From: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com (Buffyfic-digest) To: buffyfic-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: Buffyfic-digest V2 #38 Reply-To: buffyfic@xmission.com Sender: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-buffyfic@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk Buffyfic-digest Friday, February 20 1998 Volume 02 : Number 038 In this issue: BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (1/2) BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (2/2) DISCUSS- BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (1/2) Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: "Maybe Later" (2/2) BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffy Re: BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffy BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (6/?) by Ingrid Re: BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (6/?) by Ingrid BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffyfic BUFFYFIC: Upping the Ante (1/1) BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (7/?) by Ingrid See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the buffyfic or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 21:12:58 -0700 From: "Christina" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (1/2) Thanks to Dianne & Amy for beta'ing, Perri for the Lowen & Navarro song that frames this, and the SunS for feedback, as always. Neither of the characters belongs to me; Giles and Jenny belong to Joss Whedon, the WB, 20th Century Fox, Sandstar Productions, and Mutant Enterprises (not necessarily in that order). Not making any money, and putting them back where I found them. No spoilers, no violence, some angst. Yup. "Maybe Later" By Christina Kamnikar Copyright 1998 It doesn't hurt me any less when I think we did our best 'Cause though the wounds will heal the scars won't go away I guess the truth will sink in slowly But I don't want to hear it right now... * Part 1: Chapter... The day after the Slayer's birthday was remarkable only in its normality. The morning papers had placed the story of a freak electrical fire at the Sunnydale Mall on page 3; no one had been hurt in the panicked exodus that had resulted, so it wasn't interesting enough for a lead story. The police were "following leads" on "pranksters" who were believed to have set off a smoke bomb in one of the elevators, the mall was closed for cleaning until 5 p.m., and there would be a water-damage sale on Saturday. //That should make Buffy happy,// Giles mused. //More merchandise for her to acquire on her birthday spree....// He put the paper down on the library counter, and sighed to himself. Buffy wouldn't be truly happy again any time soon. The pain in her eyes when she spoke of Angel had made that very clear. Imagining something which would bring an real smile to her face was beyond Giles--- with the possible exception of success from his unrealistic plan to restore Angel's soul to him. It had seemed the most obvious, and the safest, course of action. But after only a morning's search through the archives, the Watcher feared that it was an impossibility. Angel had been one-of-a-kind; so was the spell which created his unique condition. And that had been lost generations ago. Still, he had to keep searching. For all their sakes, not just Buffy's. Though he couldn't believe Angel would thank him if he succeeded.... A high-pitched "you have mail!" from the computer distracted him from his thoughts. Wondering if the query he'd asked Willow to initiate that morning had already born fruit, Giles approached the computer with distaste mixed with hope. It would be utterly ironic if the World Wide Web yielded answers he couldn't find in the Watcher records. He gingerly moved the mouse and clicked on the mailbox, then froze. The newest letter was addressed to him, from Jenny. Subject Line: Explanations. For one split second he considered deleting the e-mail unread. Did he really want to deal with this, on top of everything else? Which wasn't fair to either Jenny or his own yearning for answers, but Giles couldn't stop the sudden fierce wish to escape the necessity of reading her note. Perhaps it was only a request to meet with her, though. Maybe he could simply delay it until he felt capable of coping with the contradictory emotions Calendar inspired in him right now. In fact, if he didn't open it, merely put it in one of those folder things unread, he could avoid the whole subject until after he already had a solution to the problem... on the other hand, perhaps she had information about Angel, and his curse, that could lead to a plan--- Giles accidentally touched one of the computer's buttons and the message opened itself while he was still dithering. He cursed, searching the screen for some indication of how to make it go away, but then the first line of text caught his attention. > Rupert--- > > I know how much you hate these things, but if I just sent you a letter or >left you a note in the library, there wouldn't be any way for me to know >when you got around to reading it. This way, the computer will send me a >receipt when you've opened this note, and I can assume you already know >the basic facts the next time I see you. "Damn." So much for delay. He could still close the letter, tell her he hadn't read it, that he didn't feel like coping yet; but that would be cowardly. And it would tell Jenny far too much about how his state of mind. Grimly, Giles resigned himself to reading the whole thing. > I'm hoping you can forgive me for what I did, and more importantly what I >didn't do, when you've heard all the facts. You've made misjudgements >too; you know what it's like to have stuff you regret in your past. I'm not >saying that makes what I did okay, I'm just asking you for the same second >chance you got, after Eyghon and --- everything that happened. > > Where to start... the beginning, right? > > Janna of the Kalderash, not Jenny Calendar, was sent to Sunnydale to >keep tabs on the clan's curse victim, and report back that he was still >suffering. They've always kept track of him, since long before I was born; >I always thought it was out of a sense of self-preservation, of wanting to >make sure he wouldn't come back and start wreaking death on the Clan >again. Turns out my thinking was veering away from my family's again without >me even knowing it. If I'd had any idea how far they were going to take this >vengeance riff, I never would have signed up for it. > > I should have known. I should have realized that it wouldn't be that >simple. My people have never done anything for straightforward reasons; >there's always some hidden agenda underneath. It made me crazy when I was >growing up---funny how I've ended up just like them, isn't it. Or not. >Maybe it's funny if you're not me. > > I told you the truth yesterday---the magic's been going away from the >Rom for a long time. I was told stories when I was a kid, over and over, >of what we used to be able to do, and I'd feel... cheated. I wanted it >back. Can you understand that? I grew up with people who were restless and >fluid even when they weren't with the travelling part of the family; people who >looked at names in the gadje world as just --- masks. Losing something >special meant nothing to them, because nothing lasted, nothing stayed... I >hated it. I wanted to have something real that wouldn't change, and I >wanted magic... > > I left my family when I was nineteen, I got my degree in computers, I >went looking for a life on my own... but I couldn't really forget them. >They'd show up, start trying to tell me how to live my life, or just hang out >playing their games and make living as a gadje more difficult... I finally >cut a deal with them. I'd keep an eye on Angel if they stayed out of my >way. Since none of them wanted to come to the Hellmouth, that part was >easy. I also hoped there'd be a chance of finding some of the old ways, or >something new; maybe that's why the technopagan stuff spoke to me, as a . >way of combining both.... > > I didn't know Buffy was the Slayer when I arrived. She wasn't here yet, >Rupert. Neither were you. The first clue I had that either of you were >connected to him in any way was when the prophecies about the Anointed >One started coming across my terminal, and you told me what was going on. >And the first time I saw Angel up close, not just from a distance, was >after the Master died. Giles remembered the night of the Spring Fling quite well; amazing, really, that she never betrayed a hint of anxiety or confusion about Angel then. She'd accepted him as a friend of Buffy's and Xander's, and hadn't wondered about his presence during their battle at the library. He hadn't told her about Angel being a vampire until much later, at some point after they began dating in the fall... probably before the incident during Parent-Teacher night. Yes. He'd been nervous, waiting for her to react emotionally, but Jenny had simply opened her eyes very wide and asked for the details. She hadn't questioned it. But then, she rarely questioned any of the things he'd told her---some of that matter-of-fact calmness was better explained, now.... > You let Buffy get so close to Angel, knowing what he was, what he'd >been---and that seemed like such a bad idea to me--- that I couldn't think >of a good way to tell you that I was monitoring him. I thought you'd ask >me to stop, and I didn't see that it made any difference, not then,anyway. > I kind of looked at it as insurance. Just in case something went wrong.... >I'm not exactly the trusting type, I guess. After he saved my life, first >from the Anointed One, then from Eyghon, I didn't want to report on him >any more... I would change the past, all of it, if I knew how. //So would I.// Giles rubbed at his eyes, feeling weary and bitter. Eyghon should have taken him, instead of taking Jenny; if he had been the one knocked out, if he hadn't been panicking for twenty-four hours straight prior to his reappearance... if. They both owed infinitely more to Willow's quick thinking and Angel's actions than to anything he'd tried to do. Which didn't exactly mitigate his feelings of hurt and confusion right now, but Giles was painfully aware that he wasn't the person who could pass judgement on her actions. > When my uncle arrived the day before Buffy's birthday, I was... really >confused. Ever since Angel saved my life at the beginning of the school >year, I hadn't been writing as much as I had before, even less lately... >and I thought he wanted to make sure I was still doing what I was supposed >to. They do that sometimes. Just materialize out of the blue to remind >you that you're not one of the gadje, even if you've got gadje blood. You're >Rom, you've got obligations. So you can't ever forget. //No, of course not. Having other choices isn't an option....// Giles rubbed at a crick in his neck, and closed his eyes for a moment. //No, none of this is anything like being brought up to be a Watcher, is it? Nothing at all like rebelling at Oxford, or ending up right back where you started....// > When Uncle Vincent showed up, I was sure it was just going to be more >of the same, which I didn't want to deal with. Especially since Angel saved >me from Eyghon. Wonder what Uncle would have thought of that. He said >that the elder woman had seen that Angel's suffering was easing, and >wanted to know why I hadn't mentioned it. When I told him Angel had found >a girl to love, he went through the roof. He went on and on about my >responsibilities to my family and my people and accused me of not doing my >duty. I should have told him to jump in the ocean, but--- I'm sorry, >Rupert. I'm so sorry. He asked me to separate Angel and Buffy; he said >that family honor demanded that he suffer. That if Angel forgot for one >moment the pain of his soul, the pain he'd cost my clan, that it would be >one minute too many. > > I never dreamed he meant it literally. I swear, he didn't tell me what >would happen.... > > So I tried to break them up. I chickened out, I buckled under family >pressure, and I did what my family wanted. The Judge was the perfect >excuse. I still feel bad about that, I did the right thing for the wrong >reasons. If the plan had worked, Angel would be half-way to Nepal by now, >but at least he'd have his soul. //That's why she volunteered to drive them to the docks...// Giles rubbed at his eyes, remembering his puzzlement at Buffy's birthday party. If her spur-of-the-moment plan had worked, Buffy's heart still would have been broken. //Although perhaps not into as many pieces....// > When they came back from the pier, we were already facing a crisis. I >thought saving the world from the Judge had to be more important than >Buffy and Angel getting a few more days together; I thought only my family >would be upset about it, and how were they going to know? Then they left >to do surveillance at the factory, and by the next day... well, you know >the rest. I couldn't have guessed how close they would get before they came >back, Rupert. Maybe I should have... no, I can't take responsibility for >this. I still didn't have any idea what the consequences would be. I >would never have let Angelus return if I'd known how to stop it, but I >didn't. > > My uncle thought that maybe Angel losing his soul was part of the curse, >and was 'meant to be'; I hope that makes him happy, wherever he ended up. > > I wish I believed his death was the last ugly act Angelus was going to >commit. > > More than anything I want you to believe that I never would have hurt >Buffy like this. I'm not as close to her as you are, but I still like and >respect her so much for what she has to do as Slayer. I know what Angel >meant to her, and I know what kind of danger she's in now because of >Angelus's return. I never would have agreed to it. Even if it meant all >my ancestors going unavenged. It isn't worth it. > > What I did I did out of a sense of obligation. Not malice, or vengeance. >That has to count for something. And you have to know---Goddess, Rupert, >you know how I feel about you. Do you really think I'd hurt Buffy, or even >take a chance about something that would affect her, when she's so >important to you? I thought I was doing what was best for everyone. I was >wrong. I'm sorry. Please, please let me make up for this. Tell me how >to make up for this, and I'll do it. > > I'll be by the library after school, if you've read this by then. I'll >wait until the kids leave. If you don't want to see me, just send me a >reply saying so... I'll understand. But I'm hoping we can talk. I need to >see you. > > Jenny //Not Janna,// he noted. //Jenny. Is that how she thinks of herself, all the time? Or is she trying to disown what she did?// Giles closed the letter and the mailbox wearily, knowing she would come to the library after school, after Buffy was finished with practice and Willow had completed her database searches, and Xander had escorted Cordelia somewhere else. And that he would be waiting for her. He wouldn't leave early; he wouldn't try to avoid her. He wouldn't delay this. There wasn't any reason to. Sooner or later, they would have the upcoming conversation, and putting it off wouldn't solve anything. He did believe every word she'd written was the truth. But he wasn't sure that any of it mattered any more. Maybe later I'll believe We were never meant to be Maybe later we'll say It's all for the better And if ever see you again I just might be stronger by then But God, I don't know when Maybe later * Comments appreciated Christina kikimariposa@prodigy.net }|{ - - ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 21:47:34 -0700 From: "Christina" Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (2/2) "Maybe Later" (2/2) By Christina Kamnikar Copyright 1998 Part 2: ... and Verse All the points I tried to make Turned out to be my worst mistakes Still keeping score Even when the game was over And I suppose someday I'll learn But I don't want to do it right now... * "Rupert?" He froze, his back to the door, his fingers tensing on the pages of his book for a moment; then he methodically closed his it and put it behind the counter before turning around. "Jenny." His voice sounded even and detached, but he wasn't meeting her eyes. Calendar took a deep breath. "I saw the kids leave earlier. We need to talk. And I know you read the e-mail...." She tried to get him to meet her eyes, but he kept looking away, finally taking off his glasses and fiddling with them. "I thought I'd give you a chance to say all the things you've been thinking." "Really?" Giles's voice threatened to crack, but he cleared his throat and put his glasses back on, his expression guarded and weary, before speaking again. "How magnanimous of you." "Damnit, Rupert, don't be like this." Jenny struggled with the hurt for a second, then whispered, "You're just going to walk away? Blow me off? Even knowing the facts?" He paused, caught off guard by the anger as much as the plea in her voice. "Not... just walk away, no." Rupert shook his head, finally meeting her eyes, his gaze hurt and defensive. "Were you ever going to tell me?" he asked quietly. "Any of it? If this hadn't happened, would you have told me the truth?" Guilt flashed through her at his expression, and her jaw tightened. "Yes." She looked away, her fingers skimming one of the books on the table as she leaned against it. "I don't know when, but I would have told you eventually." "Eventually." "I didn't know! I told you before, I didn't know what would happen--- dealing with my family's curse isn't simple, not even for me. Allright?" "I understand that. I know how... I sympathize with the difficulties you've had with your divided loyalties." He crossed his arms over his chest, looking as though he were holding pain inside, and Jenny swallowed convulsively. "However, I... I don't understand why you kept the truth from me for so long." "I didn't think of it that way, Rupert. It just... didn't seem to matter." "At first, maybe. No. No, it didn't matter then. But later---" Giles shook his head, and she could see the confusion and bitterness clouding his eyes. "Goddess, how can I make you understand..." Calendar hunched in on herself, staring at him, desperately wanting to touch him, to smooth away the newest lines on his face. "How easy was it for you to tell me about vampires, that first time? I've lived with this stuff all my life, Giles. It never occurred to me to tell you. Not really. You're not Rom. Telling you the truth, all the clan secrets... it just never crossed my mind." She heard how that sounded a second after it was out of her mouth and silently cursed herself. Rupert looked as if she'd slapped him, and his voice was breathless. "I see. You didn't trust me." "No! I did! But if I'd told you---things would have gotten... complicated. And they were already complicated enough. I just wanted to keep things simple, Rupert. That life and this life---the only place they crossed was Angel." "Which was why you should have told me what was going on as soon as your uncle arrived here. Anything that would effect Buffy as that would, had to be something you knew I would want to know." The bitterness in his voice seemed to sink in all the way to her bones; she wanted to shiver at it, to deny its presence, but couldn't deceive herself that much. "Yes. I know. I was wrong. I screwed up." Jenny met his eyes unflinchingly, watched some of his anger drain away, leaving only the pain, the pain that it hurt her to see in him, knowing she'd caused part of it. "What I want to know is: can you forgive me? Or are you still going to blame me for something neither of us could have stopped?" His eyes softened, and Giles's voice was rough with weariness, not accusation, when he spoke. "It's not a matter of blame, Jenny. I can hardly hold you responsible for the actions of your clan... and especially not after what I put you through in November, when you were generous enough to forgive my criminal carelessness..." He let his voice trail off, then gathered himself together, focusing on her intently. "But I can't forget, you see. Not when Buffy is hurting so much; not when we're all in such danger now. You were part of what caused this. Not intentionally, or knowingly, but a part. I don't blame you. But I..." He studied her, his expression questioning, warmth for her still present, still there, but nearly drowning in the disorientation. "The two of us. Was all of it a lie?" he whispered. "Or only a part?" His return hits were killers. //I can't believe you have to ask... // It hurt more than if he just hadn't been able to forgive. That, she could have gotten angry about. This... "Nothing between us was ever a lie, Rupert." Giles relaxed, and she wanted to cry, partly from relief that he believed her, the same relief that she saw in his eyes; partly because he'd had doubts at all. His mouth twisted in a bittersweet smile, his gaze sad. "Nothing between us, perhaps..." He looked away, seeming a decade older than he had the day before. Or only a moment before. "I feel as if I don't know you," he said simply, looking back at her, studying at her as if she were a stranger. "God, Rupert. I'm still me. Okay, I wasn't born Jenny Calender, but that's who I am, that's who I plan on being. Not Janna of the Kalderash. Nothing of that life ever stayed with me for long...." She shook her head, feeling tears threatening to gather. The futility of what she was saying welled up in her, trying to smother the hope that he would understand. "She's still a part of you," he said gently. "Just as the Ripper is a part of me. Not one I'm very fond of, but...." Giles sighed slowly, then said, "There's nothing to forgive. Truly. I read the letter, I understand why you did what you did... and I'm sure that eventually, when the shock of recent events wears off, it won't seem so important, and I'll be able to accept events as they fell out." "But. There's a but coming, I can hear it," Jenny said, folding her arms across her chest, preparing for the blow. He smiled, grey eyes very sad. "You're quite right, of course." Giles took his glasses off again, licked his lips, and cleared his throat. "Buffy still blames you. In part, of course, because she doesn't know all the facts, but also, I'm afraid, because... she needs to blame someone right now." "Oh. Right." She wanted to yell accusations at him; wanted to demand that he choose her over his duty and love for Buffy, but she couldn't. There didn't seem to be any air left for her to try. "When she's calmer, in a week or two, when... when she's ready to listen to reason---" Rupert straightened, and put his glasses back on, the set of his face determined. "I'll make sure she understands that you were not responsible, and you did your best. And that we need your help and that you still want to assist us. But I daren't push her too soon, at this moment she's very... fragile." Jenny bit her tongue on some of the things she could have said, then faked an ironic grin. "Hey. It's fine. She's the Slayer. You're the Watcher. She needs you." She shrugged. "When she's coping better---maybe later---" "Yes." Giles straightened, eagerness lighting up his face. "Just a little time. That's all we need. Some distance." "Space," Calendar said with a straight face. "Space... yes, I suppose...." Uncertainty rose in Giles, she could see it as his smile faltered. "I'm sorry, Jenny. I'm sorry I was so abrupt with you yesterday, but I didn't know what to say, I was afraid to say anything, for fear of saying too much... and I'm very sorry about your uncle." He looked down, shoving his hands in his pockets, his expression troubled. "I wish I could make it all better....that I could just..." There was a plea in his eyes when he lifted them to her; a plea for understanding, for her to wait until he had time to come to terms with everything. "So do I." Her own bitterness seemed to have eased a bit. She'd always known he'd pick Buffy over her, if it came down to it; Buffy was a teenager, she needed him more, and the Slayer was all tied up in his life's work, his view of himself... she was just someone he loved. But the disappointment was very hard to take. She'd been hoping so intensely that he'd be able to just accept the truth, and let her mistakes go; but it seemed that had been too much to ask for. Jenny pushed away from the table, and swallowed hard, turning toward the door. "I'll see you around, Rupert." "Jenny---" She stopped, holding herself very still, fighting back tears. "I love you. You do... still know that, don't you?" Jenny closed her eyes, nodded hard, and said, "Yeah. I know." She smiled over her shoulder at him, at the worry on his face. "Same here, Rupert. Same here." Then she hurried out the library door, letting it bang behind her in the rush to leave before he saw her cry. Maybe later I'll believe We were never meant to be Maybe later we'll say It's all for the better And if ever see you again I just might be stronger by then But God, I don't know when Maybe later * Comments appreciated Chris kikimariposa@prodigy.net }|{ - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 00:05:31 -0500 From: "Jonathan" Subject: DISCUSS- BUFFYFIC: "Maybe Later" (1/2) Christina: I just joined the list, and yours was the first story I got. I just want to ask you something... Are you giving Joss all his ideas for Jenny? Reading this story, I could see Jenny at her computer, repeating these things outloud as she typed it... You have captured her very convincingly, at least in her speech... Well Done! Jonathan (Lothos463 on the B:tVS PB) - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 07:24:41 -0600 From: "Michelle" Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: "Maybe Later" (2/2) Wow, strong stuff! I can see this happening just as you describe. You've got the characters down pat. Good job! Michelle - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 13:09:48 EST From: Philmaniac@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffy unsubscribe buffy - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 17:54:57 EST From: Greeneye90@aol.com Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffy unsubscribe Buffy - - ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 20:50:11 -0500 From: ingrid29@juno.com (Ingrid E Stanton) Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (6/?) by Ingrid DISCLAIMER: The characters mentioned in my story are from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (They’re not mine). I borrow them without permission, but I’m not making any money on this! The wonderful people that *are not* suing me for this reason are The Warner Brothers Network, Kuzui, Sandollar, Joss Whedon, and Mutant Enemy. SUMMARY: Part six continues in the library, where we left Buffy and Willow. This takes place in the normal BtVS universe, so everything that’s happened has happened. You know the story: If you don’t get this, that’s ‘cause you haven’t read the other parts. If you want to get this, just ask me for it. (Ingrid29@juno.com) I got a lot of requests to hurry up and write more, so I did all my work early & wrote part 6 just for you people. I expect some feedback! =) *** "Ghost of a Chance," by Ingrid Part Six *** Buffy sat back on her feet, arms crossed in a defensive posture. Why wouldn’t Willow just tell her what she was feeling? Angel was this close to her, and yet she had none of the traditional assurances that came with his presence. For a moment, she felt a pang of jealousy. Why couldn’t she be carrying his soul and hearing his thoughts? Willow was slowly recovering, inhaling and exhaling methodically, coughing a few times in between each breath. She smiled at Buffy and touched her shoulder for comfort. "Buffy, he’s so alone." She put a hand to her heart for a moment in grief. "I can feel his guilt," she choked, struggling for control. She sunk back against the wall and sighed. Then she smiled again. "He loves you, Buffy." "He didn’t say that," she asked, her heart rising. "He didn’t have to," Willow answered with a grin. She waited. Buffy stood up and absently brushed the dust from her pants. "…But he did," she reported, her face shining. Instantly, Buffy dropped to the ground beside her friend and hugged her warmly. The girls parted and smiled. "That’s for both of you," Buffy chirped, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. Miss Calendar and Giles strode into the library, deeply absorbed in conversation. As soon as they saw the sight of Willow and Buffy on the floor in tears, they sprung into action. Giles flew over to where the two girls sat, Jenny not far behind him. "What’s wrong, Buffy," he queried, touching her shoulder. Buffy snapped out of her trance, and turned to look at him over her shoulder. She sniffled, and resumed a business-like tone immediately. "Angel’s soul is inside Willow." She looked over Giles’ shoulder at the computer teacher. Startled, the librarian looked back at Jenny. "Is this- Is this possible?" Miss Calendar appeared just as shocked. "My God! That explains it! When Angel broke the circle, the only body left in the fire was Willow’s. I’d assumed that the soul never made it, but it did. Romani magic *always* works." "If not in the expected ways." Buffy glared at Jenny. Giles went off into watcher mode, his brain working way ahead of his mouth. "But a body can’t support two souls, can it?" "Not for long," Jenny answered gravely. She turned to Willow, who was still on the floor, wiping tears from her cheeks. "Willow, you said you felt sick before, right?" Willow nodded in agreement. Jenny continued, "and- and now you can hear Angel- I mean- he can speak to you?" Again Willow nodded, finally recovering from her crying. "So you gradually felt the effects of the soul as it incorporated itself into your body. Rupert, do you know anything about the effects of having two souls in one body?" The watcher took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "No, no I don’t," he answered honestly. Jenny cringed. "Remember what happened when Igon the demon fought Angel’s demon?" Giles suddenly looked very concerned. "Are you saying the reaction is similar? But that’s impossible. Willow’s soul is still present in her body. And Angel would never-" "It’s not about what Angel wants. It’s something he can’t control. Souls are not as vicious as demons. They don’t fight for control of a body. They’re simply released when another takes over." The glasses slid back on, and Giles came to the obvious conclusion. "But that means-" Jenny locked eyes with Rupert. "That means we’re casting the spell again." *** END, PART 6. "If you don’t have anything nice to say… tell me anyway!!!" (Comments to Ingrid29@juno.com) _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] - - ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 18:08:23 EST From: LMcint6188@aol.com Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (6/?) by Ingrid Its really coming along great.... really! I cant wait for the rest! Lins - - ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 18:18:39 EST From: Philmaniac@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: unsubscribe buffyfic unsubscribe buffyfic - - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 08:03:33 EST From: Isis212@aol.com Subject: BUFFYFIC: Upping the Ante (1/1) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --part0_887979814_boundary Content-ID: <0_887979814@inet_out.mail.aol.com.1> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII - --part0_887979814_boundary Content-ID: <0_887979814@inet_out.mail.aol.com.2> Content-type: message/rfc822 Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Content-disposition: inline From: Isis212@aol.com Return-path: To: buffyfic@xmission Cc: Aramat330@aol.com Subject: Upping the Ante (1/1) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 08:01:09 EST Organization: AOL (http://www.aol.com) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit TITLE: Upping the Ante AUTHOR: Aramat! EMAIL: Aramat330@aol.com DIST: My site. All others ask. SUMMARY: Now that Buffy's decided to join the game, Angelus sends her a message to let her know he still has the better hand. DISC: Buffy and her friends (and her enemies) do not belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon and the WB. They probably belong to a couple more people, but hey, I named the most important person. I'm borrowing them and will return them when I'm done. Note: This story is a sequal to "Evening the Score." Now you'll have to forgive me for this part. Buffy is supposed to kick butt in each part but Angelus was being very persuasive (and I mean very) so I had to give him some glory this time. I promise that Buffy will be back to her usual butt-kicking self in the last part. Until then see Angelus be cruel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do you really think you can protect them?" Buffy read the note for the fourth time. The words blurred together as tears glittered in her eyes. Sighing, she blinked them away. They would do no good. Besides, she had promised herself she would never cry because of him again. She stood up, placing the note on her dresser, and walked out of her room. She had an appointment to keep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She sat on the gravestone watching the shadows intently. She knew he was out there, most likely laughing, enjoying his latest surprise. But his joy wouldn't last long. She would make sure of that. His appearance was so sudden that she actually jumped when he stepped in front of her. He smiled, pleased that once again he'd taken her by surprise. "Hello, love," he said softly, his voice slightly mocking. "Hi," she replied cheerfully, as though greeting a friend, not her greatest enemy. Placing a hand on his chest, she smiled. "All that time you're spending with Spike is affecting you. That can't be good." Angelus smiled in honest agreement. "You may be right." He looked down to where her hand still rested on his chest and stepped back, taking a seat opposite hers. "Did you get my note?" The smile Buffy had been carrying on the inside at his aversion to her touch died at the reminder. The note. The reason why she was here. Suddenly, she had a series of images flashed through her mind. The look on Willow's face when she'd handed Buffy the note Angelus had left her, the eleven blood red roses he'd left lying on Willow's pristine white pillow. But the picture that disturbed her most was that of her mother, sleeping peacefully, red rose in her hand, blood running from the pricks from the thorns. "Yes," she answered, her voice cold her eyes hard. "The roses were a nice touch. Were they for me?" He nodded. "Of course. I realized I'd never bought you flowers before. After all we've shared I figured it was time." He took her hand, pulling her toward him, settling her to stand between his legs. He took her chin in his hand and tilted her fce to his. "Did you like them? I picked them out personally, just for you." He smiled. "So sorry about your mother, though. Forgot about those darn thorns." As Buffy looked up into his eyes, like Angel's but so different, she felt her first real flash of hatred for Angelus. None of the emotion she was feeling was reflected in her eyes, but inside she felt a fury so red hot it took all her control not to kill him right there. But she couldn't do it, as much as she wanted to, not now. For one, it was what he expected. He knew she wanted to kill him and he was prepared for it. If she attacked, he'd be ready. They were locked in battle. She couldn't afford sloppy moves. If they fought now, she'd lose. Her anger at him was a weakness. One he'd use to his advantage. She couldn't let him get the upper hand. The price, if she did, would be too high. But even with her resolve not to kill him, she couldn't control her reaction to his next statement. "I wonder how much better your blood will taste from your mother's." Buffy lost what little control she had left. Clutching the stake she always kept hidden in the sleeve of her jacket, she prepared to strike. But Angelus had anticipated her attack. Catching her off guard, he knocked the stake from her hand, sending it flying through the air. He grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him. "Nice to know you still care," he said amusement lacing his voice. Buffy closed her eyes, cursing herself for losing control. She pulled away from him, putting as much distance between them as she could. She took a few minutes to calm herself before she looked back into his eyes. "Don't get too happy," she told him, her mind already on their next meeting. "Game's not over, yet." She picked up her bag from the ground, slinging it over one shoulder before turning her back and walking away. She hadn't gone far though, when Angelus' voice called out to her. "Next move's yours." - --part0_887979814_boundary-- - - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:20:29 -0500 From: ingrid29@juno.com (Ingrid E Stanton) Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Ghost of a Chance" (7/?) by Ingrid My all new DISCLAIMER: Buffy Sommers, Willow Rosenberg, Rupert Giles, Jenny Calendar & co. are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, Sandollar, and the WB. I borrow them without permission, and I’m not making any money on this. SUMMARY: Some more fun library discussion, and a lot of artistic description (spell-casting). Willow, Giles, Buffy, Angel & Jenny. This takes place within the normal Buffyverse thus far. If you don’t get this, that’s ‘cause you haven’t read the other parts. If you want to get this, ask me for them. I’d love to hear any comments you have, so write to me at Ingrid29@juno.com. I’ve had a whole lot of work this week, so it’s been difficult to keep going with my story. Bear with me, please! *** "Ghost of a Chance," by Ingrid Part Seven *** "How are we gonna get Angelus here again? He’s not stupid," Buffy remarked emotionlessly. "We’ll have to come to him," was Jenny’s sober reply. Willow rose from the floor, pulling herself together. She hesitated to speak, but eventually put forth "Angel says to do it early in the evening, when Angelus won’t have eaten yet. Vampires loose some common sense when they’re hungry, and when there’s an easy picking presented to them." She’d spit the information out mechanically, as if she were reading from one of Giles’ textbooks. "Okay. At sundown, then," Buffy determined. Giles and Miss Calendar acquiesced. Willow sat on the table. "In the park." "Right," Buffy agreed, "Sundown in the park." Giles and Jenny headed to where the large book lay, making preparations. Meanwhile, Buffy pulled Willow out the door. "Don’t worry, Will," she assured her friend, "We’ll have this all straightened out by tonight." Willow frowned. "Angel’s not so sure." *** By the time Buffy and Willow had arrived on the scene, Miss Calendar and Giles were already completing the circle of blood on the grass. They’d figured that in the dark, it would be less noticeable than it had been on the library floor. Buffy watched their dark figures as they worked, looking like little more than natural shadows of the night. Angelus would be here soon. Two shadows would enter the circle. But how many would come out? Buffy frowned to think of Willow putting her life on the line again. So much sacrifice. The grass was chilly and damp, and Buffy wrapped her jacket around her a little tighter. Willow’s silhouette faded into obscurity as the sun sank below the horizon. The two teachers scattered away like ants, and a lone figure stood against the sky, moonbeams illuminating an edge of her face here or an arm there. Almost like a painting, Buffy thought. Beautiful and calm… But there was something ominous about the clear night and the large moon and the velvet cloak of night. Something about not seeing, but knowing he was coming. Angelus entered the painting slowly and distractedly. He was prowling, but he was also on the alert, turning to look behind him frequently, afraid. This was when they were most dangerous- when they were like animals, acting solely on instinct. She was afraid instantly, but the configuration of the picture was not disturbed. Willow was walking slowly now in the opposite direction. She had to time this just right. Then it happened. Angelus’ raw hunger got the better of him. He saw nourishment, he smelled blood, and his mind shut off. Like a tiger, he leapt into action, catching up with Willow before she knew what hit her. Luckily for her, she had just made it into the ring when the vampire grabbed her by the shoulder and whipped her around. He was unprepared for the cross she shoved in his face. With one swipe, he was easily able to knock the relic to the ground, but not without burning his hand substantially. He screwed his face up in pain, and Jenny began to recite the spell. Once more, fire engulfed the pair, but this time, there was no escaping. Angel managed to knock Willow to the ground, but the damage had already been done. It seemed an endless burning, and bright. Half the park was illuminated and seemed to move in waves from the sheer heat of things. The very grass itself began to ignite. Buffy watched silently amazed at how peacefully the fire burned. There was no noise from inside the circle. There was only the gentle crackling red and yellow, and the smoldering grey ashes around them. Buffy felt the waves of heat even from her vantage point as she inhaled the soporific smoke. She leaned against a cement bench and rested there, almost content. Once again, Jenny finished, and the fire disappeared covering the earth in a murky grey. *** END, PART 7. Comments? Questions? Write to me at Ingrid29@juno.com "The one good thing about being wrong is the joy it brings to others." _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] - - ------------------------------ End of Buffyfic-digest V2 #38 ***************************** To subscribe to buffyfic or buffyfic-digest, send the command subscribe buffyfic-digest or subscribe buffyfic to majordomo@xmission.com. You will need to go through a confirmation process, and the listowners have to manually approve your subscription request, so it may take some time. Back issues of this digest can be found at: ftp://ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/buffyfic/archive/ Dalton Spence has also provided an index of the buffyfic archive at: http://www.hwcn.org/~ag775/BUFFYFIC.HTM For help, contact Jill Kirby (jtkirby@mcs.com) or sah (romana@mindspring.com)