Truth & Possibilities7/?
Title: Truth & Possibilities7/?
Author: Appomattoxco
Rating: FRT violence and some strong language
Pairings: It will be Giles/Anya with Spike and Dawn friendships.
Summary: Very AU Post the episode “The Gift” The summer after Buffy dies, Giles and Anya find out more about Dawn and the Key.
Disclaimer: I ‘m not making money from this and never will.
A/N: This story is dedicated to LJS and Zanthinegirl. It’s beta by the wonderful JaneDavitt and Agilebrit is as usual an invaluable sounding board.
He felt like pond scum for not staying, but it wasn’t Willow’s first time here, and despite what she'd said tonight, not likely her last. She would find her way home, hyper and sure that next time she’d have Buffy with her. Xander thought is was a lot more likely that one day she wouldn’t have Tara there when she came home. Willow came back hyper but Tara was always pale and shaky. Sometimes even bleeding. He couldn’t sit and wait in that place. It had enough desperate crazy people to qualify for a Harris family reunion. The only thing missing was Aunt Ruth’s Jell-O mold. He’d tried to talk Willow out of doing this. Anyone with a name like Rack, that you needed to hold a vampire at stake-point to find, wasn’t apt to be Mister Rogers. Scary thing was that after the first time Willow didn’t need anyone to show her the way, even though it was in a different place every time.
Xander considered driving right by Buffy’s house and heading for L.A.. Four months ago, he’d been ready to start over somewhere he could pretend that monsters weren’t real. He wanted to get away from Anya and Giles, too, because they were so happy it hurt to look at them. It wasn’t that it broke his heart, but that it made him feel like a failure. Because Anya in love was a sight to see and he’d never made her look that way. And Giles came close to deserving her. He’d never say it out loud, even if Angel started breaking bones, but he was even a little pissed off at the whole Dawn thing. How come she got the dad everyone wanted? The Bot had broken weeks ago and most of the gang was gone. It was back to him and Willow against the world. Xander wondered if he was the reason they’d all disappeared. Had somebody somewhere heard a wish he didn’t remember making? Willow couldn’t find them and said they were dead. That Dawn had reverted to pure energy and blew them all up and he was lucky not to be in the room when it happened.
888
He’d been living in Buffy’s house with Willow and Tara for two months now. They needed help with the bills and his lease had run out anyway. In his head it was still Buffy’s house or Buffy’s mom’s house. It felt weird to take a beer out of the fridge. He looked around and saw what a mess the kitchen was. Who knew girls could be so sloppy; Spike was better about picking up than Willow, lately. If he didn’t do the dishes, Tara would, and she wouldn’t be in any shape to tonight. He turned on the radio but the country station was playing something about fatherhood followed by one about church. The music of pain had somehow become the music of hugs and puppies. It felt like a betrayal.
Xander had turned off the radio in disgust and was putting away the last clean coffee mug when they arrived. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, it was Sunnydale; dead people at your door were more common than Mormons. He just stepped aside without issuing an invite, more because he couldn’t believe it was them than because he thought they’d been turned.
“Xander, are you okay?” Dawn asked.
He felt like pond scum for not staying, but it wasn’t Willow’s first time here, and despite what she'd said tonight, not likely her last. She would find her way home, hyper and sure that next time she’d have Buffy with her. Xander thought is was a lot more likely that one day she wouldn’t have Tara there when she came home. Willow came back hyper but Tara was always pale and shaky. Sometimes even bleeding. He couldn’t sit and wait in that place. It had enough desperate crazy people to qualify for a Harris family reunion. The only thing missing was Aunt Ruth’s Jell-O mold. He’d tried to talk Willow out of doing this. Anyone with a name like Rack, that you needed to hold a vampire at stake-point to find, wasn’t apt to be Mister Rogers. Scary thing was that after the first time Willow didn’t need anyone to show her the way, even though it was in a different place every time.
Xander considered driving right by Buffy’s house and heading for L.A.. Four months ago, he’d been ready to start over somewhere he could pretend that monsters weren’t real. He wanted to get away from Anya and Giles, too, because they were so happy it hurt to look at them. It wasn’t that it broke his heart, but that it made him feel like a failure. Because Anya in love was a sight to see and he’d never made her look that way. And Giles came close to deserving her. He’d never say it out loud, even if Angel started breaking bones, but he was even a little pissed off at the whole Dawn thing. How come she got the dad everyone wanted? The Bot had broken weeks ago and most of the gang was gone. It was back to him and Willow against the world. Xander wondered if he was the reason they’d all disappeared. Had somebody somewhere heard a wish he didn’t remember making? Willow couldn’t find them and said they were dead. That Dawn had reverted to pure energy and blew them all up and he was lucky not to be in the room when it happened.
888
He’d been living in Buffy’s house with Willow and Tara for two months now. They needed help with the bills and his lease had run out anyway. In his head it was still Buffy’s house or Buffy’s mom’s house. It felt weird to take a beer out of the fridge. He looked around and saw what a mess the kitchen was. Who knew girls could be so sloppy; Spike was better about picking up than Willow, lately. If he didn’t do the dishes, Tara would, and she wouldn’t be in any shape to tonight. He turned on the radio but the country station was playing something about fatherhood followed by one about church. The music of pain had somehow become the music of hugs and puppies. It felt like a betrayal.
Xander had turned off the radio in disgust and was putting away the last clean coffee mug when they arrived. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, it was Sunnydale; dead people at your door were more common than Mormons. He just stepped aside without issuing an invite, more because he couldn’t believe it was them than because he thought they’d been turned.
“Xander, are you okay?” Dawn asked.
Dawn. She looked taller and a little curvier, but that was her. They all looked different; Anya’s hair was dark brown and chin length. Spike’s hair was a lighter brown and he’d cut it short, almost to the point of a crew cut, probably to control the curl. He couldn’t be sure if Giles had more gray in his hair or not. It looked like heaven had a decent gym; they all looked in better shape than the last time he’d seen them. It must’ve not had Gap, though, because they were all wearing rough homemade looking stuff. Spike’s duster and boots were the only store bought things visible. He decided to worry about the makeovers later. Right now his heart was doing a happy dance.
“Sweet Witches of Eastwick! My Willow did it! For once a spell of hers went wacky in a good way. She didn’t just bring Buffy back, she got you all. Plus some kid I’ve never seen… but who cares. We can always use more guys.” Xander tried to hug Buffy, but she backed away looking frightened and he looked to the others in confusion.
Dawn said, “Willow didn’t get us back. I did. We found Buffy at Glory’s tower after we got here.”
“Your Willow didn't get us back, but it looks like she gets the credit for making Buffy claw her way out of her grave," Spike said. He looked ready to do murder and Xander had to wonder if the bleach and hair gel were all that was missing from Spike’s head. If he was chipless he could hurt Willow. It didn’t look like anyone here would bother to stop him.
“Where exactly is Willow?” Giles asked. He looked ready to help Spike with the grievous bodily harm.
“She didn’t do anything wrong. We needed Buffy. You’ve been gone for four months; you don’t know how bad it’s been!” Xander said, even though the idea of Buffy digging her way out like a vampire made him sick Xander had to defend Willow. “Willow did the right thing. She said Buffy’s soul was probably in some hell dimension, anyway.”
Both Spike and Giles reminded Xander that Buffy was the Slayer, and no matter how she died would never be going to hell. It was hard for Xander to tell who was angrier at the idea. Buffy looked ready to bolt, and Dawn gave Anya a pleading look. Anya put her hand on Giles’ arm and Giles seemed to ease up a little.
“Dawn and I are going to help Buffy freshen up,” Anya said, just as if they were headed to the ladies room at the Bronze.
Buffy said, “Everyone looks… different.”
“We were in a weird dimension without hair dye or junk food. We lived in a tent for over a year, but it was kind of pretty," Dawn said. “What was it like for you where you were?”
“It was safe and warm; I could rest. It wasn’t hell; I thought this was at first,” Buffy said.
Xander felt like he should’ve known that the one thing Buffy wanted was to rest. He’d failed to protect one best friend from the other. But if he had to do it over he wouldn’t change a thing. It wasn’t just him and Will who needed Buffy. The world needed the Slayer.
“Well, it is the Hellmouth, that’s close.” Anya said, interrupting his thoughts. Xander had never heard her speak in that soft tone before. “Buffy, I can’t tell you how much I missed indoor plumbing. But you get dibs on the first shower.”
Xander watched the girls go up the stairs and wondered how Dawn had gotten so grown up and when had Anya become so caring. “Not that I’m looking a gift Scooby in the mouth but are you guys really you?”
Giles said, “The last time I saw you was over a year ago. Dawn was ill and I asked you to ring Willow and find out what she’d put in Dawn’s tea.”
Way to go reminding Giles of one more reason to rip Willow’s head off, Xander thought. “Yeah, same here, but it was only four months ago.”
Spike said, “Time just went by more quickly where we were. You smell exactly like the puffy bricklayer I’ve known for years.”
“Yeah, Spike, I missed you, too.” Xander made sure to lay the sarcasm on heavy. There was no way on earth he’d admit how true it was. Just then, Willow came breezing in the door and things got crazy again. Tara wasn’t with her, but Will didn’t seem to notice she’d misplaced her girlfriend.
Author: Appomattoxco
Rating: FRT violence and some strong language
Pairings: It will be Giles/Anya with Spike and Dawn friendships.
Summary: Very AU Post the episode “The Gift” The summer after Buffy dies, Giles and Anya find out more about Dawn and the Key.
Disclaimer: I ‘m not making money from this and never will.
A/N: This story is dedicated to LJS and Zanthinegirl. It’s beta by the wonderful JaneDavitt and Agilebrit is as usual an invaluable sounding board.
He felt like pond scum for not staying, but it wasn’t Willow’s first time here, and despite what she'd said tonight, not likely her last. She would find her way home, hyper and sure that next time she’d have Buffy with her. Xander thought is was a lot more likely that one day she wouldn’t have Tara there when she came home. Willow came back hyper but Tara was always pale and shaky. Sometimes even bleeding. He couldn’t sit and wait in that place. It had enough desperate crazy people to qualify for a Harris family reunion. The only thing missing was Aunt Ruth’s Jell-O mold. He’d tried to talk Willow out of doing this. Anyone with a name like Rack, that you needed to hold a vampire at stake-point to find, wasn’t apt to be Mister Rogers. Scary thing was that after the first time Willow didn’t need anyone to show her the way, even though it was in a different place every time.
Xander considered driving right by Buffy’s house and heading for L.A.. Four months ago, he’d been ready to start over somewhere he could pretend that monsters weren’t real. He wanted to get away from Anya and Giles, too, because they were so happy it hurt to look at them. It wasn’t that it broke his heart, but that it made him feel like a failure. Because Anya in love was a sight to see and he’d never made her look that way. And Giles came close to deserving her. He’d never say it out loud, even if Angel started breaking bones, but he was even a little pissed off at the whole Dawn thing. How come she got the dad everyone wanted? The Bot had broken weeks ago and most of the gang was gone. It was back to him and Willow against the world. Xander wondered if he was the reason they’d all disappeared. Had somebody somewhere heard a wish he didn’t remember making? Willow couldn’t find them and said they were dead. That Dawn had reverted to pure energy and blew them all up and he was lucky not to be in the room when it happened.
888
He’d been living in Buffy’s house with Willow and Tara for two months now. They needed help with the bills and his lease had run out anyway. In his head it was still Buffy’s house or Buffy’s mom’s house. It felt weird to take a beer out of the fridge. He looked around and saw what a mess the kitchen was. Who knew girls could be so sloppy; Spike was better about picking up than Willow, lately. If he didn’t do the dishes, Tara would, and she wouldn’t be in any shape to tonight. He turned on the radio but the country station was playing something about fatherhood followed by one about church. The music of pain had somehow become the music of hugs and puppies. It felt like a betrayal.
Xander had turned off the radio in disgust and was putting away the last clean coffee mug when they arrived. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, it was Sunnydale; dead people at your door were more common than Mormons. He just stepped aside without issuing an invite, more because he couldn’t believe it was them than because he thought they’d been turned.
“Xander, are you okay?” Dawn asked.
He felt like pond scum for not staying, but it wasn’t Willow’s first time here, and despite what she'd said tonight, not likely her last. She would find her way home, hyper and sure that next time she’d have Buffy with her. Xander thought is was a lot more likely that one day she wouldn’t have Tara there when she came home. Willow came back hyper but Tara was always pale and shaky. Sometimes even bleeding. He couldn’t sit and wait in that place. It had enough desperate crazy people to qualify for a Harris family reunion. The only thing missing was Aunt Ruth’s Jell-O mold. He’d tried to talk Willow out of doing this. Anyone with a name like Rack, that you needed to hold a vampire at stake-point to find, wasn’t apt to be Mister Rogers. Scary thing was that after the first time Willow didn’t need anyone to show her the way, even though it was in a different place every time.
Xander considered driving right by Buffy’s house and heading for L.A.. Four months ago, he’d been ready to start over somewhere he could pretend that monsters weren’t real. He wanted to get away from Anya and Giles, too, because they were so happy it hurt to look at them. It wasn’t that it broke his heart, but that it made him feel like a failure. Because Anya in love was a sight to see and he’d never made her look that way. And Giles came close to deserving her. He’d never say it out loud, even if Angel started breaking bones, but he was even a little pissed off at the whole Dawn thing. How come she got the dad everyone wanted? The Bot had broken weeks ago and most of the gang was gone. It was back to him and Willow against the world. Xander wondered if he was the reason they’d all disappeared. Had somebody somewhere heard a wish he didn’t remember making? Willow couldn’t find them and said they were dead. That Dawn had reverted to pure energy and blew them all up and he was lucky not to be in the room when it happened.
888
He’d been living in Buffy’s house with Willow and Tara for two months now. They needed help with the bills and his lease had run out anyway. In his head it was still Buffy’s house or Buffy’s mom’s house. It felt weird to take a beer out of the fridge. He looked around and saw what a mess the kitchen was. Who knew girls could be so sloppy; Spike was better about picking up than Willow, lately. If he didn’t do the dishes, Tara would, and she wouldn’t be in any shape to tonight. He turned on the radio but the country station was playing something about fatherhood followed by one about church. The music of pain had somehow become the music of hugs and puppies. It felt like a betrayal.
Xander had turned off the radio in disgust and was putting away the last clean coffee mug when they arrived. He shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, it was Sunnydale; dead people at your door were more common than Mormons. He just stepped aside without issuing an invite, more because he couldn’t believe it was them than because he thought they’d been turned.
“Xander, are you okay?” Dawn asked.
Dawn. She looked taller and a little curvier, but that was her. They all looked different; Anya’s hair was dark brown and chin length. Spike’s hair was a lighter brown and he’d cut it short, almost to the point of a crew cut, probably to control the curl. He couldn’t be sure if Giles had more gray in his hair or not. It looked like heaven had a decent gym; they all looked in better shape than the last time he’d seen them. It must’ve not had Gap, though, because they were all wearing rough homemade looking stuff. Spike’s duster and boots were the only store bought things visible. He decided to worry about the makeovers later. Right now his heart was doing a happy dance.
“Sweet Witches of Eastwick! My Willow did it! For once a spell of hers went wacky in a good way. She didn’t just bring Buffy back, she got you all. Plus some kid I’ve never seen… but who cares. We can always use more guys.” Xander tried to hug Buffy, but she backed away looking frightened and he looked to the others in confusion.
Dawn said, “Willow didn’t get us back. I did. We found Buffy at Glory’s tower after we got here.”
“Your Willow didn't get us back, but it looks like she gets the credit for making Buffy claw her way out of her grave," Spike said. He looked ready to do murder and Xander had to wonder if the bleach and hair gel were all that was missing from Spike’s head. If he was chipless he could hurt Willow. It didn’t look like anyone here would bother to stop him.
“Where exactly is Willow?” Giles asked. He looked ready to help Spike with the grievous bodily harm.
“She didn’t do anything wrong. We needed Buffy. You’ve been gone for four months; you don’t know how bad it’s been!” Xander said, even though the idea of Buffy digging her way out like a vampire made him sick Xander had to defend Willow. “Willow did the right thing. She said Buffy’s soul was probably in some hell dimension, anyway.”
Both Spike and Giles reminded Xander that Buffy was the Slayer, and no matter how she died would never be going to hell. It was hard for Xander to tell who was angrier at the idea. Buffy looked ready to bolt, and Dawn gave Anya a pleading look. Anya put her hand on Giles’ arm and Giles seemed to ease up a little.
“Dawn and I are going to help Buffy freshen up,” Anya said, just as if they were headed to the ladies room at the Bronze.
Buffy said, “Everyone looks… different.”
“We were in a weird dimension without hair dye or junk food. We lived in a tent for over a year, but it was kind of pretty," Dawn said. “What was it like for you where you were?”
“It was safe and warm; I could rest. It wasn’t hell; I thought this was at first,” Buffy said.
Xander felt like he should’ve known that the one thing Buffy wanted was to rest. He’d failed to protect one best friend from the other. But if he had to do it over he wouldn’t change a thing. It wasn’t just him and Will who needed Buffy. The world needed the Slayer.
“Well, it is the Hellmouth, that’s close.” Anya said, interrupting his thoughts. Xander had never heard her speak in that soft tone before. “Buffy, I can’t tell you how much I missed indoor plumbing. But you get dibs on the first shower.”
Xander watched the girls go up the stairs and wondered how Dawn had gotten so grown up and when had Anya become so caring. “Not that I’m looking a gift Scooby in the mouth but are you guys really you?”
Giles said, “The last time I saw you was over a year ago. Dawn was ill and I asked you to ring Willow and find out what she’d put in Dawn’s tea.”
Way to go reminding Giles of one more reason to rip Willow’s head off, Xander thought. “Yeah, same here, but it was only four months ago.”
Spike said, “Time just went by more quickly where we were. You smell exactly like the puffy bricklayer I’ve known for years.”
“Yeah, Spike, I missed you, too.” Xander made sure to lay the sarcasm on heavy. There was no way on earth he’d admit how true it was. Just then, Willow came breezing in the door and things got crazy again. Tara wasn’t with her, but Will didn’t seem to notice she’d misplaced her girlfriend.