and with a sudden fear of what might happen to her if he didn't own up to his promise he turned around and climbed up.
It didn't take him very long before he found the book in question. The feather seemed to be forged into the front cover of the heavy book and it was very pretty, shiny and black with little white dots at the top and thin stripes from the middle and to the sides at the bottom. Very strange looking, though. He wondered what bird it might come from.
He turned around and walked back to the ladder, descending it quickly and turning to the man who stared at the object clasped in Xander's hands.
"Is this it?" the latter asked and the man nodded, licking his lips and holding out his hands to take it.
"Thank you," he said with that small smile as Xander handed it to him. "This means a lot to me," he added and Xander smiled hesitantly back, nodding a little.
"Well, then," he then said and the man nodded as well.
"Yes, well then, and good-bye," he said and then, just like that, he was gone.
Xander looked at the spot where he had been standing a second earlier and then he took a step back, swallowing once more before meeting Anya's gaze.
"Do you think we just made a mistake?" she asked and he drew a small breath and then answered:
"Let's just hope not, Ahn. I really hope not."
***
Buffy was putting the final touches to her make-up when Dawn came into her room, lighting up when she saw her sister's appearance and taking a seat on the bed before saying:
"Wow."
Buffy smiled a little, turning around to face her sister.
"Same to you," she then said, her eyes growing a little at the sight of Dawn who looked absolutely stunning in a pale blue dress which was snug and fit her perfectly. "Where did you get that dress from?" she added as she walked up to sit down next to her.
"I bought it," Dawn answered. "Or actually Giles bought it for me," she added with a smile and Buffy smiled as well.
"It's just perfect, I'm sure Devon will love it," she stated and Dawn looked down on her hands, suddenly slightly shy, or so it seemed. "Oh, I think I understand," Buffy said, nodding a little. "You came in here to...talk," she added and Dawn smiled before looking up again and then nodded as well.
"Do you think Devon is a nice guy? I mean, what if he's...?"
"Don't," Buffy interrupted, shaking her head. "There's no use living if you're too scared to take a chance once in a while...right? And the whole love thing is just all about chances and daring to take them, making decisions and sticking by them, you know? Now, your first impression of Devon was really good, am I right?" Dawn nodded. "So, then you should stick with that," Buffy concluded, grabbing one of Dawn's hands and giving it a squeeze. "You need to be prepared, sure. Everything may not be perfect and you might find out, sooner or later, that he's not for you, but whether he's a bloodsucking, flesh-eating or in general just not very nice monster you can't find out unless you take that chance. And I'm here, and Spike's here, and the whole Gang is here to back you up."
"Buffy, are you trying to calm me or yourself?" Dawn interrupted and Buffy drew a breath and then she smiled.
"I'm not sure," she answered and Dawn returned the smile before hugging her.
"I know I can trust you guys to watch my back, and now that you've given me such great advice I have to agree," Dawn said and then pulled back as she continued: "and the fact that Devon just might be some creepy, slimy, weird, deformed, scary thing is just something I have to live with."
"Did I hear someone describe your average Big Bad, or was that just me you were talking about?" Spike's voice was heard from the door and both heads turned with smiles growing as he entered.
"Spike!" Buffy said, leaning her head back and meeting his kiss as he bent down and let his lips meet hers. "Where have you been all day?" she added as he pulled back and smiled at Dawn.
"Getting some stuff done, seeing Clem, that sorta thing," he answered and then he took a step back as he looked at both of them. "My God, what did I do to deserve the company of the three most beautiful girls in the world?" he asked and Buffy smiled again, then raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Three?" she asked and he stepped up to the bed again, leaning down and stroking her stomach he then nodded.
"Three," he confirmed and Dawn and Buffy exchanged a look of pure awww.
Then Dawn laughed a little.
"You're gonna be that kinda dad who just spoils his child rotten, aren't you?" she asked and Spike grinned at her as he straightened his back.
"'Course," he said with a shrug.
"Yeah, a regular Rhett Butler," Buffy stated and got to her feet, kissing him on the cheek before proceeding to her desk.
"Well, I don't think you want a spoiled brat, though," Dawn said and both Buffy and Spike laughed at that, shaking their heads.
"No," Buffy agreed, meeting Spike's eyes. "We don't want her to be that," she added and Spike shook his head a little, reflecting what Buffy felt in his eyes and she smiled as she walked up to him and simply put her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"I love you," he said, stroking her back gently and she nodded.
"I love you too," she retorted and Dawn watched them for a moment before getting to her feet as well.
"I'll see you downstairs," she said, walking past them as they agreed with uh-huhs.
Dawn was just beginning to descend the stairs when the door-bell rang. She threw a glance at her wrist watch and her heart leapt when she realized that it might be Devon, even though then he would be a little early.
She straightened out her dress and made sure her hair was lying as it should before she grabbed the knob and opened the door.
But it was just a delivery for "Ms. Summers" and she sighed as she grabbed the form, signing her name at the bottom and not noticing the admiring look the young man was giving her. She smiled a little when she handed him his board back, along with the pen, and then she said thank you before closing the door.
The envelope was light and she frowned slightly.
Looking at the front she saw it was addressed to both her and Buffy and so she tore it open, reaching inside and pulling out a single, folded note.
It said:
"Look to your right."
Dawn frowned and then a sudden movement to her right made her turn her head. Her eyebrows came down even harder as she stared at the mirror, standing behind the couch and the table, leaned against the wall in the living room.
Then the glass seemed to strain itself, staring back at her before slowly growing darker.
Dawn gaped as she turned facing it and against all her sudden impulses took a step forward.
A light suddenly grew inside the mirror and Dawn sheltered her eyes with one hand as she shut them tight, turning her head partially away. Then it disappeared and she was scared it would have blinded her straight through her eyelids. She hesitantly opened her eyes again and met a pair of blues in a face she recognized.
"It can't be," she mumbled, eyes growing as she lowered her hand. "Sarah?" she added, her tone marvelled as the lady smiled and then nodded.