A/N: This chapter is mucho advancement. If you want more of Lexi, Ryan and
Spike, go read 'Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter Is Dead'.
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"Did you do the homework?" Lin asked hopefully. Izzy rolled her eyes.
"Hi Lin. Yes, I had a good night's sleep. Glad you did. Yup, the sun is shining, and yes," she turned to face him, "I did the homework. And yeah, you can borrow it. Reading through, though. No copy-age," she said firmly. Lin nodded.
"Yeah yeah. Can I have it now?"
"You know, I might consider it if I-" she began, but broke off as a tall, slim, blonde girl approached Lin. His mouth dropped open involuntarily. Izzy lifted a hand, and shut it for him.
"You're Lin Harris, right?" she asked, glancing back at a cluster of cheerleaders behind her.
"Don't look her directly in the eyes," Izzy muttered. "She'll turn you to stone."
"Did you say something?" the blonde gave her a strange look.
"Nothing," Izzy said quickly, flashing her a bright smile. The girl shook her head, and turned back to Lin.
"I, uh, I mean, I, um, ah," he stuttered. Izzy sighed.
"Translated, that's yes, I am," she informed the girl. She smiled.
"Is it true you've been like, stalking Kirsty?" she asked, with a giggle, glancing back at the group of girls, who broke into laughter. Lin's face fell as she walked away. Izzy's tightened.
"Forget it," she said, touching his arm. He sighed.
"I know. I just-"
"Don't have to explain yourself. They're cheerleaders. Bitchiness is like, on their examination scores," she said, glaring after them. Lin gave her a sad smile.
"Hey, maybe someday I'll get lucky, and one of them will put me out of my misery, and just shoot me," he said bitterly, walking away.
Izzy sighed. Lin was so sweet, and dopey, the girls who had just kicked him around would be lucky to date him. He wasn't exactly ugly, bright blue eyes, blond hair hanging in his eyes, and a cute little smile whenever he was amused. Ye gods! She thought Lin was cute?
"Eek," she whispered. The bell rang, and she looked up at it, in vague panic. "Oh crap!"
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"Hi honey, how was your day?" Willow called from the kitchen. Izzy dropped her bag in the hallway, and stepped through into the kitchen, picking up an orange from a pottery bowl on the side.
"It was school. School-like. School-ish. A place of learning," Izzy said quickly. Her mother glanced at her strangely.
"Izzy, are you feeling okay?"
'No, I think I might be crushing on my best friend.'
"Sure. Why wouldn't I?" Izzy laughed, nervously. Willow shook her head.
"Hey Mom?" Izzy asked, peeling her orange. Willow glanced up again. "What were you and Spike talking about last night?"
Willow put down her mug of coffee.
"Were you listening?" she asked. Izzy shook her head.
"No! I just heard shouting, and Spike sounded, well, mad."
Willow sighed, and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Sweetheart, there's something we need to. talk about. The reason I go to L.A a lot," she paused. Izzy got up, and came to sit opposite her.
Willow traced the rim of her mug with her finger delicately, and seemed to be thinking things through.
"The reason I go to L.A, is because Angel is there. And Angel is able to get hold of some information I need." She looked at Izzy, a pleading look in her eyes. "There's a prophecy, you see. And spells. It's something about you."
"What?" Izzy asked. Willow took a breath, and plunged on.
"When you came to me, when I adopted you, we found out that you were what's known as the 'Gatekeeper'. Cleveland, you know, is on the verge of a Hellmouth-"
"Heckmouth," Izzy automatically corrected, the way Willow had done when she'd gone through a stage at ten of constantly repeating 'hellmouth'. Willow smiled softly, at the tiny bit of normalcy.
"Heckmouth. Every place like this has a guardian, a single person who during their lifetime, seeks to keep the demons and monsters from taking over. They, they spend their lives guarding the hellmouth, making it safe for others," she paused, taking a breath. "The Gatekeeper of Sunnydale was a man called Nathaniel Peterson, in the seventeenth century. He spent many years fighting them until the end of his life."
"Wasn't Buffy a Guardian?" Izzy asked, curious.
"No," Willow shook her head, red hair flying. "Buffy was a Slayer. She was prophesised, but there is only one Gatekeeper. And there are many prophesies written about each one. Izzy, we found out, when you were little, that you're the Gatekeeper of Cleveland."
Izzy sat back, stunned. Tears began to spill down Willow's cheeks.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I should have told you awhile ago. I didn't, I wanted you to grow up without knowing, I wasn't sure, I didn't- I went to see Angel, and he told me there were more prophesies, ones he hasn't seen, but one that he has details a battle coming. A battle which the Gatekeeper is involved in. Spike came to tell me to tell you. It wasn't right to keep it from you. It's your future."
"So what? I'm in Cleveland until the end of my life? I'll die fighting some stupid battle, like a Slayer, but minus the firepower?" Izzy choked out. Willow reached out to hug her, but she jerked away.
"I'm sorry Mom. I just haven't got to grips with my destiny yet," she spat. "You told me for years that if I'd shown any signs of wanting to be normal, you'd have let me grow up like that. What, did I choose to be this? Did you ask a three year old kid if she wanted to be special? I don't want this gig, Mom. I don't want to die," she said, her voice breaking.
Willow stood up, but Izzy shoved back her chair, and fled to her room, crying.
The door banged, and Lin's own bag dropped onto the floor.
"Hey Willow, you seen Izz?" he asked. "We were gonna hang out at the coffee place."
Willow shook her head, smiling weakly. "Sorry, Lin. I don't think Izzy is going out."
"What's the matter?" he asked. Willow sighed heavily.
"It's complicated."
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"Izzy?" Her mother's head poked around her door. Izzy flipped off her music, and waited silently. "Lin's on the 'phone," Willow said, holding out the handset.
"Hello?" Izzy said.
"Hey Izz, how you doing?" Lin's worried voice drifted down the line. She could picture him, seated at the computer table in his room, leaning his elbows on the desk, the phone to his ear.
"I'm fine," she sighed. "Just you know, big with the depressed."
"I could come over?" he suggested. She thought about it, pictured ice cream, and TV, and Lin, and-
"No," she said. "I'll be okay. Really."
"I know what all this is about," he said, a laughing note in his voice. "You're not upset about the Gatekeeper thing. You're still miserable over Seth."
"Nope, I'm not. Really," she insisted. He laughed.
"Really?" he repeated, teasingly.
"You know, you're really annoying," she said, wonderingly. "Why haven't I noticed this before?"
"I am the Almighty Lin. Are you defying me?" he said, with mock outrage.
"Yup," she agreed. "Defiance. Sounds about right."
"How dare you! I will smite you. Being all smite-y right now," he promised.
Smutty? Lin was telling her she was smutty- Lin in a tunic, like one of those Greek god thingumies, and smiling, with his blond hair all shiny, and the cute little look in his blue eyes he had when he was teasing, and smut and Lin and oh, bad thoughts! Naughty thoughts!
"Did you just say I was smutty?" she demanded.
"Uh, no. Smite, Izz. Smite-y."
"That's not a word, Lin."
"Uh, someone assumed it was smut? Is Izzy having bad thoughts?" he asked, laughing. She felt herself blush.
"No!"
"I think you may be over Seth, but you never move on without a new victim. C'mon, who is it, Izz?" he demanded, playfully.
"I refuse to answer that," she said, loftily. He laughed.
"Izzy's got a crush, Izzy's got a crush," he sing-songed. "Can't see the attraction, myself. Izzy-germs. You're like my sister. My older, annoying sister."
She paused, still smiling at the joke, it painful now. So. she knew how Lin felt. Her own thoughts regarding Lin may be smut-laden, and bigger-than- friendship-y, but his were very much the same.
"Izz? What's up?" Lin's voice, worried now, drifted down the 'phone line. She shook her head, forgetting he couldn't see her.
"It's nothing. I just.. got to go. Sorry. Bye," she said, hanging up. She stared at the phone, trying not to cry.
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Lin
So Izzy has a new crush. That's normal, and its good she's not all mopey with the news and everything. So why do I feel so bad, pretending I don't feel about her that way?
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Izzy
I have a crush on my best friend, and he doesn't think of me the same way. Plus, my life is pretty much screwed, with this Gatekeeper thing. I'm gonna die, and pretty soon, it appears. Great.
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A/N: Next chapter, Spike's driving lesson!
REVIEW!!!!
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"Did you do the homework?" Lin asked hopefully. Izzy rolled her eyes.
"Hi Lin. Yes, I had a good night's sleep. Glad you did. Yup, the sun is shining, and yes," she turned to face him, "I did the homework. And yeah, you can borrow it. Reading through, though. No copy-age," she said firmly. Lin nodded.
"Yeah yeah. Can I have it now?"
"You know, I might consider it if I-" she began, but broke off as a tall, slim, blonde girl approached Lin. His mouth dropped open involuntarily. Izzy lifted a hand, and shut it for him.
"You're Lin Harris, right?" she asked, glancing back at a cluster of cheerleaders behind her.
"Don't look her directly in the eyes," Izzy muttered. "She'll turn you to stone."
"Did you say something?" the blonde gave her a strange look.
"Nothing," Izzy said quickly, flashing her a bright smile. The girl shook her head, and turned back to Lin.
"I, uh, I mean, I, um, ah," he stuttered. Izzy sighed.
"Translated, that's yes, I am," she informed the girl. She smiled.
"Is it true you've been like, stalking Kirsty?" she asked, with a giggle, glancing back at the group of girls, who broke into laughter. Lin's face fell as she walked away. Izzy's tightened.
"Forget it," she said, touching his arm. He sighed.
"I know. I just-"
"Don't have to explain yourself. They're cheerleaders. Bitchiness is like, on their examination scores," she said, glaring after them. Lin gave her a sad smile.
"Hey, maybe someday I'll get lucky, and one of them will put me out of my misery, and just shoot me," he said bitterly, walking away.
Izzy sighed. Lin was so sweet, and dopey, the girls who had just kicked him around would be lucky to date him. He wasn't exactly ugly, bright blue eyes, blond hair hanging in his eyes, and a cute little smile whenever he was amused. Ye gods! She thought Lin was cute?
"Eek," she whispered. The bell rang, and she looked up at it, in vague panic. "Oh crap!"
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"Hi honey, how was your day?" Willow called from the kitchen. Izzy dropped her bag in the hallway, and stepped through into the kitchen, picking up an orange from a pottery bowl on the side.
"It was school. School-like. School-ish. A place of learning," Izzy said quickly. Her mother glanced at her strangely.
"Izzy, are you feeling okay?"
'No, I think I might be crushing on my best friend.'
"Sure. Why wouldn't I?" Izzy laughed, nervously. Willow shook her head.
"Hey Mom?" Izzy asked, peeling her orange. Willow glanced up again. "What were you and Spike talking about last night?"
Willow put down her mug of coffee.
"Were you listening?" she asked. Izzy shook her head.
"No! I just heard shouting, and Spike sounded, well, mad."
Willow sighed, and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Sweetheart, there's something we need to. talk about. The reason I go to L.A a lot," she paused. Izzy got up, and came to sit opposite her.
Willow traced the rim of her mug with her finger delicately, and seemed to be thinking things through.
"The reason I go to L.A, is because Angel is there. And Angel is able to get hold of some information I need." She looked at Izzy, a pleading look in her eyes. "There's a prophecy, you see. And spells. It's something about you."
"What?" Izzy asked. Willow took a breath, and plunged on.
"When you came to me, when I adopted you, we found out that you were what's known as the 'Gatekeeper'. Cleveland, you know, is on the verge of a Hellmouth-"
"Heckmouth," Izzy automatically corrected, the way Willow had done when she'd gone through a stage at ten of constantly repeating 'hellmouth'. Willow smiled softly, at the tiny bit of normalcy.
"Heckmouth. Every place like this has a guardian, a single person who during their lifetime, seeks to keep the demons and monsters from taking over. They, they spend their lives guarding the hellmouth, making it safe for others," she paused, taking a breath. "The Gatekeeper of Sunnydale was a man called Nathaniel Peterson, in the seventeenth century. He spent many years fighting them until the end of his life."
"Wasn't Buffy a Guardian?" Izzy asked, curious.
"No," Willow shook her head, red hair flying. "Buffy was a Slayer. She was prophesised, but there is only one Gatekeeper. And there are many prophesies written about each one. Izzy, we found out, when you were little, that you're the Gatekeeper of Cleveland."
Izzy sat back, stunned. Tears began to spill down Willow's cheeks.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I should have told you awhile ago. I didn't, I wanted you to grow up without knowing, I wasn't sure, I didn't- I went to see Angel, and he told me there were more prophesies, ones he hasn't seen, but one that he has details a battle coming. A battle which the Gatekeeper is involved in. Spike came to tell me to tell you. It wasn't right to keep it from you. It's your future."
"So what? I'm in Cleveland until the end of my life? I'll die fighting some stupid battle, like a Slayer, but minus the firepower?" Izzy choked out. Willow reached out to hug her, but she jerked away.
"I'm sorry Mom. I just haven't got to grips with my destiny yet," she spat. "You told me for years that if I'd shown any signs of wanting to be normal, you'd have let me grow up like that. What, did I choose to be this? Did you ask a three year old kid if she wanted to be special? I don't want this gig, Mom. I don't want to die," she said, her voice breaking.
Willow stood up, but Izzy shoved back her chair, and fled to her room, crying.
The door banged, and Lin's own bag dropped onto the floor.
"Hey Willow, you seen Izz?" he asked. "We were gonna hang out at the coffee place."
Willow shook her head, smiling weakly. "Sorry, Lin. I don't think Izzy is going out."
"What's the matter?" he asked. Willow sighed heavily.
"It's complicated."
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"Izzy?" Her mother's head poked around her door. Izzy flipped off her music, and waited silently. "Lin's on the 'phone," Willow said, holding out the handset.
"Hello?" Izzy said.
"Hey Izz, how you doing?" Lin's worried voice drifted down the line. She could picture him, seated at the computer table in his room, leaning his elbows on the desk, the phone to his ear.
"I'm fine," she sighed. "Just you know, big with the depressed."
"I could come over?" he suggested. She thought about it, pictured ice cream, and TV, and Lin, and-
"No," she said. "I'll be okay. Really."
"I know what all this is about," he said, a laughing note in his voice. "You're not upset about the Gatekeeper thing. You're still miserable over Seth."
"Nope, I'm not. Really," she insisted. He laughed.
"Really?" he repeated, teasingly.
"You know, you're really annoying," she said, wonderingly. "Why haven't I noticed this before?"
"I am the Almighty Lin. Are you defying me?" he said, with mock outrage.
"Yup," she agreed. "Defiance. Sounds about right."
"How dare you! I will smite you. Being all smite-y right now," he promised.
Smutty? Lin was telling her she was smutty- Lin in a tunic, like one of those Greek god thingumies, and smiling, with his blond hair all shiny, and the cute little look in his blue eyes he had when he was teasing, and smut and Lin and oh, bad thoughts! Naughty thoughts!
"Did you just say I was smutty?" she demanded.
"Uh, no. Smite, Izz. Smite-y."
"That's not a word, Lin."
"Uh, someone assumed it was smut? Is Izzy having bad thoughts?" he asked, laughing. She felt herself blush.
"No!"
"I think you may be over Seth, but you never move on without a new victim. C'mon, who is it, Izz?" he demanded, playfully.
"I refuse to answer that," she said, loftily. He laughed.
"Izzy's got a crush, Izzy's got a crush," he sing-songed. "Can't see the attraction, myself. Izzy-germs. You're like my sister. My older, annoying sister."
She paused, still smiling at the joke, it painful now. So. she knew how Lin felt. Her own thoughts regarding Lin may be smut-laden, and bigger-than- friendship-y, but his were very much the same.
"Izz? What's up?" Lin's voice, worried now, drifted down the 'phone line. She shook her head, forgetting he couldn't see her.
"It's nothing. I just.. got to go. Sorry. Bye," she said, hanging up. She stared at the phone, trying not to cry.
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Lin
So Izzy has a new crush. That's normal, and its good she's not all mopey with the news and everything. So why do I feel so bad, pretending I don't feel about her that way?
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Izzy
I have a crush on my best friend, and he doesn't think of me the same way. Plus, my life is pretty much screwed, with this Gatekeeper thing. I'm gonna die, and pretty soon, it appears. Great.
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A/N: Next chapter, Spike's driving lesson!
REVIEW!!!!