Title: Amends
Author: Writer Girl
Summary/Teaser: Amends with a few changes and a better ending
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Joss Whedon et al own everything. Dialog from Amends. I am not the first person to do this type of fic.
Pairings: BA, CX, WO
Author e-mail: Everything up to and including Amends, season 2 of Buffy.
Feedback: PLEASE?
Rating: PG13 to be safe. Same as the show, really.
At the Summers home, Buffy was putting the finishing touches on the tree while Joyce built a fire in the fireplace. Christmas music played softly on the radio.
"There." Joyce said, pleased with herself.
"Nothing like a roaring fire to keep away the blistering heat." Buffy commented sarcastically, earning herself a reproving look from her mother.
"I think it's lovely." Joyce insisted. "So, angel's on top again?" At Buffy's startled look, Joyce held up two ornaments and clarified, "Angel or star?"
"Oh." Buffy said, still slightly shaken. "uh…star. Star." The doorbell rang. Wondering who it could possibly be, Buffy went to answer it. She was surprised to find Faith standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Hey." The dark-haired Slayer said uncertainly.
"Hi."
"Uh…looked like that whole party thing was gonna be kinda a drag." She lowered her eyes. "I didn't really have anything…you know…"
"I'm glad you came." Buffy assured her sincerely. Faith smiled, and handed Buffy two wrapped packages. "Why don't you come in from the entire lack of cold." Buffy invited the other girl, leading her into the house.
"Uh, that one is for your mom." Faith said, gesturing to one of the gifts she'd handed to Buffy. "They're pretty crappy."
"Oh, Faith, you made it." Joyce greeted her happily. She took the gifts from Buffy. "That is so thoughtful."
"They're pretty crappy." Faith repeated, embarrassed.
"You know, I'm going to go upstairs and get your gifts." Buffy said, and headed for her bedroom. When she got there, Angel was waiting behind the door.
"Angel." Buffy said, surprised to see him there.
"Huh…Buffy." Angel said.
"What is it?" Buffy asked, her concern for him growing in the face of his odd behavior. He cleared his throat.
"I gotta…I…look, I uh, I had to see you." He stuttered. He turned and looked at her bed. Confusion flashed across his face. "I don't know…you shouldn't be…" He trailed off.
"Just tell me what's going on." Buffy pleaded. His gaze focused on her neck as he struggled to ignore the First's taunting words.
"She wants you to touch her. What are you waiting for?"
"You have to stay away from me." Angel told Buffy urgently.
"You came to see me to tell me that I can't see you?" Buffy asked, bewildered. Angel panted heavily, struggling for control.
"Angel, something is doing this to you." Buffy told him. "You just have to control it, okay. I know you're confused-"
"I think you're the one who's confused." Angel interrupted. "I need to…"
"She wants you to taste her." The First whispered. "Think of the peace. You'll never have to see us again." Groaning, Angel pulled at his hair, struggling to regain control of his mind.
"Angel, how can I help you?" Buffy implored.
"Leave me alone!" Angel shouted desperately, and leapt out her window.
"Giles, we have to do something." Buffy told her Watcher urgently. "Soon. Now."
"I'm still not sure what." Giles admitted.
"Find me these priest guys." Buffy said desperately. "Find me something I can pummel."
"Let's not lose our heads."
"Giles, he's slipping." Buffy said. "I think we're loosing him."
"You realize, if he truly becomes a danger, you may have to kill him…again." Giles told her softly. "Can you do that?" His question was met only with silence.
"A child shall be born of man and goat and have two heads, and the first shall speak only in riddles." Buffy read aloud from one of Giles' many research books. "God, no wonder you like this stuff. It's like reading The Sun."
"Yes, ah." Giles murmered.
"Priests?" Buffy asked urgently.
"Yes, but um, just more posturing." Giles replied. He read aloud, ""…For they are the Harbingers of death. Nothing shall live, above or below them. No seed shall flower, neither in man nor…" He stopped reading. "They're rebels and they'll never be any good. Nothing specific about their haunts."
"Let me see that." Buffy requested. Giles handed her the book. "the Harbingers of death. Nothing shall live, above or below" She repeated. . She thought about the cryptic words for a moment. And, then it hit her. Nothing shall live, above or below them. The dead circle of trees at the Christmas tree farm. "I know where they are." She announced.
"Okay, 10 more minutes of chanting, and then you guys have to go to bed." Buffy quipped, alerting the Harbringers to her presence. She easily killed them. Only she and the First remained in the underground room. The First appeared as the late Jennifer Calendar.
"Hmm. I'm impressed." It said.
"You won't get Angel." Buffy told it defiantly.
"You think you can fight me. I'm not a demon, little girl. I'm something you can't conceive. The first evil. Beyond sin, beyond death…I am the thing the darkness fears. You will never see me, but I am everywhere. Every being, every thought, every drop of hate-"
"I get it. You're evil. Do we have to chat about it all day?"
"Angel will be dead by sunrise." The First said coldly. "Your Christmas…will be his wake."
"No." Buffy whispered.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with." The First said.
"Let me guess, is it…evil?"
"Dead by sunrise!" The First screamed out its final warning. With that, Buffy ran toward Crawford street.