Good evening, All!
Wow, I made it to the deadline. YAY!
I need to thank my awesome betas, Carrie, Pat, Lindsay, Alane, Cindy and Crystal. They have all done so much for me lately. I can write, but often times, my brain gets *way* ahead of my fingers and I'm a horrible proofreader!
Tonight is a first as the members of Always have decided that I should release to them first. Since they've joined up and been there all the way, I decided it was the least I could do. So, to the Always crew, you *so* rock! If you aren't a part of it, come by. Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com. We're making some changes, and it should be really great.
Hope you like this chapter. A lot of fantasy and a lot of fantastic. So, if you would, please let me know what you like, and even what you didn't. I keep writing this story for you, and it helps when I know I'm doing all right(
Thanks again for all of your support!
*Joy*,
Nimue
Title: The Flight (Chapter Six of Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Buffy tells Willow of her unexpected expectancy. The Queen approaches Joyce to discuss an offer.
The Flight
It was a beautiful, fall day as Buffy walked, Will toddling next to her and Kali balanced on her hip. Willow was chipper, carrying her son, and chatting away about her new job and the kids and Oz and Tara, but Buffy was lost in her own thoughts, wanting to see. Wanting to know. Wanting this feeling inside of her to be real.
". and then Tara.. Hey, Buffy? With me, here?" Willow asked, smiling as they crested the small hill into the park.
"Hmm?" Buffy asked, snapping back to reality and turning her head toward Willow. A sheepish grin broke across her face. "Sorry, a little lost in thought."
"Guess the adventures of the Witches and the Werewolf aren't that exciting," the redhead pouted half-heartedly, working her way across the well manicured lawn and over to a bench.
Buffy chuckled. "Oh, it's interesting. Just. have other stuff on my mind. Didn't mean to be all distracto-girl."
Willow lowered herself onto the park bench, Buffy settling next to her. Will stood before his mum with wide questioning eyes. His mother smiled knowingly. "Yes, you can go play on the swings. But stay close and don't talk to any strangers, okay?"
Will nodded. "Yes, mummy." Before the words had even escaped his lips he was running towards the swing set where a few other park regulars were playing.
"So," Willow began again. "If the hilarity and high jinks of my life can't hold your attention, what's up?"
"Hunh?" Buffy asked, her mind flitting off to the previous night, and Spike, and the white light, and that feeling. That feeling of being complete. In one moment, feeling whole.
Concern crossed the Witch's face. " You all right?"
Buffy turned her attention back to Willow again, fighting the urge to lose herself in her thoughts. "Yeah, just. thinking."
"And back to the what's up?"
Buffy shifted Kali onto her lap and debated telling Willow. It was so early. Last night. No way of really telling yet. No way to know.
Spike's words echoed in her head. 'I know it, Pet.'
"Buffy?"
"Um," the Slayer started, hesitantly. "Well, you see, there was this thing and."
"There are lots of 'this things' in Sunnydale. More specific with the thing?" Willow chided.
"Last night. Spike and I were, you know, doing what Spike and I do."
"If it's not patrolling, I'm sorry I asked," the redhead commented, smiling. "A little TMI, Buff."
Buffy chuckled. "No, well, I mean, yeah, but that's not the point."
"Still walking dangerously into the grounds of the information not needed. Have I ever told you I was gay?"
Another eruption of giggles relaxed Buffy enough to spit it out. "The point being that something was different last night, I mean, with the too much information part."
"I'm afraid to ask," Willow interjected, smiling and cuddling Loki against her chest.
A smirk crossed Buffy's face. Something she'd perfected after nearly a decade of dealing with Spike. "Will, I think... I think I'm pregnant."
Willow's eyes grew wide. "You mean, with another baby?"
"I'm hoping. I mean birthing something else might be a little. ewww." She shuddered for emphasis.
"From last night? How do you know?" The look on Willow's face was between utter shock and complete elation.
"Skipping all the delicious, yet TMI, parts, in the middle of. well, one of the TMI parts, there was this light and it surrounded us both and then it was like. I don't know. I mean, I felt it, Will. So did he. And then it was. that empty space that was there, wanting another baby, was gone. "
"Spike knows?" Willow asked, studying the cautious joy on her best friend's face.
"He felt it too. He's sure. Willow, I'm sure," Buffy said, almost pulling off conviction.
Willow sighed. Always hesitant to use magic now when there were other ways, she debated telling Buffy that she could find out if she truly wanted to know. Buffy's wistful look, clouded by the absolute terror that she was wrong, clinched it for the Witch.
"Do you want to know for sure?" Willow asked.
Buffy's head snapped around, nearly giving her whiplash. "How. what do you mean?"
"I can tell," the Witch answered. "If you want me to. It's sort of magic, though."
"Will it hurt the baby? I mean, if there is one?" Buffy asked, that cautiousness interrupting her excitement yet again.
Willow shook her head. "No, no, nothing like that. Nothing at all invasive or anything. Just a little. prickly."
Buffy thought for a moment. Spike's mantra that magic always has consequences played through her head. But this wasn't really doing anything, changing anything. Not altering the fabric of reality. Plus, Willow was a really powerful and really careful Witch now. She wouldn't do anything that might possibly screw things up for them.
"This won't. there won't be consequences, right?"
"Channeling Spike, much?" Willow joked, smiling. "Consequence free. I know. Tara and I used it after. well, the thing with Oz."
"And back to the TMI," Buffy chided, a smile breaking on her face. "So, no swallowing anything nasty or prodding, or any some such?"
"Nope. Not big into the prodding outside of my office," Willow answered, a reciprocal smile on her face. "So, do you want to know?"
Buffy looked up at the sky, studying the big, white, puffy clouds. Thinking the answer might be there. Her eyes closed, as she thought. Would this be okay with whoever let this be?
A voice in her head, a lovely female voice, answered, "Yes".
Would Spike be upset with her for knowing?
A more familiar, velvety, chocolate purr, "Of course not, Pet. Want you to be happy. Want you to be sure."
Buffy looked over at Willow. "What do I have to do?"
Willow took Kali and sat her beside Loki on the bench between them. "Don't have to do anything. Effort free," the redhead answered, keeping Buffy's gaze in hers. "Just relax and enjoy the show."
Buffy furrowed her brow as Willow reached over, across her two children, and placed her palm over Buffy's stomach. Not touching, but only inches away.
At first, nothing happened, but as Buffy watched, a glow coalesced between Willow's hand and her stomach. A warm, white glow that prickled Buffy's skin. The glow began to take shape. At first, a spinning ball that divided and grew and swirled and shaped until a tiny form appeared in the air. Willow smiled, looking at Buffy's wide eyes.
"Congratulations," the Witch said quietly, her smile spreading ear to ear.
Buffy was awestruck. "That's. that's . is that?"
"Not yet. But soon," Willow answered, watching Buffy's eyes fill with tears and her hand cup over her mouth. "Do you want to know whether or not it will be a boy or a girl?"
Buffy shook her head; freeing one tear and watching it fall on Willow's cupped palm. "No. Spike. he should be there if we. I don't know if I even want to know this time." Her hand stretched down and joined Willow's, cupping the glow in her hand.
"Pretty cool?" The Witch commented.
Buffy nodded. "Very."
Willow dropped her concentration and the glow disappeared. Buffy's eyes raised to hers, both women smiling and crying at the same time. "So, you're going to have another baby!"
The Slayer thought for a moment, her hand resting across her flat stomach and smiled. "I'm going to have another baby." ~~~~~~
The Queen walked down the sky blue rise of her castle in the clouds towards the Gates of Heaven. Lush and verdant and full of love and life. Her trips to the Valley of Souls always warmed her heart. The best of the mortal world resided here, in the Kingdom of the Sky, and it never ceased to amaze her, the love and generosity that beings that had so little power, so little control over their existence, could express to each other, and to her.
This trip, however, was a business trip. She'd sent her King to the Court to tell the other Queens of the decisions that had been made in regard to the One. Really, although equally powerful, they had no control over what the Sky Queen did with her emissaries and her crusaders. But the future of the Peacemaker, and thus the One, affected all of their Kingdoms. All planes of existence. Besides, it was only polite.
The Queen passed her hand through the air at the Gates and they opened, allowing her passage into the paradise beyond. The mortal souls, happy and contented, were all around her, talking and laughing and playing. Serene and gentle and so very sweet. Some bowed to the Queen but she always raised them immediately. This was their rest, where they had their reward for the brutalities of life. For constantly having to bow to someone or another for some strange mortal reason. The last thing they deserved was to be asked to do it in their peace. Still, some of the newer souls insisted.
Finally, the Queen came upon a member of her Court. A beautiful Pegasus with wings of gold, standing guard over the inner gates. The creature bowed , one leg bent to the ground, his head dropping, as the Queen approached.
"Oh, Mercurius, please. You should know better by now," the Queen laughed, approaching the silvery white creature and patting him softly on the muzzle.
Mercurius straightened, snorting a little and leaning into the Queen's touch. "My Lady, it is only polite."
"Polite or no, you are under no obligation to bow down at my very presence. You should know I do not expect that of my Court."
Again, Mercurius snorted. "You are a different Queen, my Lady. But suffice it to say that my upbringing will not abide by improper etiquette."
"Your father was quite a stickler for that," the Queen responded with a chuckle. "However, I corrected him constantly as well."
At that, the Pegasus whinnied, the closest his kind could come to a laugh. "What is it I can do for you this day, my Queen?"
"I am looking for the mother of the Slayer," the Queen responded kindly. "I have a proposition for her."
The Pegasus nodded, never questioning his mistress's commands. "Shall I find her for you?"
The Queen nodded, then her face slackened a bit. "No. I'd like to go to her, this time. It's been too long since I've toured the Valley of Souls."
Mercurius nodded again and went down onto his front knees, allowing the Queen to swing upon his back effortlessly. He straightened again, rising up to his full, impressive height as slowly and fluidly as ever a creature could manage. Carrying his Queen through her Kingdom was his kind's greatest honour and he would not take the chance of letting her fall.
"Are you ready, my Queen?"
"I am," she answered, smiling and patting his neck. "Show me my world, my loyal Mercurius."
"My great pleasure, my Lady."
With that, he pressed gracefully up onto his rear legs and pushed effortlessly into the air, gliding above the verdant land below.
The Queen watched the land pass underneath. Her World, if she dared say, was the most beautiful of the Kingdoms. Land meets Sky. Air meets Earth. Light was soft and kind and the colours were such that the mortal mind could not fathom the hues even in the most vivid corners of their minds. Fields and valleys and forests and plains passed underneath their feet as Mercurius glided gracefully, golden wings catching the air and reflecting the light of the sun into a rainbow of colour and light.
Slowly, he descended by a stream near the Forest of Laughter, landing without a wobble on the lush, green banks. The breeze in the trees made them sound as if they were always giggling, smiling, happy. It was one of the Queen's favourite spots, and swinging her bare feet down onto the soft, pillowy grass as Mercurius knelt, reminded her why.
Even the soil felt joyous, the blades of grass, peaceful. The air was light and breezy and calm. It was there that she found her subject, sitting on the bank of the stream, watching it ebb and flow around the rocks. A young girl, barely a teenager, sat with her, giggling at the older woman's tales.
"Joyce," the Queen said fondly, the smile on her face coming out in the lilt of her voice. Joyce looked up wide eyed and then stood, scrambling up the bank and bowing her head. "My Lady," she said quietly.
The Queen took a step forward, placing her hand underneath the woman's chin, raising her eyes to meet her own. "Do not bow before me. You are not my servant. You are my guest."
"Yes, my Lady," Joyce answered quietly, staring into the brilliant, beautiful eyes of the Queen.
"Besides," The Queen continued. "We are nearly related now. My daughter is now your granddaughter. My greatest weapon, half your blood."
Joyce smiled. "Buffy."
The Queen nodded, returning the smile. "Buffy," she repeated. The little girl that had been sitting with Joyce stood, walking over next to them.
"Yes?" Her small voice said.
The Queen looked at the girl. "You, my darling. Would you like to ride on Mercurius?"
The girl, that part of Buffy who had died to allow the rest to become the Slayer and then the One, sized up the winged horse and smiled. "Can I?"
Both Joyce and the Queen chuckled. "You may."
Mercurius again bowed, allowing the girl to pull her up using his mane as leverage, then straightened and looked at his Queen. She nodded and he launched, taking the little girl on a ride across the Heavens.
The two women were quiet for a moment, watching the girl and her winged friend fly until they disappeared from sight. It was then that they returned their attention to one another.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Joyce asked, cocking her head and studying her beautiful Queen with awed curiosity.
"I have a proposition for you," the Queen said, taking Joyce's hand and leading her back down the bank to the spot where she had been sitting before. They both lowered themselves onto the soft grass and watched the water swirl by.
"Okay," Joyce finally answered, looking back at the Queen. "What. what is it?"
The Queen sighed, looking from Joyce to the water, then back to Joyce. "Emma, your granddaughter, my child, came to me the other night," she began; studying the flow of the clear, blue water. "She told me that the One wanted another child. That the Slayer was sad and the Vampire was helpless to make it right."
Joyce returned her gaze to the water. "I can see that in Buffy. She always wanted to be a mother. Have kids. Be a wife. Amazing considering what she lived through with."
"You did not fail her in any way," the Queen interrupted, cutting off that line of thought. "She is wise and loving and caring, traits that I can only attribute to your tutelage."
Joyce chuckled. "I did my best. It was. a lot."
"And we knew you could handle it. That is why she was given to you," the Queen responded. "And, although we had never anticipated the union of the One producing more than the Peacemaker, Emma, we had to take into account the human desire for family and love and need. So we granted them William."
Buffy's mother smiled fondly, remembering the awkward, yet handsome, sweet man that had kept her company when she first arrived. She had seen him as a child both on Earth, and in dreams while she'd been here. He was happy now. Where he belonged. "You were kind to give him that choice."
"It was a reward. To him, mostly, for making the Vampire what he is today. For leaving the sense of dignity and romance and value which allowed a creature of darkness to become a creature of light."
Joyce nodded her understanding. William was the part of Spike that allowed him to love Buffy. To take care of her baby, and her baby's babies. "And now?" Joyce asked, again returning her gaze to the Queen.
The Queen sighed, remembering how she melted in Emma's sweet smile and heartfelt plea. "Well, again, we've been forced to rethink our decision. Of course, there is no reason, in the cosmic scheme of things, to grant the One another child. The Peacemaker is their mission."
Joyce almost interrupted, wanting to correct the Queen. Explain that their lives on Earth were more than just a mission. But the Queen held up a hand. "But we understand that their happiness, their success, their lives on Earth are more than just their duties as our pawns. That they have wants and needs and desires that we do not necessarily understand. Or think are vital. But, they have been good to us, and to each other, and to our World, so I could not make any choice other than to grant their wish."
An excitement flashed through Joyce's eyes. "So."
"Buffy is pregnant," the Queen answered. "The third child of the One will be born into their world."
Joyce almost beamed with pride, her eyes filling with tears. She was so happy for Buffy. So happy for Spike. But part of her was so incredibly sad. So sorry that she'd miss another grandchild being born. Miss playing with them. Watching them grow and learn and spoiling them rotten and never having to discipline them. Watching her daughter beam at their every move, and her unlikely son-in-law fall asleep with an infant cradled in his arms.
The Queen sensed Joyce's conflict. "I've come with an offer," she said quietly.
Joyce turned again, eyes still teary. "What. what is that?"
The beautiful Queen took her hand, holding it gently in her own. "I need to know that those that surround the One are true. I need them to be honest and kind and loving and strong. I know that their lives are not just about our mission, but I do have to protect that mission."
Slowly, Joyce nodded her understanding. "I agree."
"So, I came here today to ask you.. Would you like to go home?"
To be contd.
Wow, I made it to the deadline. YAY!
I need to thank my awesome betas, Carrie, Pat, Lindsay, Alane, Cindy and Crystal. They have all done so much for me lately. I can write, but often times, my brain gets *way* ahead of my fingers and I'm a horrible proofreader!
Tonight is a first as the members of Always have decided that I should release to them first. Since they've joined up and been there all the way, I decided it was the least I could do. So, to the Always crew, you *so* rock! If you aren't a part of it, come by. Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com. We're making some changes, and it should be really great.
Hope you like this chapter. A lot of fantasy and a lot of fantastic. So, if you would, please let me know what you like, and even what you didn't. I keep writing this story for you, and it helps when I know I'm doing all right(
Thanks again for all of your support!
*Joy*,
Nimue
Title: The Flight (Chapter Six of Meant to Be)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Buffy tells Willow of her unexpected expectancy. The Queen approaches Joyce to discuss an offer.
The Flight
It was a beautiful, fall day as Buffy walked, Will toddling next to her and Kali balanced on her hip. Willow was chipper, carrying her son, and chatting away about her new job and the kids and Oz and Tara, but Buffy was lost in her own thoughts, wanting to see. Wanting to know. Wanting this feeling inside of her to be real.
". and then Tara.. Hey, Buffy? With me, here?" Willow asked, smiling as they crested the small hill into the park.
"Hmm?" Buffy asked, snapping back to reality and turning her head toward Willow. A sheepish grin broke across her face. "Sorry, a little lost in thought."
"Guess the adventures of the Witches and the Werewolf aren't that exciting," the redhead pouted half-heartedly, working her way across the well manicured lawn and over to a bench.
Buffy chuckled. "Oh, it's interesting. Just. have other stuff on my mind. Didn't mean to be all distracto-girl."
Willow lowered herself onto the park bench, Buffy settling next to her. Will stood before his mum with wide questioning eyes. His mother smiled knowingly. "Yes, you can go play on the swings. But stay close and don't talk to any strangers, okay?"
Will nodded. "Yes, mummy." Before the words had even escaped his lips he was running towards the swing set where a few other park regulars were playing.
"So," Willow began again. "If the hilarity and high jinks of my life can't hold your attention, what's up?"
"Hunh?" Buffy asked, her mind flitting off to the previous night, and Spike, and the white light, and that feeling. That feeling of being complete. In one moment, feeling whole.
Concern crossed the Witch's face. " You all right?"
Buffy turned her attention back to Willow again, fighting the urge to lose herself in her thoughts. "Yeah, just. thinking."
"And back to the what's up?"
Buffy shifted Kali onto her lap and debated telling Willow. It was so early. Last night. No way of really telling yet. No way to know.
Spike's words echoed in her head. 'I know it, Pet.'
"Buffy?"
"Um," the Slayer started, hesitantly. "Well, you see, there was this thing and."
"There are lots of 'this things' in Sunnydale. More specific with the thing?" Willow chided.
"Last night. Spike and I were, you know, doing what Spike and I do."
"If it's not patrolling, I'm sorry I asked," the redhead commented, smiling. "A little TMI, Buff."
Buffy chuckled. "No, well, I mean, yeah, but that's not the point."
"Still walking dangerously into the grounds of the information not needed. Have I ever told you I was gay?"
Another eruption of giggles relaxed Buffy enough to spit it out. "The point being that something was different last night, I mean, with the too much information part."
"I'm afraid to ask," Willow interjected, smiling and cuddling Loki against her chest.
A smirk crossed Buffy's face. Something she'd perfected after nearly a decade of dealing with Spike. "Will, I think... I think I'm pregnant."
Willow's eyes grew wide. "You mean, with another baby?"
"I'm hoping. I mean birthing something else might be a little. ewww." She shuddered for emphasis.
"From last night? How do you know?" The look on Willow's face was between utter shock and complete elation.
"Skipping all the delicious, yet TMI, parts, in the middle of. well, one of the TMI parts, there was this light and it surrounded us both and then it was like. I don't know. I mean, I felt it, Will. So did he. And then it was. that empty space that was there, wanting another baby, was gone. "
"Spike knows?" Willow asked, studying the cautious joy on her best friend's face.
"He felt it too. He's sure. Willow, I'm sure," Buffy said, almost pulling off conviction.
Willow sighed. Always hesitant to use magic now when there were other ways, she debated telling Buffy that she could find out if she truly wanted to know. Buffy's wistful look, clouded by the absolute terror that she was wrong, clinched it for the Witch.
"Do you want to know for sure?" Willow asked.
Buffy's head snapped around, nearly giving her whiplash. "How. what do you mean?"
"I can tell," the Witch answered. "If you want me to. It's sort of magic, though."
"Will it hurt the baby? I mean, if there is one?" Buffy asked, that cautiousness interrupting her excitement yet again.
Willow shook her head. "No, no, nothing like that. Nothing at all invasive or anything. Just a little. prickly."
Buffy thought for a moment. Spike's mantra that magic always has consequences played through her head. But this wasn't really doing anything, changing anything. Not altering the fabric of reality. Plus, Willow was a really powerful and really careful Witch now. She wouldn't do anything that might possibly screw things up for them.
"This won't. there won't be consequences, right?"
"Channeling Spike, much?" Willow joked, smiling. "Consequence free. I know. Tara and I used it after. well, the thing with Oz."
"And back to the TMI," Buffy chided, a smile breaking on her face. "So, no swallowing anything nasty or prodding, or any some such?"
"Nope. Not big into the prodding outside of my office," Willow answered, a reciprocal smile on her face. "So, do you want to know?"
Buffy looked up at the sky, studying the big, white, puffy clouds. Thinking the answer might be there. Her eyes closed, as she thought. Would this be okay with whoever let this be?
A voice in her head, a lovely female voice, answered, "Yes".
Would Spike be upset with her for knowing?
A more familiar, velvety, chocolate purr, "Of course not, Pet. Want you to be happy. Want you to be sure."
Buffy looked over at Willow. "What do I have to do?"
Willow took Kali and sat her beside Loki on the bench between them. "Don't have to do anything. Effort free," the redhead answered, keeping Buffy's gaze in hers. "Just relax and enjoy the show."
Buffy furrowed her brow as Willow reached over, across her two children, and placed her palm over Buffy's stomach. Not touching, but only inches away.
At first, nothing happened, but as Buffy watched, a glow coalesced between Willow's hand and her stomach. A warm, white glow that prickled Buffy's skin. The glow began to take shape. At first, a spinning ball that divided and grew and swirled and shaped until a tiny form appeared in the air. Willow smiled, looking at Buffy's wide eyes.
"Congratulations," the Witch said quietly, her smile spreading ear to ear.
Buffy was awestruck. "That's. that's . is that?"
"Not yet. But soon," Willow answered, watching Buffy's eyes fill with tears and her hand cup over her mouth. "Do you want to know whether or not it will be a boy or a girl?"
Buffy shook her head; freeing one tear and watching it fall on Willow's cupped palm. "No. Spike. he should be there if we. I don't know if I even want to know this time." Her hand stretched down and joined Willow's, cupping the glow in her hand.
"Pretty cool?" The Witch commented.
Buffy nodded. "Very."
Willow dropped her concentration and the glow disappeared. Buffy's eyes raised to hers, both women smiling and crying at the same time. "So, you're going to have another baby!"
The Slayer thought for a moment, her hand resting across her flat stomach and smiled. "I'm going to have another baby." ~~~~~~
The Queen walked down the sky blue rise of her castle in the clouds towards the Gates of Heaven. Lush and verdant and full of love and life. Her trips to the Valley of Souls always warmed her heart. The best of the mortal world resided here, in the Kingdom of the Sky, and it never ceased to amaze her, the love and generosity that beings that had so little power, so little control over their existence, could express to each other, and to her.
This trip, however, was a business trip. She'd sent her King to the Court to tell the other Queens of the decisions that had been made in regard to the One. Really, although equally powerful, they had no control over what the Sky Queen did with her emissaries and her crusaders. But the future of the Peacemaker, and thus the One, affected all of their Kingdoms. All planes of existence. Besides, it was only polite.
The Queen passed her hand through the air at the Gates and they opened, allowing her passage into the paradise beyond. The mortal souls, happy and contented, were all around her, talking and laughing and playing. Serene and gentle and so very sweet. Some bowed to the Queen but she always raised them immediately. This was their rest, where they had their reward for the brutalities of life. For constantly having to bow to someone or another for some strange mortal reason. The last thing they deserved was to be asked to do it in their peace. Still, some of the newer souls insisted.
Finally, the Queen came upon a member of her Court. A beautiful Pegasus with wings of gold, standing guard over the inner gates. The creature bowed , one leg bent to the ground, his head dropping, as the Queen approached.
"Oh, Mercurius, please. You should know better by now," the Queen laughed, approaching the silvery white creature and patting him softly on the muzzle.
Mercurius straightened, snorting a little and leaning into the Queen's touch. "My Lady, it is only polite."
"Polite or no, you are under no obligation to bow down at my very presence. You should know I do not expect that of my Court."
Again, Mercurius snorted. "You are a different Queen, my Lady. But suffice it to say that my upbringing will not abide by improper etiquette."
"Your father was quite a stickler for that," the Queen responded with a chuckle. "However, I corrected him constantly as well."
At that, the Pegasus whinnied, the closest his kind could come to a laugh. "What is it I can do for you this day, my Queen?"
"I am looking for the mother of the Slayer," the Queen responded kindly. "I have a proposition for her."
The Pegasus nodded, never questioning his mistress's commands. "Shall I find her for you?"
The Queen nodded, then her face slackened a bit. "No. I'd like to go to her, this time. It's been too long since I've toured the Valley of Souls."
Mercurius nodded again and went down onto his front knees, allowing the Queen to swing upon his back effortlessly. He straightened again, rising up to his full, impressive height as slowly and fluidly as ever a creature could manage. Carrying his Queen through her Kingdom was his kind's greatest honour and he would not take the chance of letting her fall.
"Are you ready, my Queen?"
"I am," she answered, smiling and patting his neck. "Show me my world, my loyal Mercurius."
"My great pleasure, my Lady."
With that, he pressed gracefully up onto his rear legs and pushed effortlessly into the air, gliding above the verdant land below.
The Queen watched the land pass underneath. Her World, if she dared say, was the most beautiful of the Kingdoms. Land meets Sky. Air meets Earth. Light was soft and kind and the colours were such that the mortal mind could not fathom the hues even in the most vivid corners of their minds. Fields and valleys and forests and plains passed underneath their feet as Mercurius glided gracefully, golden wings catching the air and reflecting the light of the sun into a rainbow of colour and light.
Slowly, he descended by a stream near the Forest of Laughter, landing without a wobble on the lush, green banks. The breeze in the trees made them sound as if they were always giggling, smiling, happy. It was one of the Queen's favourite spots, and swinging her bare feet down onto the soft, pillowy grass as Mercurius knelt, reminded her why.
Even the soil felt joyous, the blades of grass, peaceful. The air was light and breezy and calm. It was there that she found her subject, sitting on the bank of the stream, watching it ebb and flow around the rocks. A young girl, barely a teenager, sat with her, giggling at the older woman's tales.
"Joyce," the Queen said fondly, the smile on her face coming out in the lilt of her voice. Joyce looked up wide eyed and then stood, scrambling up the bank and bowing her head. "My Lady," she said quietly.
The Queen took a step forward, placing her hand underneath the woman's chin, raising her eyes to meet her own. "Do not bow before me. You are not my servant. You are my guest."
"Yes, my Lady," Joyce answered quietly, staring into the brilliant, beautiful eyes of the Queen.
"Besides," The Queen continued. "We are nearly related now. My daughter is now your granddaughter. My greatest weapon, half your blood."
Joyce smiled. "Buffy."
The Queen nodded, returning the smile. "Buffy," she repeated. The little girl that had been sitting with Joyce stood, walking over next to them.
"Yes?" Her small voice said.
The Queen looked at the girl. "You, my darling. Would you like to ride on Mercurius?"
The girl, that part of Buffy who had died to allow the rest to become the Slayer and then the One, sized up the winged horse and smiled. "Can I?"
Both Joyce and the Queen chuckled. "You may."
Mercurius again bowed, allowing the girl to pull her up using his mane as leverage, then straightened and looked at his Queen. She nodded and he launched, taking the little girl on a ride across the Heavens.
The two women were quiet for a moment, watching the girl and her winged friend fly until they disappeared from sight. It was then that they returned their attention to one another.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Joyce asked, cocking her head and studying her beautiful Queen with awed curiosity.
"I have a proposition for you," the Queen said, taking Joyce's hand and leading her back down the bank to the spot where she had been sitting before. They both lowered themselves onto the soft grass and watched the water swirl by.
"Okay," Joyce finally answered, looking back at the Queen. "What. what is it?"
The Queen sighed, looking from Joyce to the water, then back to Joyce. "Emma, your granddaughter, my child, came to me the other night," she began; studying the flow of the clear, blue water. "She told me that the One wanted another child. That the Slayer was sad and the Vampire was helpless to make it right."
Joyce returned her gaze to the water. "I can see that in Buffy. She always wanted to be a mother. Have kids. Be a wife. Amazing considering what she lived through with."
"You did not fail her in any way," the Queen interrupted, cutting off that line of thought. "She is wise and loving and caring, traits that I can only attribute to your tutelage."
Joyce chuckled. "I did my best. It was. a lot."
"And we knew you could handle it. That is why she was given to you," the Queen responded. "And, although we had never anticipated the union of the One producing more than the Peacemaker, Emma, we had to take into account the human desire for family and love and need. So we granted them William."
Buffy's mother smiled fondly, remembering the awkward, yet handsome, sweet man that had kept her company when she first arrived. She had seen him as a child both on Earth, and in dreams while she'd been here. He was happy now. Where he belonged. "You were kind to give him that choice."
"It was a reward. To him, mostly, for making the Vampire what he is today. For leaving the sense of dignity and romance and value which allowed a creature of darkness to become a creature of light."
Joyce nodded her understanding. William was the part of Spike that allowed him to love Buffy. To take care of her baby, and her baby's babies. "And now?" Joyce asked, again returning her gaze to the Queen.
The Queen sighed, remembering how she melted in Emma's sweet smile and heartfelt plea. "Well, again, we've been forced to rethink our decision. Of course, there is no reason, in the cosmic scheme of things, to grant the One another child. The Peacemaker is their mission."
Joyce almost interrupted, wanting to correct the Queen. Explain that their lives on Earth were more than just a mission. But the Queen held up a hand. "But we understand that their happiness, their success, their lives on Earth are more than just their duties as our pawns. That they have wants and needs and desires that we do not necessarily understand. Or think are vital. But, they have been good to us, and to each other, and to our World, so I could not make any choice other than to grant their wish."
An excitement flashed through Joyce's eyes. "So."
"Buffy is pregnant," the Queen answered. "The third child of the One will be born into their world."
Joyce almost beamed with pride, her eyes filling with tears. She was so happy for Buffy. So happy for Spike. But part of her was so incredibly sad. So sorry that she'd miss another grandchild being born. Miss playing with them. Watching them grow and learn and spoiling them rotten and never having to discipline them. Watching her daughter beam at their every move, and her unlikely son-in-law fall asleep with an infant cradled in his arms.
The Queen sensed Joyce's conflict. "I've come with an offer," she said quietly.
Joyce turned again, eyes still teary. "What. what is that?"
The beautiful Queen took her hand, holding it gently in her own. "I need to know that those that surround the One are true. I need them to be honest and kind and loving and strong. I know that their lives are not just about our mission, but I do have to protect that mission."
Slowly, Joyce nodded her understanding. "I agree."
"So, I came here today to ask you.. Would you like to go home?"
To be contd.