Disclaimer: Don't own nuthin'
Chapter One
They Always Danced
The Original Scooby Gang sat around the table. Coffee and tea untouched.
"At least she knew where she was going, you know." Xander broke the silence.
It was the only relief they could find in the loss of their friend. It was the only comfort they could find in the tragedy. It was what kept them together this second time.
Dawn hid her face into her lover's neck. After years of helping out the gang, Dawn found her own Oasis in the pirate-eyed Scooby. His comforting embrace kept her from acting out in all her nineteen-year-old splendor of a temper and crying fest.
The rest of the Scoobies were not in any better a shape. The loss had hit them hard.
Willow looked out of a window in the mansion. It was funny that, after the home of the Summer's was decimated and nothing at all was left from their past but a few clothes and photos, the Council's money was suddenly dumped on them.
It was supposed to be left to any council members still alive. Rupert Giles, with his job reimbursed a couple of years back, was the sole inheritor of the unlimited amount of money and power held by the council. It was the greatest irony, at the time, and made everyone laugh hysterically then into tears. And so, the Scooby Gang, now known as the O.S.G., started all over. From scratch. With the Council's money.
A little of it went back the Buffy and into their current HQ and home, of course. And it resulted in a mansion that put Angel's Investigation to shame. It was basically a Florida estate. It was sunny enough to be comfortable to any Californian but far enough from Sunnydale and still be in the country.
As Willow thought of all that had passed, she couldn't help but think of what they all lost.
[Flashback – A week earlier]
Do you miss her still, Will?
Willow looked down at Buffy. Sunken eyes and turban wrapped bald -head faced her. The girl that had the strength of ten, maybe even twenty, men brought down by a human disease asked.
Yes, Buffy, I do. It gets easier but, when I think about what we used to do together, when I go to the video store and pick up a video we laughed about, or when I look at a spell we learned together, it all comes back fresh, you know? Yea. I miss Tara.
Oh Willow, you were so lucky.
Buffy's eyes, to Willow, had a medicated sheen to it.
I wish I had something to remember like that. Something sweet. When I think about what I had with Spike, I can only remember the things I did to him. I have so much to regret. Oh god, Willow. The things I did to him, the things I told him.
That was before, Buffy …
…If there was a monster between us, it was me. Or maybe it was the both of us that were monsters and I just didn't have a mask.
The only thing I remember, that was sweet, was when we slept together, before the fight. We just held each other. He gave me his strength. His human soul and his demon's.
It was Death holding me but with its sweetest cold …the comforting cold …and I didn't want to die, Will. I just wanted to dance with Death … we were always dancing …I loved him so at the end … the end…I wish…
Willow watched with a dark fascination and astonishment as Buffy drifted off to a medicated sleep. Willow never knew how it was like, between the two until that moment.
A slight creak behind her caused a break in Willow's thoughts. Turning around she spied Xander and Dawn.
Did you hear?
Xander held a stance and look of defeated acceptance of a fight from long ago. He nodded.
Dawn stared at her sister. So weak and small on the big bed, Buffy's state threatened the tears in her eyes to fall. Breathing deeply, Dawn looked at the ceiling, trying to stall her outpour to a more appropriate place. Some bathroom or other.
Finding the strength to look again and holding tight to Xander's hand, she replied to Willow's question with a statement.
Dawn, after hearing the full account of what had happened the year of her sister's return, had forgiven Spike. It wasn't something one could compensate and easily brush off. It was a serious offense but it was obvious that both parties had hurt each other badly.
But there was one thing that had remained constant in the destructive relationship. Dawn whispered it. It was the mantra, the words that said it all.
They always Danced, Willow.
It was all they ever did.
And Willow would have given anything within her power and beyond, to see her friend dance once more, her dance with Death.
With that thought, Willow sealed her fate as well as others in fixing the balance.
With that thought, the Powers that Be sent their emissary.
And Whistler stood in the doorway of the room, the weight of a million worlds sitting upon his shoulders.
Author's Note:
Okay, Look. This is my first EVER Buffy story and it's VERY VERY elaborate. I'm going to need a co-Author and anyone at all willing to Beta for me [or us]. So, if you are interested, email me with the link to your work and talk (IM or whatever) later. If you don't have any work posted (It doesn't have to be Buffy related. It can be some original prose or something) just IM me at yahoo messenger or msn or AIM.
ID: hisdarkchilde@yahoo.com
MSN: jaded010386@hotmail.com
AIM: flipinagrace
Email or IM me if you want to beta/Co-Author with me. I can have more than one co authors. We just need to correspond or what not. I'll email those that I find interesting with my notes and the road I want to take the story. I hope you like the first parts. It will get happy but … we need some bumpy roads and cliffs to make this experience worthwhile. And it will, damn it.
-Asia
P.S. The story will begin to unfold on the next two chapters. They're almost done, just needs tweaking.
