Title: Fully Qualified

Author: mistymidnight

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, plot, or canon--they're property of gidgetgirl and Joss Whedon, respectively. In fact, I own nobody except Taylor, Carly, Erin, Aimee, and Maxwell. I wish I owned Willow's apartment. To any lucky person living in my dream apartment building in Toronto--you'll share, right? Please! I'm in love with those apartments! I--

Readers pause and watch in a rather freaked-out way as mistymidnight continues her love of inanimate objects...okay...she's done. For now.

Spoilers/Timeline: Post-Chosen. Spoilers for pretty much the entire series.

Summary: Ever notice that when you think you've got control, the past comes back to bite you in the butt? Poor Willow.

Author's Notes: Yeah, my apartment building obsession is a little freaky. Okay, bordering on "moderately freaky". Deal with it. )

Sorry about the long lack of updates, but (in my defense) I've been busy! Since I last updated, I've added tons o' stuff to the site, had a graphic-making epiphany, been assigned my episodes at Virtual Slayer (link's in my user profile), and, in "real life", I've been cast as the Stage Manager in "Our Town"! Rejoice with me! Joy!

Oh, side note about being cast in "Our Town": for those of you who don't know the play very well, "Stage Manager" is actually a role, not a backstage crew position. The Stage Manager is like the Greek Chorus--narrates the play and plays small roles throughout.

On with the chapter!

A Frantic Phone Call

"Dr. Rosenberg?"

Willow looked up from her usual lunch--salad with ranch dressing and Italian bread on the side. "Yeah, Aimee?"

"Uh, Ms...." Aimee checked her notes. "Ms. Hill's on the phone. She says it's an emergency."

Willow sighed inwardly. Aimee was a great sport, Erin was right about that, but Aimee couldn't serve as a secretary to save her life.

"Well, if it's an emergency, put her through."

"See, that's the thing." Aimee moved her foot along the carpet. "I don't know how to put the call through."

Willow sighed out loud. Her heart's in the right place. Her heart's in the right place. Her heart's in the right place. If she kept up the mental chant, maybe it would make Aimee a little more tolerable. Her heart's in the right place. Well, she can take that heart and shove it--

Whoa. Where'd that come from? Willow frowned. Geez. I guess today's really taking its toll on me.

Willow got up and walked out into the receptionist's desk. "Here," she said, "watch closely. Just push this button here and then hang up the phone, and it'll ring in my office."

Aimee nodded. "Okay."

Willow rushed back to her office and picked up the ringing phone. "Sorry," she said. "My secretary's out sick. What's wrong?"

Carly said, "She's doing it again."

"That's an emergency?"

"It was different this time."

"Why? What happened?"

"She bit me."

"She what?!"

"BIt me. Like a vampire or something."

"A-a vampire?"

"Yeah."

"What else? Did she do anything else? Did she...change?"

"Change? You mean like, personality?"

"No, did she--never mind. Just bring her over."

"Uh, I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because she's somehow locked herself in her room. I can't get the door open."

"Try using a bobby pin."

"I would, but here's the weird thing: Taylor's door doesn't have a lock. I don't know how she's keeping it shut. It's like magic or something."

Magic?

"Stay right there," Willow said. "I'm coming over."

I planned for it to go on longer, but that was just too good of a cliffhanger to resist! Reviews are the gasoline for my writing machine.

Sorry for the shortness. You can yell at me and call me evil, if you like.

mistymidnight