Fruition 2.0
By Penmom
As you well know, the usual things apply. This is my sequel to my other D/X fic - Dawn's Hero. It is post-BtVS; so it is obviously AU. You may or may not know that this is my second version of Fruition. I really liked how the piece started out but as I continued I felt like I was losing track of Dawn and Xander's characters. I thought to myself - it's your show (for once) just change it and so I have begun again. The story will be similar but hopefully cleaner and clearer. Premise - Dawn and Xander find out more than they wanted to know about the Key and its implications about their future. Let me know what you think, especially if you read Dawn's Hero or Fruition 1.0. Thanks to Silversonnet, Kristy Marie and Rob Clark for the feedback, I'm glad you think this is better. Sorry to the XanderZone folks - I just don't have the time to post - If anyone wants to post this else where that's fine, just let me know where!
Chapter 4 - The Box
They wake abruptly, neither having any idea how much time has elapsed. Their consciousness seems to be synchronized as their hearts find matching rhythms. Xander keenly feels Dawn's worry, her dread of the unknown.
Dawn sits up and stretches her cramped muscles. She looks down to check her watch, only to find that it is broken.
"Not another one?" Xander asks, quite aware of his wife's habit of burning out the batteries in her watches with stunning regularity.
She shakes her head, "Yeah, and I really liked this one!" she says with a pout, holding out the Goofy watch with backwards hands.
Xander takes the watch as he stands, "Hey, maybe this one hasn't gone all melty like the last one".
Xander looks at her sheepishly, "Well, do you want to ignore the pink elephant a while longer or rush head long into danger?"
This wry acknowledgment of their sinking circumstances brings a grin to her lovely face. "My better judgement tells me to run like hell but I'm guessing that's not the right answer."
"Is there one?"
"No, probably not." She admits. Taking a deep breath, she volunteers for the inevitable as they head back down the stairs, "I'll call Giles, it's gotta be morning over there by now."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Xander inspects the box. "What about this? Should we open it?"
Dawn's shakes her head. And she was supposed to be the younger one? "Why don't we call Giles first. We can always take a digital picture of the box and email it to him. Just in case, you know." She suddenly sounds a lot like Joyce.
"Yes, Mom." He says with a bow. Laughing, he heads down the hall to find out what time it really is.
***************** Several hours later, after showers in the middle of the night and a massive amount of bagels with cream cheese and strawberry jam slathered on top, Xander and Dawn are on the speaker phone with Giles as he looks at the picture of the box.
"Umm, I can't see any distinguishing markings from the photograph. How about from the other angles, anything?"
"Nope". Dawn answers as she continues to lick strawberry jam off her fingers. It is now 9:30 am in London and they have been talking to Giles since a little past midnight their time and despite their impromptu nap, they are both getting tired.
Stifling a yawn, Dawn chimes in "Giles, I not feeling any kind a wiggy, spider sense thingy about it. I think it's OK to open it."
"Yeah, me too. Not even a hum and most things kind of hum now especially organic things like wood."
Giles coughs on the other end of the line. Dawn can see him cleaning his glasses all the way from Seattle. Since they had first talked to the Scoobies about their growing connection, all have been accepting but dubious.
Given that the group has encountered quite its share of the otherworldly, you would think that their link would be no biggie. But something you can't feel, you can't touch or experience yourself, it is less than quantifiable even for this group.
They had held back sharing the more recent manifestations of their link figuring that until it pertained to something or another, it was best to keep things quiet. Plus, there was a special intimacy in a secret between just the two of them. "Yes, well --- I would heartily recommend waiting until I arrive before opening the ----"
While Giles is speaking, Xander has picked up the little box and has gestured to Dawn for either a thumb's up or a thumb's down.
Dawn gives an enthusiastic thumb's up, ready to get on with it. She hops over to where Xander is sitting on the couch so that she can have a good look at whatever it is. As soon as she's over to his side, Xander opens the unassuming little box, as Giles drones on about Gatwick verses Heathrow.
The crude little box holds a folded piece of parchment. Unfolding it, Xander find the piece of paper, no bigger than an index card just as unassuming as the box.
There are seven words and several strange symbols on the parchment. Xander tilts the paper up to the light, squinting to read the small print. Beside him, Dawn does the same. The script is small and even but it still takes some effort to decipher it. Giving an aspirated sigh, Xander passes it to Dawn - who has two good eyes to put to the task.
As Giles' lecture on the Airports of Britain winds down, they are momentarily drawn away from the object at hand.
"So, I say, if I leave now, I should be there by this time tomorrow."
"Ahhh, Giles, we're OK, really. I don't know if you need to come all this way---"
Giles interrupts before Xander can continue. "On the contrary, I think it would be quite prudent. I dare say your sister will wish to come as well. Under no circumstance should you tamper with the box until we can look into this further."
This time Dawn interrupts, "Too late, Giles, we've already opened it. And it's fine; it's just a tiny piece of paper with something written on it. We're looking at it right now and it seems plain enough. No spookiness of any kind".
"Good Heavens Dawn, whatever you do, do not attempt to read the words aloud! Put it down this instant! I beg of you, you have no idea --- "
TBC
By Penmom
As you well know, the usual things apply. This is my sequel to my other D/X fic - Dawn's Hero. It is post-BtVS; so it is obviously AU. You may or may not know that this is my second version of Fruition. I really liked how the piece started out but as I continued I felt like I was losing track of Dawn and Xander's characters. I thought to myself - it's your show (for once) just change it and so I have begun again. The story will be similar but hopefully cleaner and clearer. Premise - Dawn and Xander find out more than they wanted to know about the Key and its implications about their future. Let me know what you think, especially if you read Dawn's Hero or Fruition 1.0. Thanks to Silversonnet, Kristy Marie and Rob Clark for the feedback, I'm glad you think this is better. Sorry to the XanderZone folks - I just don't have the time to post - If anyone wants to post this else where that's fine, just let me know where!
Chapter 4 - The Box
They wake abruptly, neither having any idea how much time has elapsed. Their consciousness seems to be synchronized as their hearts find matching rhythms. Xander keenly feels Dawn's worry, her dread of the unknown.
Dawn sits up and stretches her cramped muscles. She looks down to check her watch, only to find that it is broken.
"Not another one?" Xander asks, quite aware of his wife's habit of burning out the batteries in her watches with stunning regularity.
She shakes her head, "Yeah, and I really liked this one!" she says with a pout, holding out the Goofy watch with backwards hands.
Xander takes the watch as he stands, "Hey, maybe this one hasn't gone all melty like the last one".
Xander looks at her sheepishly, "Well, do you want to ignore the pink elephant a while longer or rush head long into danger?"
This wry acknowledgment of their sinking circumstances brings a grin to her lovely face. "My better judgement tells me to run like hell but I'm guessing that's not the right answer."
"Is there one?"
"No, probably not." She admits. Taking a deep breath, she volunteers for the inevitable as they head back down the stairs, "I'll call Giles, it's gotta be morning over there by now."
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Xander inspects the box. "What about this? Should we open it?"
Dawn's shakes her head. And she was supposed to be the younger one? "Why don't we call Giles first. We can always take a digital picture of the box and email it to him. Just in case, you know." She suddenly sounds a lot like Joyce.
"Yes, Mom." He says with a bow. Laughing, he heads down the hall to find out what time it really is.
***************** Several hours later, after showers in the middle of the night and a massive amount of bagels with cream cheese and strawberry jam slathered on top, Xander and Dawn are on the speaker phone with Giles as he looks at the picture of the box.
"Umm, I can't see any distinguishing markings from the photograph. How about from the other angles, anything?"
"Nope". Dawn answers as she continues to lick strawberry jam off her fingers. It is now 9:30 am in London and they have been talking to Giles since a little past midnight their time and despite their impromptu nap, they are both getting tired.
Stifling a yawn, Dawn chimes in "Giles, I not feeling any kind a wiggy, spider sense thingy about it. I think it's OK to open it."
"Yeah, me too. Not even a hum and most things kind of hum now especially organic things like wood."
Giles coughs on the other end of the line. Dawn can see him cleaning his glasses all the way from Seattle. Since they had first talked to the Scoobies about their growing connection, all have been accepting but dubious.
Given that the group has encountered quite its share of the otherworldly, you would think that their link would be no biggie. But something you can't feel, you can't touch or experience yourself, it is less than quantifiable even for this group.
They had held back sharing the more recent manifestations of their link figuring that until it pertained to something or another, it was best to keep things quiet. Plus, there was a special intimacy in a secret between just the two of them. "Yes, well --- I would heartily recommend waiting until I arrive before opening the ----"
While Giles is speaking, Xander has picked up the little box and has gestured to Dawn for either a thumb's up or a thumb's down.
Dawn gives an enthusiastic thumb's up, ready to get on with it. She hops over to where Xander is sitting on the couch so that she can have a good look at whatever it is. As soon as she's over to his side, Xander opens the unassuming little box, as Giles drones on about Gatwick verses Heathrow.
The crude little box holds a folded piece of parchment. Unfolding it, Xander find the piece of paper, no bigger than an index card just as unassuming as the box.
There are seven words and several strange symbols on the parchment. Xander tilts the paper up to the light, squinting to read the small print. Beside him, Dawn does the same. The script is small and even but it still takes some effort to decipher it. Giving an aspirated sigh, Xander passes it to Dawn - who has two good eyes to put to the task.
As Giles' lecture on the Airports of Britain winds down, they are momentarily drawn away from the object at hand.
"So, I say, if I leave now, I should be there by this time tomorrow."
"Ahhh, Giles, we're OK, really. I don't know if you need to come all this way---"
Giles interrupts before Xander can continue. "On the contrary, I think it would be quite prudent. I dare say your sister will wish to come as well. Under no circumstance should you tamper with the box until we can look into this further."
This time Dawn interrupts, "Too late, Giles, we've already opened it. And it's fine; it's just a tiny piece of paper with something written on it. We're looking at it right now and it seems plain enough. No spookiness of any kind".
"Good Heavens Dawn, whatever you do, do not attempt to read the words aloud! Put it down this instant! I beg of you, you have no idea --- "
TBC
