The Elements Series is set immediately after 'And It Rained…' So you must read that first! Also, this fic isn't pure Buffy/Spike - Willow/Kennedy, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya and hints of Dawn/Andrew are also included. Others will appear later on too, and I'm open to ANY suggestions to improve the fic! (though I completely draw the line at B/A or Riley returning - lol)
Distribution: Just let me know please! Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns all the characters, and so does ME, Fox, etc
*******
"Is everyone here?"
Buffy scanned the room. Spike, Amanda, Andrew, Kennedy, Vi, and Dawn were all seated at various places in the living room; waiting to hear the news Whistler had called them all there to hear. The Slayer turned back to Whistler, folded her arms and nodded.
Whistler took a deep breath and leant forward in his chair. "The Powers have sent me here for two reasons. Unfortunately neither is to do stand-up, so I've been told to skip the small talk. The first reason," he held up his index finger. "Is because they needed to warn you. Something is coming. Something with a big, neon, capital S. Something new, something different…"
Spike interrupted. "It's always bloody new and different. Why do we get a heads up this time round?"
"Because," Whistler explained, "You need to know this time round." He leant further forward and his voice dropped. "Because this time, you will fail." On the other side of the room, Buffy frowned. "You will fail." He raised his eyebrows, waved a hand casually and sighed. "Your own actions will bring about the apocalypse, and Sunnydale will cease to exist in this world as you know it." Whistler finished simply, sat back in his chair and smiled. "Oh, and the second thing…"
"Hold on…" Buffy frowned and stood up. "You're saying that we will be responsible for the end of Sunnydale, and the apocalypse. And what, the Powers That Be just, oh, decided to let us know?" her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Why the hell should we trust you? Don't remember you being entirely all-knowing last time we met."
Dawn spoke up. "Last time? There was a last time?"
Buffy nodded and shifted her gaze. "Before I killed Angel. He showed up at Giles' house."
"But was I wrong?" Whistler pointed out. "I may not make much sense most of the time but at the end of the day…was I wrong?"
"Doesn't mean you're right this time." Buffy whipped her head round to him and threw her arms in the air. "For that matter, how do I know you were even right last time? You just babbled away about things not turning out how they were supposed to." She crossed her arms again. "Which doesn't give you good authority to come here and tell us how something *will* turn out." Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Seems like the Powers aren't exactly great with Sunnydale's weather forecast."
"No," Whistler spoke quietly and looked up at her. "But at the rate you're all going, it won't be a surprise if it does."
The room fell silent.
"Look at you," Whistler continued. "You're all a mess. None of you are prepared for what's coming, and it will come, mark my words. You're all still reeling from the fight a week ago, and although you have pain to deal with, the world doesn't stop turning. People will be killed, demons will be set loose, and the apocalypse will come about. Again." Whistler stood up. "You're not ready for this. You won't know what's hit you. And the strength of the punch will knock you out, so get ready to see stars, kids."
The silence in the Summers' living room was deafening.
"Knew I shoulda done stand up…" Whistler muttered. "I suck at the serious stuff…"
Finally, Amanda spoke up. "A-and the second thing?" Her eyes were wide.
Whistler smiled. "Funny you should ask kiddo…"
Xander listened
carefully to the rhythmic beat of his heart, accompanied by his slow, steady
breathing. It was interesting how the two kept him alive. Breathing in…out…in…It's
just air. Tiny gas particles floating around them day by day…the reason
people can go on living…take that away and…nothing. Everyone would die.
Death. It was a fascinating idea. To end…to be ended. And then nothing you did
or have done matters any more. Death was all around him…the cause for his pain…
You could probably say that he was almost obsessed with it now…what had she
felt, when she died? He wanted to know. He needed to know.
Did she scream?
Did it hurt?
Xander wanted to wish that it hadn't but…he was sure it must have.
Was she in a better place now?
Was she in a place free from death, from pain?
He wanted to be there with her…to see her, to hold her.
He laughed quietly to himself. What would his friends say if they knew he
thought like this every day now? Every moment he was alive longer than Anya? He
had always been the joker...the happy one. Never any dark and gloomy thoughts.
If only they could see him now...
Rolling over to lie on his side, he thought of Anya before...before it
happened.
It was true what they had both said so long ago. Only it wasn't so long
ago…only a few months…Xander frowned. Time was slipping away from him.
They had said they still loved one another, so very much. But that didn't seem
to mean anything then…but now he knew. He loved her and she loved him. Their
love didn't mean anything then but now…their love extended beyond death.
Death wasn't a border for him anymore…just a path he knew he had to take. And
one day, one day soon…
"Aaaahhh!"
Xander sat up abruptly as the loud shrieking coming from the living room below
interrupted his thoughts.
Huh?
Grim thoughts gone from his head but replaced with worry for the owner of the
high-pitched yelp, he pressed his ear to the floor to try and hear what had
caused the outburst…
****