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buffyfic-digest          Sunday, May 24 1998          Volume 02 : Number 201



In this issue:

       BUFFYFIC: My Moria (6/?)
       BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: a little problem I've noticed...
       BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" (20/?)
       BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: answers to the little problem
       Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: answers to the little problem
       BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" Interlude zero: "Premonitions"
       BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge a Broken Blade (3/?)

See the end of the digest for information on (un)subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 23:43:06 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Charity C. T.)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: My Moria (6/?)

TITLE: My Moria (6/?)
AUTHOR: Taygeta
E-MAIL: [e-mail]
RATING: PG
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me first.
FEEDBACK: Please???
SPOILER: Not really
DISCLAIMER:The characters portrayed in this story and any other
references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the property of its creater
Joss Whedon, and its owners Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions,
Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox.  In other words, these
characters do not belong to me, and I am just borrowing them.
DESCRIPTION: Twenty years into the future, 'nuff said.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:  There's a little Latin in here, and I don't know if the
sentence structure is correct.  If anyone knows Latin and can tell me if
it's okay, please do.  And if my sentence structure isn't correct, I'm
really sorry.

***************************

My Moria #6
By: Taygeta

    Rupert Giles sighed as he roamed the grounds around the
Summers-Harris home and thought of the precarious hours that had passed
and those that had yet to pass until the new slayer was told of her
destiny.  The atmosphere that had settled was too familiar and far too
nerve-wracking for his weary, aging heart.  So much that he had to flee
to the garden to distance him from the almost dismal.

    In the serenity of the blossoming gardens, he couldn't believe
that this beautiful, grand estate belonged to two of the most reckless
students he had ever known.  He had had no worries of Willow, Oz, or
Cordelia's future; the three were so confident and tactful, that he
hadn't needed to be.  Willow and Oz's software company, Full Moon, Inc.,
was now selling worldwide.  Cordelia was the Watcher, and that news in
itself was one of the biggest surprises Giles had ever experienced.  The
aims and responsibilities she had gained had altered her from the
superficial girl she had always been to a mature and resourceful woman
that was the best in her field.  Her profession as a curator to a
historical museum had aided her in her work as a Watcher, allowing much
of her success to occur so quickly.

No, they didn't give him much surprise at their accomplishments in life.
Buffy and Xander, on the other hand, he had had much contemplation on the
subject of their future.  It surprised him, still, no matter how many
times he saw a film written by Alexander Summers-Harris, or his more
recently proven talent, read a book written by him, that such maturity
and thought content could have ever came from the sarcastic, unsound
student he use to know.

As for Buffy, he always feared that in every single battle he set her on
and in those that she had brought herself into, that he would lose her.
And the fact that he didn't, was success enough for him, but beating the
odds wasn't enough for Buffy, Giles had realized, after she became the
"norm" she had always wished to become.  And perhaps by finding herself
in her art, she had achieve the inner peace that they all had lost
somewhere along the line while living in and out of the realm of
darkness.  It was hard to have seen her expression when Cordelia brought
the news that Moria was the new slayer.  It was as if all that
accomplishment to regain the tranquility lost had been in vain.

He had seen one of her paintings at a gallery on a recent trip to New
York.  Almost the entirety of the painting was done in dark oils that
cast an almost foreboding feeling to the mind's eye.  Despite its limited
usage, the pale oils that made up the rest of the painting were perhaps
the most powerful feature in the painting, for the pallid colors created
beautiful sovereign images beneath the shadows created by the dark
paints.  One such image was very familiar to his eyes and his heart, and
that was the shadowy face of his past love, Jennifer Calendar.

Seeing her face in one of Buffy's paintings made him wonder what would
have been if the dreaded Angelus hadn't killed her?  Would they have
continued through life together?  He often thought of such questions and
they were always left to hang silently in the air to never be answered.

    Angelus, his demonic face was among those in the shadows and his
alter ego, Angel, made up half of that face.  The Master, Druscilla,
Spike, the Chosen one, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz, Buffy, and even
himself, as all was thereàthe good against the evil and the half face of
Angel/Angelus to divide the line.  All these images surrounded a
maelstrom of purple, black, gray, and white, and the figures drawn to
such detail that it is unsure as to whether the vortex is pulling in or
pushing out.  So suitable was the title of that painting that hung so
stately on the wall, so suitable of a phrase to describe their lives.
"Obscurus Ad Faciem" à "To Face the Dark."

_____________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 11:05:04 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Ingrid E Stanton)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: a little problem I've noticed...

In some of the fics I get, there are breaks in the text with something
like "=92" in between many of the words. Usually, this is tolerable, but
occasionally it's almost made a great story unreadable. I was just
wondering if anybody else gets it, if anybody on the list knows what it
is, and if it can be prevented. Thanks!

- -Ingrid


Ingrid: Author of many long Buffyfics (and some short ones). "Return to
Normalcy,"
"One Vampire's Headache...," "This Fleeting Hope," "Ghost of a Chance,"
"Tragic
Sighs," "Footsteps," "Bitten," and "Reunion."

_____________________________________________________________________
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Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 11:37:48 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Ingrid E Stanton)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" (20/?)

DISCLAIMER: The characters? They ainÆt mine.
SUMMARY: More work at the Harris house.
FEEDBACK: I hate feedback. DonÆt send it. (Just
kidding. - Does anybody ever *not* want feedback?
REQUESTS FOR PARTS: Give æem here!
([e-mail])

NOTE: The research paper is over!! Party time!! (not
really, but it *is* over) After many naps, I have written
a part. =) Okayà IÆll let you get on to the story!

*********
"Reunion," by Ingrid
Part Twenty: "Preparation"
*********

What a draining day. Buffy was tired, but she knew
the excitement lay ahead. Tonight would determine
all their fates for better or for worse, but something
told her that æworseÆ was in the cards.

She smiled at Giles, and he returned it faintly. HeÆd
forgiven. The healing was beginning. HeÆd managed
to meet AngelÆs eyes, and would again.

They had it down. The entire prophesy had been
translated, and  not a single word refused
to be understood.

She glanced at the window, where Xander and Cordelia
were reading something over. The sun was gradually
slipping below the horizon, and soon she would be here
with her sparkling eyes and tragic face. Perhaps Buffy
had her own guilt to deal with.

"An old enemy returns
to destroy.
The gates of time blow open
and all is chaos."

"To set things right
In death
A friend emerges from the shadows."

The doorbell rang, jangling her nerves. "That must be Corin,"
Cordelia explained, and left her place at the window to go
answer the door.

It was tonight. They all knew it was tonight. *This is it,* she
thought, *DonÆt screw up. You canÆt screw this up.* But she
would anyway. Somehow, sheÆd manage.

She walked over to Angel and rested in his arms, still
watching the people around her buzzing with anxious
life.

Cordelia returned with the girl, watching her nervously as
she sat down. Buffy looked outside distractedly as the
sun began to slip below the horizon. Not much longer
afterwards, Willow arrived.

She was as radiant and as tragic as ever, every word she
spoke burning brightly before dying at the ears.

And then suddenly, they were all still, waiting for Willow
to speak, and Buffy knew what she had to do. It was time,
and she was ready.

"ItÆs tonight." Willow sunk back in the chair, waiting for the
obvious to sink in. "Tonight, the stars are aligned just right,
and he will begin near midnight. First, heÆs going to try to stop
her death. That will require anything we have to stop him. It
doesnÆt matter who, or what. Just do it, whateverÆs necessary."

"Oh, donÆt worry, we will," answered Buffy roughly.

"Like I told you before, there will be more than a few of these
portals opening up. Get in at all costs. ItÆs the only way to
stop him. I think we should split up."

Pairs of two claimed each other with their eyes. Xander and
Cordelia, naturally. Buffy and Angel. And Willow and Giles
would go together. Corin would stay with her watcher. She
was too young to do much, but it was her duty to be there.

"Whether heÆs succeeded in preventing DruÆs death or not,
heÆll try to stop the restoration ceremony."

Buffy squeezed AngelÆs hand. He shut his eyes.

"Again, weÆve got to stop him. At *all* costs." Something
in her voice was shaking. Determined.

She glanced up at the clock above the mantle. It was time.
She stood up and drifted to the door.

They followed.
***
END, 20.

_____________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 14:30:16 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Ingrid E Stanton)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: answers to the little problem

After a few messages, (thanks to everybody who e-mailed me) I've gathered
that these breaks are due to lines that are too long in fic. Personally,
I always make sure that my lines aren't too long by pressing return, and
aligning everything to the left (yeah, I know it's a pain, but it makes
for easier reading). I would advise all authors to do something like
this, because as good as a story is, those interruptions can be *really
annoying!* I don't have the list rules with me at the moment, but I know
they do give a certain number of characters as the max length of a given
line.
Thanks again!

- -Ingrid

_____________________________________________________________________
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: Sun, 24 May 1998 18:43:37 EDT
From: JMHnoodles <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: BUFFYFIC: DISCUSS: answers to the little problem

<< After a few messages, (thanks to everybody who e-mailed me) I've gathered
 that these breaks are due to lines that are too long in fic. Personally,
 I always make sure that my lines aren't too long by pressing return, and
 aligning everything to the left (yeah, I know it's a pain, but it makes
 for easier reading). I would advise all authors to do something like
 this, because as good as a story is, those interruptions can be *really
 annoying!*  >>

Before you start writing your story, set the right margin in your
word processor to 2.87", which corresponds to the amount of
characters per line maximum set in the list rules. Then, before
you copy it to your email, go through and press "return" at the
end of each line...this is what has worked the best and been the
easiest for me; I don't know if anyone has a better method. =)

Jen

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 22:57:52 -0400
From: [e-mail] (Ingrid E Stanton)
Subject: BUFFYFIC: "Reunion" Interlude zero: "Premonitions"

DISCLAIMER: They ain't mine. Don't sue.
SUMMARY: This takes place just before the first interlude,
which started with Buffy driving the car to meet the rest
of the gang who were performing the curse.
WARNING: PG-13 for violence, and a little connotation.
(Come on- A little connotation never hurt anyone!)
I WROTE THIS: To some more Rasputina music-
TheyÆre perfect for Drusilla! Song- their version of
"Why DonÆt You Do Right?" first published in the
early 40Æs!

"Reunion" Interlude # 0:
"Premonitions"
by Ingrid


She could feel it in her bones. Something was coming, and
was light and good and pure, and she wanted to kill it. And
she would.

It wanted to take her Angel away. They were purchasing-
purchasing the little glass sphere, and she could see it glowing,
positively reeking with love.

But who could she ask for help? Angel was away, and her dear
little Spike, as resourceful as he was, happened to loathe her
dear little Angel. True, she sighed, and was forced to admit that
she had played no small part in the whole affair. She grinned,
remembering those fingers traveling up her abdomen. But it
was oh so much fun!

And she couldnÆt risk telling any of the incompetent grunts they
kept around. She shuddered. Horrible brutes. They would no doubt
mention it to Spike, even if it was just a brainless bungling mistake.
They didnÆt make any other kind, really.

So she was on her own. She didnÆt have much of a problem with
that, except when it got too quiet, and she was afraid of something
popping out of the night sky all of a sudden. It was rather thrilling,
however, and she knew that this could be her only chance. The
pain got worse, and she nearly buckled over. With a great effort, she
remained silent. She didnÆt need Spike popping in here wondering
what was the matter, or worse yet, what sheÆd seen.

But she wasnÆt accustomed to forming a plan all by herself. Where
was Angelus? He couldnÆt beà

And then another pain shot through her stronger, practically bending
her body in half.

They were close, and that meant they already had him, but they were
waiting, she knew, waiting for that foul clear crystal orb. She had to
go. Now. Plans were a luxury of people who had time. She didnÆt.
Gathering her skirts up silently, she sped towards the archway, and
left unnoticed. She didnÆt bother taking anything with her. She didnÆt
need anything to rip out the slayerÆs heart.

***

The pain directed her there, intensifying suddenly, her version of
"hot" and cold. She half stumbled, half ran. She was leaving the
shop. The slayer was leaving the shop, and she was running. What
filthy hope exuded from her! It was nauseating.

She almost laughed aloud when she saw the slayerÆs face as she
realized what was going on.

"Naughty, naughty, little slayer," she chided, smiling melodramatically.

"I donÆt have time for this, Dru," she answered, punctuating her
statement with a hefty blow to the vampireÆs jaw.

She hadnÆt expected the strength of that determination, and fell in
shock to the floor. It didnÆt take her long, however, to recover. She
stood up and returned the punch. They were evenly matched tonight,
blow for blow, growing stronger as they fought.

But suddenly something obscured her vision, and she doubled over
in pain.

*Colors. There were so many colorsà*

She saw the slayer backing away, and shot out a claw to stop her.

*Instantly, something focused. It was her. The blonde girl was
standing next to a store. On the sidewalk. It was here, she was
here. And the girl struck out at her in her dream.*

Drusilla swiped at her arm hard enough to draw blood. She was
frantically striking back at the dream, but still it came.

*There was something in her hand. Sharp, wooden point, and
it found itÆs home in her chest. She watched in horror as the
stake ripped through the black crepe and flesh together.
And then there was that moment. She knew she was gone.
She could see the dust.*

And the slayer struck again. And again.

*It was growing dimmer at a frightening pace. Suddenly,
she couldnÆt see at all, and she clawed at the darkness in
vain.*

It was over. She said a silent goodbye to dear Edith and
her little Spike and felt a tear slip down her bloodless
cheek.

*Goodnight. I wonÆt be gone for long, I promise.*

It was growing dimmer at a frightening pace. Suddenly,
she couldnÆt see at all, and she clawed at the darkness in
vain.

***
END, Interlude 0. Hope I didnÆt confuse the heck out of
everyone with this part!

_____________________________________________________________________
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Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 01:38:18 -0400
From: "R. Smith" <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: How to Reforge a Broken Blade (3/?)

SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT=20
This story contains extensive references to any and all episodes up to
and including Becoming II. BE WARNED: if you haven=92t seen those
episodes, READ NO FURTHER!
THIS=20
SPACE=20
IS=20
FOR=20
YOUR
PROTECTION

        See part one for disclaimers and notes. Comments or requests for
previous parts to [e-mail]

                                **********
    It had been hours before she=92d stopped crying, during which he=92d wal=
ked
her to his car and driven her back to her hotel. During the short drive,
she=92d sat in a miserable huddle, not talking, just staring out the
window.
    He=92d worried that he=92d pushed her too far, too fast. He had been
informed that she was on thin ice emotionally, but he had felt that she
needed a kick in the pants to get her over whatever had driven her from
home. _That_ information had been left out of her dossier, and he
couldn=92t really deal with an incident he had no knowledge of.
    Now, looking at her, he thought maybe a softer touch would have been
better. Maybe it wasn=92t too late to salvage something.
    =93How about we get together tomorrow, and I=92ll show you Dayton?=94 he
asked, and, after getting no response, said, =93Or we could just hang out
and talk about why our lives suck.=94
    She shot him a dirty look.
    =93What would you know about my life?=94 she asked, =93Oh, wait, that=92=
s
right, you=92ve got a file on me.=94=20
    She went back to staring out the window, trying to ignore him.
    =93What I know is,=94 he replied, =93 you can=92t stay alone forever. I=92=
m
offering to be your friend, to listen to you bitch about the unfairness
of it all, and to try to help you figure out what you=92re gonna do next.
Trust me... you need someone. Who better than someone with at least a
few of the same problems?=94
    =93Look,=94 she snapped, pissed that he would try so transparent a tacti=
c
on her, =93I don=92t know you. I don=92t need you to be my friend. All yo=
u=92re
going to do is try to convince me to go back, and that=92s not going to
happen. So you can just cut the Mr. Understanding act right now.=94
    =93Yeah, ok,=94 he muttered, then changed the subject, =93Sorry to bothe=
r
you. Next time, I=92ll bleed on my own behalf. Like I asked for this
anymore than you did.=94
    =93What?=94 she said, glancing over at him.
    He pulled the car over, and rolled up his sleeve.  A long cut, from his
wrist almost to his elbow oozed a little blood as he jerked the arm up
to show her.
    =93One of three,=94 he said quietly, =93I know you didn=92t need my help.
You=92ve made that abundantly clear. But a =91thank you anyway=92 would h=
ave
been nice.=94
    =93You should have that looked at,=94 she said, suddenly concerned, =93I=
t
looks pretty nasty.=94
    *I didn=92t ask you to do that,* she thought, *I don=92t want anyone to =
get
hurt for me.*
    =93Nah,=94 he shrugged, =93I=92m a fast healer. A little hydrogen peroxi=
de and
I=92ll be good as new.=94
    =93I can relate,=94 she said, thinking back to all the cuts and bruises
she=92d gotten in the past two years; most of which were gone the next
day, =93I have the same thing. It comes in handy sometimes.=94
    =93I=92m sorry,=94 he chuckled, =93Was that something we have in common?=
 I must
have misunderstood you.=94
    She shot him a half smile, quickly suppressing it, as he continued.
    =93Tell you what,=94 he said, =93I promise not to try to get you back in
harness. Screw the mystery organization. They don=92t care about us,
anyway -- not as people. I=92ll tell them I blew it when I made contact,
and you took off. You=92ll have to stop using the credit card, though.
That=92s how they found you in the first place.=94
    He couldn=92t believe he was saying what he was saying, but what was mor=
e
important to him was that he actually meant it. If she didn=92t want to g=
o
back, he wouldn=92t be the one to make her. He knew what she was feeling,
and he understood how it must seem to a sixteen year old to know that
what short life they were allowed was not theirs to control.
    *The Hell with it,* he thought, *I=92ll help her get free.*
    =93Look,=94 he said, as she frowned at him, trying to decide if he was
suddenly sincere, =93I don=92t want you to take this the wrong way, but I=
=92ve
got a spare room at my place, no credit card required. You can stay with
me for a couple of days until you figure out your next step.=94
    =93How do I know you won=92t call the Mystery Squad and have me hauled b=
ack
to Sunnydale?=94 she asked, even though she believed him -- sort of.
    =93You don=92t,=94 he replied, =93But I won=92t. Whatever you decide to =
do,
they=92re out of the loop.=94
    =93Let me think about it,=94 she said, =93I can=92t concentrate enough a=
round
this headache to decide what to eat when I get back to the hotel.=94
    =93Okay,=94 he said, =93I=92ll swing by tomorrow? If you=92re here, grea=
t. If
you=92re not... good luck. But I hope you=92ll let me help you.=94
    They pulled up to the hotel entrance, and she got out.
    =93Don=92t hurry tomorrow,=94 she said, leaning in the car window, =93I =
plan on
sleeping until at least noon.=94=20
    She stretched, eliciting a long series of pops from her spine.
    =93I=92m really going to pay for tonight tomorrow,=94 she said, and with=
 a
wave, headed into the hotel.
    *Yeah,* Rick thought to himself as he drove away, *Me too, and for more
than just the fight.*
    Inside the hotel, Buffy checked her injuries, and the worst, the lump
on her head, had already stopped bleeding and was losing some of it=92s
swelling.
    *Thank God for mutant healing factors,* she thought as she climbed
exhaustedly into bed.
    She thought about the night=92s events, trying to decide what to do. Her
first instinct was to run for it and try to lose herself so no-one would
ever find her. She didn=92t think that would work very well, though, sinc=
e
she still had to eat, and to eat, she needed to use her card.
    Tomorrow, she=92d start taking her max cash withdrawals off of the card,
and squirreling away the money. Maybe she=92d take off once she had enoug=
h
money to carry her for a while.  Until then.... well, in the final
evaluation, she thought she could trust this Rick guy, for at least a
while. He seemed sincere in his concern, and if he was a little harsh,
well, she hadn=92t exactly been nice to him. It sounded like this
=93organization=94 had known where she was since she got here, and if the=
y
wanted someone to just grab her, they could have done that by now. She
really did need a friend right now, and he did seem to know how she
felt. He wasn=92t too sympathetic, but at least he gave her a chance to
talk before he judged her. It would be nice to have someone to talk to
about this stuff, at least for a little while.=20
    She missed Willow and wished that she had her to talk to about this.
Willow was a better judge of this kind of thing. However, Buffy still
wasn=92t ready to call her, so she=92d have to decide on her own.
    *I=92ll sleep on it,* she thought, as she slowly drifted off to sleep,
*And make a decision in the morning.*

                                            **********

    The next day, they both woke up sore and tired. He hadn=92t slept much,
worrying about whether or not she=92d be gone when he went to check on
her, and she had tossed and turned all night, torn between her various
needs and wants. They breakfasted at about the same time, got cleaned up
and then Rick headed over to the hotel.
    After much agonizing and soul searching, Buffy had decided to take Rick
up on his offer. It was better than the alternative, bleeding her bank
account dry until she had no choice but to live on the street. _If_ he
really wasn=92t going to turn her in, and _if_ he wasn=92t going to try t=
o
convince her to go back.
    She went down and checked out, grimacing at the amount she=92d run up in
only a week. She glanced at her watch -- 11:23. She sat down in the
lobby and waited for Rick to show up.
    He came pulling up at 12:01, and she thought wryly that it was a good
thing she=92d gotten up earlier than planned. He was glad to see her
sitting there. He=92d more than half expected her to be long gone.
    =93Hey,=94 he said, as she climbed into the car, =93How=92s the head?=94
    =93It=92s good,=94 she replied, =93How=92s the arm?=94
    =93Fine,=94 he lied, =93Almost good as new.=94
    In actuality, it was a little swollen, and he was worried about
infection. He=92d begun to notice that he didn=92t heal as fast as he had
when he was younger. Oh well, just one more thing to worry about. As if
his plate wasn=92t already full enough.
    They didn=92t say anything else as he pulled away from the hotel and int=
o
traffic.=20
    They drove a while in silence, and finally she said, =93No pressure to g=
o
back, and no report to the home office, right?=94
    =93I give you my word,=94 he replied gravely, =93I won=92t push you to d=
o
anything you don=92t want to do, and as far as my information broker is
concerned, you=92re gone.=94
    They drove along, with her looking out the window and him pointing out
places of interest. Finally, they pulled onto a long, gravel road.=20
    Buffy started to get a little nervous. Could she have read this guy
wrong? It didn=92t _feel_ like he was going to do her dirty, but she=92d
been wrong about people before.
    They pulled up next to a large house with an attached garage, with a
small car out front.
    =93Home sweet home,=94 he muttered.
    He led her in the front door, and turned off the security system.=20
    =93The code is 0187, then 1 to turn it off or 2 to turn it on.=94 he sai=
d,
=93I have a spare key around here somewhere. The Toyota out there is your=
s
to use. I got it for my son, but he=92s got a while before he can drive
it.=94
    =93Umm... no license.=94 she said, =93I haven=92t really needed one befo=
re.
Sunnydale is pretty small.=94
    =93We=92ll work on that, somehow,=94 he said, =93Anyway, kitchen=92s in =
there, TV
room, main bath=92s upstairs to the left, your room is down the hall from
it.=94 He gestured toward each room as he ticked it off, =93You won=92t h=
ave
to share the bathroom with me, though, because your room has it=92s own.
Come on, I=92ll show you.=94=20
    As they went upstairs, he continued, =93Out through the kitchen is my
office/gym, in case you feel the need to work out. I=92ve got a pell out
there as well as a heavy bag. Anything you need, just let me know, I=92ll
take care of it." He pointed out more rooms as they passed them, "Main
bath, my room, spare room, linen closet -- plenty of towels and spare
blankets in there, and here=92s your room. It=92s actually my daughter=92=
s
room, but she doesn=92t use it much, so it=92s no big deal. Your bathroom=
 is
through there.=94
    Buffy looked around the room, obviously decorated for a girl of about
six or seven years old. She could see how much love had gone into this
room, but it didn=92t look lived in. It looked more like a model, or a
shrine.
    Rick followed her gaze, and quietly said, =93I know, it=92s a little you=
ng
for you. Change whatever you want, it=92s no big deal.=94
    =93No, this will be okay,=94 she replied, =93I could take the other spar=
e
room, if that=92d be easier. I don=92t want to put your daughter out.=94
    He chuckled without any real mirth, =93Nah, to tell the truth, she hasn=92=
t
been here in six years, and we don=92t have any plans for her to be here
any time soon. Besides, the other room is for her brother, decorated
when he was eight. You=92ll like this one better. Seriously, make whateve=
r
changes you want, she wouldn=92t like it this way anyway.=94
    He looked so sad that Buffy wanted to ask him what had happened to keep
his children away from him, but he didn=92t seem to want to talk, so
instead, she tossed her bag on the bed and checked out the bathroom.
    =93I=92ll let you get settled in,=94 he said, =93If you need anything ju=
st
yell.=94
    He shut the door behind him as he left.
    Buffy sat down on the bed, and looked around the room. The pink unicorn
wallpaper was going to drive her crazy if she ended up staying very
long, but the stuffed animals reminded her of Willow=92s room, so they
could probably stay. She wandered around the room, picking up the
various knick-knacks and opening drawers and closet doors. She picked up
a big gray teddy bear and hung onto it as she finished the tour.
    The bear seemed more broken in than most of the other toys in the room,
like maybe Rick=92s daughter had actually played with it. It was very
snuggly, so Buffy tossed it onto the bed. She figured she=92d need
something snuggly.
    She checked the bed -- one blanket.
    *Well,* she thought, *That will never do.*
    She stepped out into the hall and across to the linen closet, and as
she opened the door, she heard him talking to someone, probably on the
phone.
    =93Damn it, Trina,=94 he was saying, =93I just want to see them.=94
    He paused, then said, =93I know. Hell, you think I don=92t remember? No,
no, listen.... I think that they=92ll be safe around me in broad
daylight.=94 Another pause, then, =93No, I can=92t say with 100% certaint=
y
that that won=92t happen, you know that.... Yes, I know that this was my
idea in the first place, but....... Okay, fine, sue me for missing
them!=94
    Buffy heard him slam the phone down, and realized she was standing in
the hallway listening. She quickly reached into the closet and pulled
out a nice heavy quilt.
    Rick came out of his room fuming and stopped short when he saw her
standing there.
    =93Umm... you heard?=94 he asked with some embarrassment.
    =93Yeah, sorry,=94 she replied, =93I couldn=92t help it.=94
    =93Don=92t worry about it,=94 he said, =93It=92s just life crapping on m=
e. You
get used to it after a while.=94
    =93You want to talk about it?=94 she asked.
    =93I thought we were gonna talk about why _your_ life sucked today.=94 h=
e
said, =93This is nothing new for me.=94
    =93I=92d rather talk about your problems.=94 she smiled weakly, =93It mi=
ght
take my mind off of mine for a while. I could really use that.=94
    =93Okay,=94 he replied glumly, =93Come on downstairs and I=92ll tell you=
 my
whole sad tale.=94

more to come...

------------------------------

End of buffyfic-digest V2 #201
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