I've been told to post, so I am...despite lack of readership!
Chapter Fifty-four
"A Grave Meeting"
By the end of the following week, Buffy was feeling antsy about getting out to do a little slayage. She'd secretly sent Edna a note, telling her that she planned to head over to Highgate again—but she'd waited until Tom had gone for the day. He'd be angry at her for wanting to go there—for going there! He would accuse her of hoping to run into that vampire—a term he'd used multiple times.
And he wouldn't be wrong!
Buffy sighed when she thought about it. Honestly, she was worried about Alistair. She was calling him by name now, which seemed to thoroughly infuriate Tom, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Alistair might be a vampire, but he wasn't just a vampire to her.
She assumed that he hadn't killed anyone, because she hadn't heard anything about it. After Tom had told her about the Daily Prophet, she'd insisted on going over to Diagon Alley and picking one up—everyday—as well as following the Muggle newspapers. She spent each night giving the Muggle paper a quick once over—looking for unexplained deaths or missing persons that she thought were suspicious—and then she scoured through the Daily Prophet, partially to see if Alistair had been behaving himself, but also because she wanted to learn about what might be news according to the wizarding world. There was always a section in the paper about the pursuit of some Dark Wizard called Gellert Grindelwald. It was fascinating.
That evening, when Vin and Sophie were long gone Buffy changed her clothing and set out for Highgate Cemetery. She caught a cab and had the driver drop her off a few streets away—so as not to be given a strange look for her choice of drop-off location—then hurried over to the cemetery gates and glanced around, then slipped inside. It wasn't dark yet—there was actually quite some time before it would be—but she knew the creepies would still be out in the shadows if they were there at all.
And at Highgate, there were tons of shadows. Everything was overgrown!
Taking her time, Buffy followed the same paths that she and Edna had taken before, twisting and turning her way through the cemetery, until she reached Egyptian Avenue. At the gate, she barely paused before passing through, soon finding herself at the entrance to the Circle of Lebanon. It was beautiful architecture.
For a moment, she just stood there, taking it in. Right in front of her, on top of the center circle of tombs, there was a huge, craggy old tree that looked to be keeping watch over the circle and its inhabitants. Closing her eyes, she inhaled. She could smell its spicy scent. Even from where she was, nearly thirty feet away, the fragrance was intense.
Opening her eyes, Buffy considered walking the circle that went around an ancient Cedar of Lebanon tree, but decided against it. Instead, she glanced around, then used her slayer ability and jumped up onto the tombs—to take a better look at the aging tree.
It was surrounded by a grassy patch on which lay fallen cones. Moving closer to the tree, Buffy looked at the forked trunk that was covered in rough, scaly bark that was a mix of dark gray and blackish brown, and striated with deep fissures. Reaching out, she ran her hand over the tree's bark…and wondered at its life here in the cemetery. It seemed ancient to her.
Tilting her head, Buffy looked up at the tree. Its silhouette was balanced, full and wide—its immense horizontal branches giving it an air of strength and protectiveness.
It made her feel so small.
Turning, Buffy looked around her and spying a fallen branch, she went to it and knelt down to examine it. It wasn't large and looked as if it hadn't been there long. Glancing up, she immediately saw where it had broken off from. Letting her gaze drop back to the fallen branch, she reached out and touched it, then noticed it forked at the end. Smiling, she took a hold of it at the fork and snapped off a small section, thinking it would make a great stake.
Standing up, she turned over the piece in her hand, then lifted her head to look around her again. The graveyard was silent—except for the breeze blowing. It was...peaceful. Smiling, Buffy went over to the edge of the raised circle of tombs and sat down, dangling her legs over the side and taking a deep breath. It was a cemetery and yet, with all the growing plants and trees, it felt alive—and vibrant. It was pulsing with energy that she'd never realized could be there in a place filled with the dead.
Holding the small branch in her hand, Buffy closed her eyes again and took a deep breath. She wished she'd brought a knife with her—so that she could work on creating yet another tool of her trade—but knowing it would have to wait, she released her breath and opened her eyes instead.
"I wondered if you might be here," she said, seemingly to herself. There was no one in her line of vision, but she knew she wasn't alone. "How are you this evening, Ali?"
Behind her, she heard an exhale, but she didn't turn around. Instead, she just kept running her fingers over the short branch in her hands.
"Must you call me that?" the vampire said, clearly annoyed.
Buffy's lips curved up into a gentle smile as she turned her head and looked at the vampire. "As long as it bothers you... yep," she said, popping the P at the end of the word.
She heard the vampire sigh.
"You didn't answer my question," she continued, turning just a little bit more so that she could see him better. He was still in the shadows, trying to protect himself from the waning sunshine.
"You have not addressed me properly."
Buffy chuckled—and Alistair sighed again.
"I am fine," he said. "Hungry, but not starving. Thank you."
Buffy watched him move closer—but not too close. It was as if he didn't want to get too close to her. Looking up, she looked at the position of the sun, then back at Alistair.
"How did you know it was me and not one of the others?" Alistair asked.
Buffy thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I guess I just sensed a difference," she said. "Do you have a knife?"
Alistair cocked his head and frowned. "Why would someone like me have a knife, Buffy Summers?"
Buffy smirked again. "Right, because someone like you has no use for one," she countered. "You know, because you have these." She pulled back her lips and showed her own teeth.
Chuckling, Alistair moved a bit closer. "You are very odd."
"So I've been told," said Buffy, watching him. He was standing at the edge of where the tree's lofty canopy kept him shaded—but he was not completely in the shade of it. She could see his face—and that the sun's rays were peeking through the massive, platform-like branches above and dancing over his pale skin. He was not smoking at its touch or hissing in pain like other vampires she'd seen in her past.
"You're odd too, Alistair," she said to him.
Looking up at the sky, Alistair sighed again and moved forward. When he stepped completely out of the shade and into the sunlight, Buffy frowned and waited for the inevitable smoking and hissing—and flames. But it didn't happen. Instead, Alistair grimaced and pulled a hood up over his head, then slowly moved toward her. Stopping about five feet from her, he looked down at what she was holding and understood why she'd asked for a knife.
"You are a making a stake," he said simply.
Buffy shrugged. "It's not as if I need one, but...since I found this lovely branch just sitting here, begging to be taken and crafted into one, I thought...why not?" She grinned.
He looked at her face—at her smile—and frowned. "You are alone in a cemetery, with night approaching, and you do not need a stake?" he asked.
"I have plenty of stakes," she said.
He watched her—studied her face. She was a very odd girl.
"May I sit down with you, Buffy Summers?" he asked.
She laughed. "On one condition."
He blinked. "And what is that?"
"That you stop calling me, Buffy Summers. Like...that sounds ridiculous!"
The vampire tilted his head. "But that is your name."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "No one calls a person by their first and last name. Except maybe teachers when they are taking roll. It makes you sound like a weirdo. Or totally like you're from hundreds of years ago or something."
"I am from hundreds of years ago," he reminded her.
"Right. But it's still weird. I mean, sometimes my mom calls me by my full name, but only if I'm in big trouble."
"Do you often get into big trouble?" he asked next.
Buffy shrugged. "Sometimes." She paused. "There was this one time, at my old school, I burned down the gym. Talk about trouble. That time it was huge trouble. I was grounded and...we even had to move. I mean, we didn't have to, but we did. Mom was pissed."
A lot of what she said didn't make sense to Alistair, but he couldn't help being fascinated by her words.
"Hey, why aren't you bursting into flames?" she said next.
"As you know, not all of us are the same," he said. "The sun will not immediately kill me, as it does for the others, but it is extremely...uncomfortable." And it weakened him, but he wasn't going to tell her that.
"Humph. Interesting."
"Now, would sitting beside you be acceptable? Not too closely, if that would make you uncomfortable."
Buffy thought about it for a moment, then shrugged again and made a gesture at the cement wall. "Yeah. Sure. I don't own the place," she said. "Sit or stand. Makes no difference to me."
Awkwardly, Alistair moved closer, lowering himself to the wall about three feet to Buffy's left. After he'd settled himself there, he glanced at her, his head tilted slightly forward, his too long hair slipping from his hood and falling over the side of his face.
Shifting, Buffy faced him, pushing her own hair behind her left ear—which caused him to frown.
"Are you intentionally trying to torture me?" he asked, his eyes on her neck.
"Of course not!" she quickly said. "So...stop looking at me like I'm a tasty snack!"
Frowning, Alistair looked away. "You are difficult to resist, Miss Summers."
"Couldn't you just call me Buffy?" she asked. "Or should I start calling you mister something or other. What's your last name again?"
Alistair looked back at her and sighed. "As I told you before, I have long since forgotten my surname."
"Really? How does that even happen?"
"If you live long enough and no one uses it, the need for it slips away."
Buffy shook her head. "I can't imagine forgetting my own name...unless, like, I had amnesia or something. Or maybe if someone did that Obliviate thing. Maybe you've been Obliviated."
Alistair's lips twitched.
"Go on, you can do it," said Buffy.
Alistair cocked his head and looked into the girl's shining eyes. "What is it that I can do?" he asked.
"Smile, of course," she teased.
"I am not accustomed to smiling," he responded.
"Or to using first names," she grumbled.
Alistair sighed. "If it would please you, I will try to call you Buffy," he acquiesced—causing Buffy to grin at him.
"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" she asked.
He didn't answer the question. Instead, he studied her. "You are truly all right?"
Buffy reached up and touched the scar on her neck, then shrugged. "Yes. Are you?"
"I am."
Buffy hmm'd, then cocked her head and studied him back. "You look better, but...still hungry. I can see it in your eyes."
Alistair glanced away. "I am always hungry," he admitted.
Snorting, Buffy nodded. "Me too. Like... always!"
Alistair looked back at the girl. "Why are you sitting here alone in a cemetery so late in the day? It is not safe."
Buffy snorted. "I'm pretty good at my job, Alistair," she boasted. "Plus, I needed to get out of the house. And, to be honest, I was itching to poke a stick into something," she said, then reached for a bag that was sitting on the other side of her. As she brought it onto her lap, the items inside clunked together. "I brought all of my weapons with me this time."
"All your weapons, but no Watcher?" he asked. "Is that not reckless?"
Buffy sighed. "I told you I'm good, but...I did send Edna a note telling her I'd be here. She might show up."
This caused Alistair to frown. "I should leave."
"Are you afraid of my Watcher?"
The dark-haired vampire smirked. "She was surprisingly formidable," he said—then explained. "I stayed and watched the two of you perform the last time you were here. But no, I am not frightened by Edna Giles."
"Hmm. You're a stalker, Mr Alistair."
"I am a vampire, Miss Summers," he reminded her. "Is that not the embodiment of what I am?"
Chuckling, she looked down at the bag on her lap. "Have you been...feeding?" she asked.
Alistair sighed, then gave a small nod. "I have."
Buffy frowned.
"As we discussed, I need to eat."
Glancing up at him, Buffy nodded. "I know."
"And I have not taken a life," he said. "I would not be here if I had."
She nodded again. "I know that too," she said—then opened her bag and reached into it.
For a moment, Alistair tensed up, thinking she might be reaching for a stake, but when she pulled her hand out she had a small brown paper bag—in which contained some sweets.
"Want one?" she asked.
Alistair just stared at her. "That is not food to me, Buffy," he said.
Buffy grinned, then dug around in the bag and pulled out something else. It looked like a lollipop. "I got this in the candy shop on Diagon Alley. The guy at the counter looked at me funny when said I wanted to buy some of them. He said they're not just blood-flavored. Here, have one," she said, holding it out to him.
Frowning, Alistair took the Blood Pop and unwrapped it, then gingerly put it in his mouth and sucked on it—then raised a brow and pulled it out of his mouth and stared at it. "Is this actually..."
Buffy nodded. "Yep," she said with a smile as she watched him put it back in his mouth and close his eyes. "I mean, I'm sure it's not enough to sustain you, but...maybe good in a pinch. Or for a snack. Mine's cherry."
Opening his eyes, Alistair looked at her lollipop. It was red too, but not blood red.
"So, you know why I'm here in the cemetery, but...why are you here? I mean, all the inhabitants of a graveyard lack what you need. They are useless to you."
He chuckled. "This is true," he said. "In the interest of reciprocating your honesty, all I can say is that I find this place peaceful." He glanced around. "That is, when it's not overrun by the Slayer chasing down and turning vampires to dust."
Buffy gave a little laugh.
"I come here most evenings," he continued. "When the sun is nearly gone. I like the way the sun looks as it shines through the trees, causing the shadows to dance on the ground. Sometimes I stay for a while after it is dark and just walk around."
Buffy hmm'd to herself. There was more to this guy than met the eye. "And what do you do after that and during the day?"
"You ask a lot of questions," he said, giving his Blood Pop another lick.
Buffy shrugged. "I'm just curious. Where I come from most vampires don't come out at all during the day or they burst into flames."
Alistair frowned. "That sounds very...inconvenient."
"For them, but it makes it so my job isn't 24/7/365, you know?"
"Twenty-four, seven, three sixty-five?" he repeated.
"Yeah, you know...all day, everyday?" she said. "With no downtime for me."
He nodded. He could see her point.
"But I didn't know there were vampires like you until I came here," she went on.
"You mentioned that you have a friend who is a vampire," Alistair said, trying to prompt her to give more information about herself.
Buffy frowned. "He is...different than the other vampires, but not like you," she said sharply. "But I'd rather not talk about him."
Nodding, Alistair put his Blood Pop into his mouth and sucked again, then pulled it out and waited. He knew there would be more questions. He was not wrong.
"Do you have a crypt of your very own here?" Buffy asked next.
Alistair smirked. "I don't actually stay here," he responded.
Buffy frowned. "But you said you live here."
"I meant in London," he said. "That night, I truly was just out for a stroll."
"Hmm. Interesting. Edna would never believe it," she said, shaking her head.
"Speaking of the Watcher, she is approaching," Alistair said. "And she is not alone. There are two others with her."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh great! Bought the whole fam with her, did she? Figures!"
Alistair didn't know what she meant, but he thought he should leave. The Watcher did not like him and she had brought others with her. He did not want to be slaughtered—not that he couldn't outrun them.
Leaning over, Buffy grabbed a hold of his sleeve and held tight. "Don't go. This should be entertaining."
Alistair just raised a brow.
"This is ridiculous!" they heard Edna saying. "Completely reckless to go out alone!"
Next to Buffy, Alistair said, "I told you. Reckless."
Buffy rolled her eyes—and watched as all three Giles appeared below them. It looked like Edna was having a meltdown.
"She's the Slayer, Edna, she isn't new to this," Rupert said to his wife.
"A slayer," the woman corrected. "And I find it unbelievable that our grandson allows her to go out on her own. It's simply...absurd! What must he be thinking?!"
"Oh Mother, calm down!" Edmund snapped. He'd been listening to his parents bicker the entire time it took them to get to Highgate Cemetery and now his mother was having a full on fit.
Edna stopped mid-step and turned on her son. "Calm down? You're telling your mother to calm down?!" she snapped back.
"Yes," he responded. "That's exactly what I'm telling you."
Edna looked up at her husband. "Did you hear what your son said to me?"
Rupert knew when to keep his mouth closed—but Edna didn't. Instead she continued, alternating between complaining about irresponsible slayers and cheeky offspring.
"For God's sake, Mum, don't get your knickers in a twist!" Edmund cut into his mother's strop. "Geez."
Edna stopped again and stared at her son. "Who are you and what have you done with my well-behaved son?!" she groused. "I think you've spent far too much time with that girl. She's turned you into an uncouth... American!"
Edmund snorted.
"There! Associating with Buffy has—"
"Mother, stop it!" he interrupted. "How many Americans do you even know?"
"That is not the point!"
From above, Buffy and Alistair watched—both amused.
"One of your friends from last week is the son of your Watcher?" Alistair hiss-whispered.
"Yeah. Crazy, huh?" Buffy whispered back. "Though, technically I have no Watcher at the moment. Edna is just..." She shrugged. "A stand in... totally temporary. Could you imagine if she were a permanent fixture in my life? No, thank you!"
Standing beside the arguing mother and son, Rupert Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them, then put them back on and cleared his throat. "Could we possibly find Buffy, so we can go home? It's been a long day."
Edna huffed and folded her arms over her chest—which was Buffy's cue.
"Hi Guys!" she called out, drawing their attention. "Up here." She waved at them.
All three looked up at them and frowned. She saw surprise on two faces and anger on another. Edmund was not happy.
"Buffy! What are you doing up there with him?!" he growled—causing both his parents to look at their son. Clearly they had not been told about what had gone on nearly two weeks before.
"We're just sitting here, enjoying the sunshine, and having a sucker," said Buffy, holding hers up and waving it about. "Would you like one? I have an entire bag. They're quite yummy. Well, mine is. Alistair's is...more on the yucky side."
Edmund shook his head. "No, I would not. Thank you."
"I thought you came here to slay vampires, not eat sweets with them," Edna said.
Buffy nodded. "Well yes, that was the intent, but I ran into Ali and...it's not dark yet, so..." She shrugged.
"So you decided to fraternize with a vampire instead?" Edna snapped.
Buffy shrugged again. "Pretty much. I mean, I'm not 100% clear on what you're saying, but... yeah?"
Edna huffed in frustration—then blinked, as if she'd forgotten that the sun had not disappeared. "How can he be sitting there in direct sunlight?"
Buffy smiled. "Oh! That's another neato difference. Along with the not being soulless."
Edmund was still glaring up at her. "Buffy, can we talk for a moment?"
"Sure," she said with a shrug—then looked at Alistair. "Don't go anywhere...I still have questions." Then she turned and jumped off the top of the wall, landing lightly on her feet just in front of the trio of Giles.
"Hi Gileses!" she quipped—causing Edna to huff again. Rupert attempted to hide a smile—and Buffy ignored that she'd seen it.
Edmund, on the other hand, took Buffy's arm and pulled her back into the Egyptian Alley and away from his parents—and away from the vampire. When they emerged on the other side, he attempted to keep going, but Buffy shrugged off his grip and stopped walking.
"What's the matter with you?" she asked.
"What's the matter with me? How about what's the matter with you, Buffy?!" he snarled. "What are you doing associating with him...after what he did to you?!"
"Did to me? Edmund, Alistair didn't do anything to me that was not offered to him," she argued, her voice raised.
"I know that!" Edmund shouted. He'd taken his glasses off and he was pacing now. "I simply... worry about you, Buffy." He stopped pacing and went to his friend and took her by the arms. "I worry. And I hate it that I'm so worried. You're reckless and...you're fun, but you do crazy things and...you're reckless."
"You said that already," said Buffy. "And so did your mother...and Alistair."
"I want to protect you, but I can't because you're not mine. I hate that you're not mine!" he admitted.
And with that he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He'd wanted her so badly and for once he was taking what he wanted, even if it was just for the moment.
And then everything was turned upside down. Something hit them from the side, knocking them apart. The hit was hard. Buffy flew backward and slammed into one of the obelisks that stood on either side of Egyptian Alley's entrance and collapsed to the ground in the foliage. And Edmund found himself on his stomach, his face being shoved into the moist dirt of the pathway, unable to breath. He tried to relax and use the training he'd received, but everything was going much faster than imaginable. He managed to turn his head to the side and take a breath. He could see Buffy stirring and forced himself to exert more strength and turn over. On top of him was the kind of vampire he was being trained to eradicate—with it's bumpy brow ridges, yellow almost glowing eyes, and a sea of jagged teeth looking to rip his neck out.
At this point he lost sight of Buffy as he struggled to fend off his attacker. When it attempted to bite him, he gouged out its eyes, then rolled over as it screamed in pain. That gave him the time to pull out a stake and end its existence.
Turning, he searched for Buffy. She was up and fighting. He watched in awe as she staked first one vampire and then another—and then a third before he was attacked again. He found himself being thrown down the path. It all happened so quickly!
And then it was over. Lying on the ground on his back, he saw dust flying above him. It took him a moment to realize a vampire had been staked right over him. When the dust cleared—and he could see again—he realized it was Alistair standing over him, a pointed branch in his hand.
Alistair looked down at him—where he lay sprawled in the dirt—then offered his hand. For a few moments he ignored the offer, but then he reached up and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet, by a man with an extremely chilly hand.
From his position, he could see his parents running to get to the fight—that was now over—terror in their eyes.
"Oh! Edmund. I thought it had you," Edna Giles said to her son, throwing herself into his arms.
Edmund snorted. "It did. Or it might have, if it wasn't for Alistair."
Edna glanced at the dark-haired creature of the night and nodded at him. "Thank you," she whispered.
Alistair nodded back. He'd heard what was going on and even though Buffy had asked him not to go anywhere, he went to their aid. It had happened so fast, only someone with superhuman strength and speed could have reached them in time. He'd jumped up and immediately jumped from the Circle of Lebanon to the other side of Egyptian Alley.
Next, Buffy crossed the space between them and delivered a tempered slap to the left side of Edmund's face.
"That's for kissing me, you jerk!" she yelled. "What is wrong with you?!"
Edmund sighed. "I'm sorry," he quickly said "I mean, I'm not sorry. I wanted to kiss you! I'm tired of watching you carry on with Tom and...now this! Now this thing with him!"
"What are you talking about?!" Buffy shouted. "Alistair is like...what, six hundred years old?" She glanced at the vampire—who nodded.
"Somewhere in there, yes," he said. "Though, I am not opposed to a younger wife."
Buffy made a face. "Not helping, buddy!" she snapped. "And...eww! Just because I let you drink from me, doesn't mean I'm like, your freaking wife! You need to chill! You all need to back the hell off!"
Close to Edmund, Edna honed in on the word 'drink' and sputtered, "You allowed this thing to bite you?!"
Rolling her eyes. "You just thanked Alistair for saving your son's life, Edna!" Buffy yelled. "Control your wife, Rupie!"
And just like that, the mood relaxed.
"Rupie?" Edna said—then burst out laughing, causing Buffy to stare at her in shock. In fact, husband and son were staring at her too.
"Do we need to take Eddy to the hospital? I think she might be delirious or something."
When Edna was able to calm herself she looked from Buffy to Alistair and back—then repeated her question. "You let him bite you?" She was confused.
Buffy nodded. "It was not against my will. There were circumstances that made it...necessary."
Edmund snorted.
"I know you disagree, Edmund, but you...never mind!" Buffy snapped. "All you need to know Edna...Rupert...is that I offered it and that I wasn't in any danger."
"That's bollocks!" Edmund interrupted. "Tom and I had to pull you out of his grasp. He was going to devour you!"
Alistair looked down. "I wasn't. I took an Unbreakable Vow. I do not want to die."
Edna waved her hand. "Wait. You're not even alive," she argued.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "His heart isn't beating, but he's clearly walking around and talking just like you and I are. I call that alive."
Edna frowned. "Do Lavinia and Sophronia know about this...near death experience."
"Oh. My. God. Do you people even listen to me? It's like I'm freaking invisible here!" Buffy burst. "There was no near death anything! I was perfectly safe!"
Close by, Alistair raised an eyebrow. "I would not actually support that statement."
Buffy turned and glared at him. "Would you shut up! You are not helping or helping your case!" she barked. "And yes, Vin and Sophie are quite aware! Why can't you make the effort to call them by their preferred names."
Edmund snorted. "That coming from the girl who constantly calls everyone by the wrong name!"
"He is not wrong," Alistair added, gesturing at Edmund Giles.
"Shut it, vampire!" Buffy growled at Alistair, then looked at Edna. "There's a difference, you know. I do it because I'm...quirky. You do it because you're a bitch and don't care that they tell you over and over again that they prefer Vin and Sophie! You don't listen to them because you think they're immature and silly."
Edna sucked in a surprised breath.
"And maybe they are, but guess what...the life they lead is theirs! You have no right to dictate what they say and do. They're your sisters and you look down on them because they choose to live a free life. You could do that too, but guess what...you choose to live a more structured life. And that's fine, because it's your life to live."
Her eyes filling with tears, Edna looked down. "You're right."
Buffy sighed.
"I would like to know more about the biting incident," Edna said, her eyes going from Buffy to the vampire and back to the Slayer. "Could we discuss that?"
"I would be amenable to that, but..." Buffy said, "would it be all right with everyone here if we take it back to the house. I'm hungry and I now know where Vin and Sophie keep all their goodies."
Edna and Rupert nodded. Edmund glanced at Alistair and said, "You want to invite him into my aunties' house?"
Buffy smirked at her friend—whom she wanted to slap again—and said, "Another difference between the two types of vampires is that Alistair doesn't require an invite, so yeah...I'm thinking we should all go back to Vin and Sophie's house and have a chat. Hmm."
Sighing, Edmund nodded. He couldn't think of any other objections at the moment and he really didn't want to upset Buffy any more than he had already.
~oOo~
Would truly like to see more engagement. Come on guys, show me the love!