Chapter 8 Part 2: Trick or Treating
"Man look at her," Buffy said as they opened a book to a drawing of a woman in 18th garb.
"Who is she?" Willow asked.
Aisling pointed to the name written beside the woman. "Sarah?" Aisling guessed. "Though it could be the name of the artist or an alias."
"The entries dated 1775."
"Angel was 18 and still human."
Which means he's definitely too old for you now. Aisling thought though she kept her mouth shut.
"Living in Ireland," Buffy said wistfully. "Is there nothing you can tell me about Ireland?"
Aisling thought about it for a moment before she sighed and looked at Buffy. "Is breá liom tú," She finally said.
Buffy and Willow looked at each other before they turned back to Aisling confused.
"It's 'I love you' in Irish," Aisling explained. "Not saying he'll understand. But unfortunately, the Irish language is one of the few things I know for sure about the place I was born. "Is breá liom tú" she said. "I love you."
Buffy sounded the phrase out; it took her a few tries before Aisling smiled proudly. "Very good." Aisling thought for a moment before she reached into her backpack pulled out a notebook and wrote the phrase out. "Here's how you spell it."
Buffy stared at the piece of paper.
"Course that's only one way to say "I Love you."" Aisling said,
"Is brea liom tu?" Buffy said. She looked back at the picture, "So that might have been the kind of girl he hung around. 'Coiffed, Irish,"
"She looks like a noblewoman or something," Willow spoke up.
Aisling scrunched her nose. "I… can't honestly say if the nobles in Ireland would have known Irish." She said. "Given I think we were under British rule at the time."
"So, they would have been British."
"Possibly." Aisling said, "I need to do more research on my own damn country." Aisling said with a half laugh.
"Still. A Noblewoman who knows Irish… that might have been impressive right? All the Irish know? And taking the time to learn a foreign language?" Buffy asked.
"Would have been a lot of work," Aisling said.
"And this girl doesn't really scream 'workaholic." Buffy sighed, "I'll never be like this."
"You shouldn't Aisling said. "You should be Buffy. If Angel doesn't like Buffy… then it's Angel's loss."
"Yeah." Willow said, "And she's not even that pretty. I mean, look at her she's got a funny…waist. Look how tiny that is. "
"Thank you. Now I feel better." Buffy said wryly.
Aisling rolled her eyes but patted her shoulder sympathetically. "Buffy…"
"No. She's a freak." Willow said looking back at the picture. "Like a circus freak. Yuck."
"Must've been wonderful to put on some fantabulous gown and go to a ball like a princess and have horses and servants and yet more gowns."
"Yeah. Still, I think I prefer being able to vote." Willow said. Buffy gave her a look. "Or I will when I can."
Realization dawned, for Aisling. "Oh, so that's what this is." She said.
Buffy looked toward Aisling confused. "What?"
"This isn't really about Angel at all is it?" Aisling said leaning against a wall. "You want to be normal for a day," Aisling said. "Or at least… indulge in the fantasies that regular girls have."
Buffy froze for a moment before she looked down as though embarrassed. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."
Aisling sighed and rubbed Buffy's shoulder sympathetically as she fished around her mind for something to say right before they were interrupted.
"So Buffy, you ran off last night and left poor little Angel all by his lonesome. But I did everything I could to comfort him." Cordelia said barging in interrupting the moment.
"Thought you were over the 'whole' dating older guys schtick." Aisling said, "Especially since what happened at the frat house."
"OH, come on how much older can he be?" Cordelia asked.
"Oh… around 250" Aisling said, "Give or take a few years."
Cordelia nodded idly before she paused in her act of applying lipstick. "What?"
"Angel's a vampire," Buffy said.
"Grandsire to my dad." Aisling piped up with a half grin.
"I thought you knew," Buffy said softly.
Cordelia looked between the two of them before her eyes settled on Aisling. "Your dad's a vampire?" she asked skeptically.
"Uh… yeah." Aisling said looking a bit confused, "Did you not see him vamp out during Parent Teach Night. He and Angel… oh wait you were hiding in the supply closet with Willow, weren't you?"
Cordelia shook her head, "Not important, you two are putting me on, aren't you?"
"It's true," Aisling said amused at the blatant lack of belief. "Angel and Da' are vamps."
"Of course, they are. But let me guess the cuddly kind like a care bear with fangs."
"It's true," Buffy said.
"Don't ever call me Da' a care-bear with fangs to his face," Aisling said. "Might not kill you but will certainly subject you to a four-hour lecture of insultin' that is."
"You know what I think?" Cordelia said stepping towards the three of them. "I think you're just trying to scare me off 'cause you're afraid of the competition. Look Buffy you may be hot stuff when it comes to demonology or whatever but when it comes to dating, I'm the slayer." Cordelia said before she turned and flounced out of the bathroom.
"Bitch." Aisling said looking at Buffy. "Don't take what she said to heart." She said when she noticed Buffy's hurt expression.
Buffy turned to Aisling and gave a smile. "I'm fine." She said jumping off the bathroom sink she was perched on "Come on. Let's get to class."
"So… what exactly did your dad say when you told him you were volunteered for the Halloween safety thing?" Buffy asked as they entered the new costume Shop: Ethan's.
Aisling rolled her eyes as she placed her cellphone back into her bag. "He wasn't pleased."
"I mean it's Halloween, right?" Willow asked as they started looking through the shop at the different clothes. "Demons and ghouls are supposed to be taking the night off?"
"Yeah. And She is a more traditional vampire – prefers to act like how other vampires tend to act in most cases." Aisling said then she frowned "But she also has a one-track mind when it comes to what she wants. If she sees a chance to get what she wants she'll take it." She leans against the counter as she stares at some nicknacks through the clear glass. "Da's worried."
Buffy picked up a pumpkin and started playing with it. "Well, it's only for a couple of hours," Buffy said. "Less because you need to bring the kids back by six."
Aisling nodded. "Yeah, but the sun sets by 5 around this time which is about an hour that Da' can't account for – not to mention how long it takes for me to run to my car after I drop the kids off." Aisling sighed as she leaned against a counter. "And all it takes is a single undistracted moment as my dad likes to remind me."
"I'll walk you to the car afterwards," Buffy said she pressed a button on the odd pumpkin and jumped as it started screaming.
"Thanks, but you don't have to," Aisling said as Willow jumped up to the two of them with a costume package in her hand.
"What did you get?" Buffy asked Willow.
"A time-honoured classic." Willow said holding waving the 'Ghastly ghost' costume package in her hands.
"OK, Well, Can I give you a little friendly advice?" Buffy said, amused.
"It's not spooky enough?" Willow asked.
"It's just you're never going to get noticed if you keep hiding. You're missing the whole point of Halloween."
"Free Candy," Aisling said cheekily.
Buffy looked away rolling her eyes, "It's come as you aren't night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions."
"Willow is sexy." Aisling said, "Or… she can be if she wants to."
"You know what I mean."
"I do. It's just bad wording, Halloween isn't 'come as you aren't it's 'be who you want." Aisling said wrapping an arm around Willow. "Be the girl you want to truly be tonight. It might be fun."
"I don't want anything. I don't get wild. Wild on me equals spaz."
"I've only known you two months and I know for a fact that you can be assertive and dominating when you have to be," Aisling said. "The night of the frat house incident ring any bells?"
Willow blushed, "That's just because Angel and Giles were being stupid while stupid dangerous things were going on."
Buffy looked confused so Aisling took a minute to explain, "Giles and Angel were arguing, and Willow jumped in and told them to knock it off."
Buffy looked surprised before she turned to Willow her head nodding, "Exactly." She held Willow's hands. "Have fun with that. Be sexy and wild and assertive tomorrow. You got it in you, I know you do."
"Hey, Xander," Willow said, desperately in avoidance mode as Xander stepped up to them. "What did you get?"
Xander pulled out a toy gun and looked at his three friends expectantly.
"That's… not a costume," Buffy said confused.
"I got fatigue from an army surplus at home. Call me the $2.00 costume king, baby" Xander said to Willow.
Buffy looked at him, her expression one of mild guilt. "Hey look, Xander…" Buffy started, "I'm really sorry about this morning."
"Do you mind, Buffy?" Xander said partially annoyed, "I'm trying to repress."
"Xander." Aisling sighed.
Buffy took the rebuke in stride, "Ok, then I promise from now on I'll let you get pummeled." Buffy said resting her chin on Xander's shoulder and looking up at her innocently.
"Thank you." He said, turning around.
"I could teach you how to defend yourself if you want," Aisling said.
Xander turned to Aisling and shook his head. "Thanks, but honestly I think I could've—" Buffy stopped and walked past us all the way to a beautiful late 18th century replica gown.
Buffy stared at the gown longingly, "It's the dress." She whispered half reaching for it.
A man in his late 40s walked out from the backroom straight to the quad, "Please, let me." He said removing the dress from the manikin. Ethan, Aisling had to assume.
"Oh it's—"
"Magnificent, Yes, I know." He said. "There." He said showing it to Buffy and hanging it in front of her while she looked in the mirror. "My, meet the hidden princess. I think we've found a match, don't you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Buffy turned to face the older man, "There's no way I could ever afford this."
"Oh Nonsense." Ethan said waving away her concerns, "I feel quite moved to make you a deal you can't refuse."
"Oooh quoting 'Godfather' that's not worrying at all." Aisling teased.
Ethan gave a tight smile, "Yes. Well… what I said is true."
Buffy looked toward the mirror again, her expression full of longing.
"Tá an gúna sin go hálainn" Aisling said.
Buffy turned and looked at Aisling confused. "What?"
"She's right," Ethan said, "The dress is beautiful, especially on you."
Aisling blinked at being understood and eyed him curiously. "Suimiúil" Interesting she said, while Buffy went back to looking in the mirror.
Buffy held the dress to her chest looking so excited at the prospect of being a princess.
"I'm home," Aisling said as she traipsed through the door her costume in hand. "Costume's kind of lame but… I'm hoping." She sighed as she stared at the costume. "Little kid," Aisling said, she'd seen the costume in the shop, and it had reminded her of what her therapist had said, and… maybe costuming as one for a day would help her come up with ideas.
"I still don't like this," Spike said as he got up from the couch he swayed slightly, and Aisling had to all but push him back down.
"The Halloween volunteer thing is from 4-6," Aisling said, playing her costume on the table. "And demons stay in on Halloween, they find the whole Halloween thing tacky. Her Included."
"Drusilla's also insane," Spike said Aisling rubbed her arm at the mention of her former captor's name. "There's a possibility she might not even realize that it's Halloween and come for you anyway."
"I don't have a choice." Aisling sighed, "Detention was threatened when I tried to deny him."
Spike cursed. "If I was healed I would…" He trailed off into a growl, his eyes flashing amber for a split second.
"Give Angel a reason to stake you?" Aisling finished for him unimpressed. "Please don't piss off the vampire who is responsible for creating the vampire that turned my childhood into a horror show. Or better yet don't give Buffy a reason to stake you."
Spike huffed, "I've killed two slayers, Princess. I can handle her."
Aisling stared at him wide-eyed, her stomach roiling at the implications, "Da'…"
"I won't," Spike said. "I promise you I won't." He hugged Aisling tightly. "I'm sorry, I'm just… really frustrated with my weaknesses right now."
"I'll keep my cell on me at all times, tomorrow is a day off for demons and to make you feel better I'll wear the medallion that protects against mental manipulation alright?"
Spike sighed and kissed her forehead. "I still don't like this. And I want a phone call when you get to the school, and when you finish, and when you're coming home – understood?"
Aisling nodded incessantly at him. "I promise" I whisper to him. "I'll come home alright?" I say. "I always come home."
"Oh, I know you'll come home princess." Spike said stroking her long black hair then he lowered his voice so low Aisling wasn't entirely sure she was meant to hear him, "The question is… what state will you be in when you do?"
Spike watched as she came out of her room. She grinned at him. She was wearing a blue dress her makeup was done to make her eyes look extra wide and her hair was tied into twin pigtails over her shoulder.
"Scary princess," Spike said, nodding to her scars.
"I'm me." Aisling giggled. "As a 7-year-old."
Spike looked at her with concern, "Sure, you want to go as yourself during the most traumatizing moment of your life?"
Aisling shrugged. "Eh… The therapist told me to find something about my inner child that I actually liked… figured… this might help."
Spike rolled his eyes "I doubt the therapist meant for you to do something that would traumatize you further."
Aisling rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. You worry too much,"
"You always say that, and then five minutes later you're fighting a panic attack. You have your medallion?" Spike crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised an eyebrow, "Tell me I'm wrong." He dared.
Aisling sighed and pulled on the string that was hanging off her neck and tucked it into the neckline of her dress. "I do. And I'll be fine. I'm wearing the costume now and I have no desire to turn into a screaming mess."
"Good," Spike said with a nod. "But… maybe take another costume just in case? I think we still have Red Riding Hood from last year."
Aisling wrinkled her nose. "Nah." Aisling said thinking of how Red Riding Hood's story was still so similar to her own "I'll be ok."
Spike rolled his eyes, "Fine. But… your scars… are you sure about parading your scars around?"
Aisling looked down at them and swallowed. "Yeah." Aisling said with a forced smile, "They are a part of me. And if anyone asks I can just…" Aisling smiled. "I'll say that they're part of my costume, I'm very good and makeup you know."
Spike raised his eyebrow skeptically but didn't call her out on it. "If you're sure Princess."
Aisling took a deep breath and nodded, "Are you sure you're okay with me taking your car?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "As opposed to walking by yourself. Take my car."
Aisling took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll see you tonight after everything is over."
Spike nodded and ruffled her hair affectionately, "We'll stay up late. Watch movies of some kind." Spike said. "Fantasia?"
Aisling laughed. "Night on Bald Mountain on repeat till bedtime," She chuckled, "Or… we could see that horror movie that just came out on VHS.
Spike laughed, "Exactly."
"Ash!" Devon said walking up to her. "How's my…" He looked at her up and down confused. "What exactly are you supposed to be?"
"A kid." Aisling laughed, "Specifically me at 7 years old." She showed him her scars, "Think I should smear fake blood on my scars?" Aisling laughed. You're Trying too hard. She hissed inside her own mind.
Devon blinked and shook his head, "You are a strange girl."
Aisling chuckled nervously, "Had a strange upbringing," She looked at him and watched as his eyes darted around. "What are you doing?"
Devon winced, "Hiding from Cordelia?" He said phrasing it like a question.
Aisling looked at him amused, "Why?"
Devon looked at her and sighed.
It took Aisling a minute before Aisling understood, and she laughed, "You haven't officially broken up with her yet." She said.
Devon looked down at her the expression clear on her face.
"You should." Aisling said, "Like the sooner the better."
"I know. But Cordelia is… prickly. A lot pricklier than I originally thought."
Aisling patted Devon on the shoulder, "All girls are prickly." She said to him, "If you can't handle breaking up with us, you probably shouldn't be dating us either."
Devon rolled her eyes, "You seem okay." He said.
Aisling's eyes widened, taken off guard and she just stared at him for a few moments, but before she could say recover and respond she heard the sound of her name being called.
"Ms. Pratt." Aisling turned around too and saw Principal Snyder walking toward her with a group of 4 kids trailing behind him.
Aisling gave a light smile, "Hello." She said.
"This is your group," Snyder said gesturing to the four kids. "Take them out around a couple of blocks, bring them back here in one piece. And I won't expel you."
Aisling, "Aye, Principal Snyder."
Snyder narrowed his eyes at her but nodded once before he traipsed away.
She knelt down in front of them, noticing one of them was staring at her arm.
"Ahh." Aisling said, "Like my scars?" She said with a chuckle. "Got attacked by a beast when I was 7 years old."
Behind her Devon chuckled she jumped slightly she hadn't realized he was still there.
They stared at her wide-eyed. "Really?"
Aisling nodded, "Mmmhmm. But my papa, got me all bandaged up so I'm better now."
"What kind of beast?" One of the kids asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Aisling chuckled and she clapped her hands together. "Ok… ok…. Ok… I need names. Who are you, lovely kids."
A kid wearing a witch's costume smiled, "Sarah." She said with a grin. "I'm a witch!"
"I can tell!" Aisling said with a laugh, "Good costume," She turned to another boy "—and you?"
"James!" Another kid said he stepped forward in a demon costume.
"Very nice costume James."
Another boy in a cowboy costume stepped forward. "William."
"My father's name is William too." Aisling chuckled, "Very nice cowboy outfit."
A young girl in a pretty fairy costume stepped forward. "I'm Katya." She said lisping slightly she looked very shy.
"Hello, Katya," Aisling said softly as she knelt down in front of Katya. "IS that a Russian accent?"
Katya smiled, "Mmmhmm."
"Aww." Aisling said, "You're a little scared, aren't you?"
Katya nodded.
"That's OK." Aisling said, "We're going to get some Candy, but you won't be alone alright?"
"Aisling is the best. Stick with her and you'll be perfectly safe." Devon said teasingly.
Aisling rolled her eyes, but his words seemed to have done the trick because Katya relaxed and smiled, "OK." She reached out her hand and Aisling took it.
"Ok!" Aisling said facing the other kids. "Ready for Trick or treating?"
They all giggle eagerly.
"OK then!" I say clapping my hands together. "Then let's get some Candy!" As we left and passed by Devon, she muttered a small "Thanks" As she passed.
"No problem," Devon whispered back.
Trick or Treating for the most part was simple. Aisling kept her eyes out for trouble as she walked her kids from house to house, to house.
For about two hours she did her duty of taking the kids to the houses, and then just as she was reaching their last house of the night everything changed.
Her kids all transformed into their costumes, Katya became a fairy, and Sarah grew to adult size and started cackling and flew away on her broomstick as a witch. James became the demon he was dressed as. William became a cowboy.
And Aisling? She became the little 7-year-old girl she used to be.
However, Unlike the kids – who seemed to immediately take the mentality of whatever creature they'd been – Aisling kept her mind as her 16-year-old self.
The Witch and Fairy flew off before Aisling could get her hands on them. The cowboy and demon started attacking her, Aisling tried to stop them but suddenly being 7 years old meant that all it accomplished was her being knocked down.
By the time she could get back up again, William and James had run off and were nowhere in sight.
She sighed before feeling something wet and slick running down her arm, she looked down to see that the scars Drusilla had given her were now open and bleeding.
Therapy's going to be fun when I go next week. Aisling thought to herself. "Hey, so I was turned into the costume of my seven-year-old self due to some strange spell. And the reason I was my seven-year-old self for Halloween was because I thought doing so would help me with the homework you set."
Had Aisling ever mentioned how much she hated living on a Hellmouth? Cause right now she was really despising it. Cleveland was easier than this B.S.
She sighed and stood looking in the direction the kids had gone looking around, she sighed and made her way to a phone booth to announce that her kids were missing. She was now 4ft nothing, but she had to at least try and do the responsible thing.
One awkward conversation later she walked down the street trying to keep out of the way as it appeared that a lot of people had ended up turning into the costumes and unfortunately, many of them hadn't been able to keep their minds.
As Aisling held her medallion in her hands it was probably the only reason she was even thinking clearly, the medallion was protecting her against the mental effects of the spell.
In the distance she saw Willow, accompanied by two other people and she ran up to them hoping that they still had their minds. "Willow!"
The red-headed girl turned around her eyes widening at seeing a little 4ft nothing girl running toward them. "Uh… Hey Little girl…?" As she got closer, she noticed that there was someone in military garb – Xander. And a girl in 18th-century clothes – Buffy.
"Who are you?" Xander asked.
"It's me," Aisling said hesitantly. "Aisling?"
Willow's eyes widened "Oh!" She said. "Aisling! I am so sorry I didn't—"
"I don't understand any of this," Buffy said looking around worriedly. "Strange children in odd garb. Scary demons. I want to go home."
Aisling smiled sadly at Buffy.
Aisling shook her head, "I see you were unaffected by whatever spell this was."
Willow winced and hesitantly placed her hand through Aisling's shoulder. Aisling shivered at the feeling. "Ahh. Ghost costume right." She tilted her head at the outfit she was wearing. "Though…?" She gestured.
Even in the dark light, Willow was flushing. "That's…" Willow shook her head. "Never mind." She narrowed her eyes. "Why aren't you acting like a 7-year-old?"
Aisling pulled out her Medallion. "Keeps me safe from mental manipulation."
Willow's eyes widened and stared at the Medalion before looking back at Buffy. "Would have been nice for Buffy to have remembered hers," Willow muttered.
Aisling clutched her Medallion tightly she looked around herself. "We should probably get somewhere safe," Aisling said just before a demon kid saw them.
Xander aimed his gun and Aisling jumped up and grabbed his arm to stop him. "No. Innocent kid." Aisling said.
"What do you know you're just a little kid yourself," Xander said.
"She's right," Willow said. "We have to get somewhere safe," Willow said.
"This isn't my home." Buffy cried looking at a picture of her and her friends. "I wouldn't wear something like this. I want to go home."
"You are home," Aisling said. "I know it's scary and frightening, and you… you just want to curl up and cry… but… but you can't alright?" Aisling said. "You… you have to be strong. Being a small dolly won't help you right now."
"What do you know?" Buffy said. "You're just an injured child."
Aisling looked down at her blood-soaked arm. After she'd called the police, she'd done the best she could wrap up her arm but it's hard to wrap yourself up with only one hand. "I know because I've been there," Aisling said. "I've been in very scary situations that I didn't know how to get out of." She clasped Buffy by the shoulders and pulled her down. "Do… do you want to be the girl you were?" Aisling asked her voice shaking. "The girl who knows how to handle these things?"
"I don't know that girl," Buffy said tears in her eyes. "I… I just… I just remember living at court and flirting with men."
"I know," Aisling said. "I Know. It's scary suddenly not remembering who you are. Having your mind tampered with."
Buffy looked at her, "You do?"
Aisling nodded as she gestured to her necklace. "This can help you remember," Aisling said gesturing to her necklace. "And…. And if you hate it, you can just take the necklace off and give it back to me alright?"
Buffy eyed the necklace. "I'll… I'll be better able to survive?" She asked hesitantly.
Aisling smiled and nodded. "Yes."
Buffy took a deep breath and nodded and reached out for the Medallion.
"Buffy?" Aisling asked softly. "If… If I change. If I start acting my apparent age? Don't be alarmed alright?"
Buffy looked at her confused, but Aisling removed the Necklace and placed it on Buffy's neck for a moment Aisling's hand lingered on the necklace and she saw the light come back to Buffy's eyes. Aisling smiled for a moment terrified before she pulled away.
And she forgot everything from after she was 7 years old.
