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jesterladyficTitle: Grace Fills Up Uneven Nature
by Jesterlady
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Willow/Oz, Xander/Anya, slight Spike/Buffy if you squint :)
Summary: A rewrite of BTVS S4, but this time, I'm really focusing on Willow/Oz.
Disclaimer: I don't own BTVS. Some lines are from the show. The title is by George Hebert. This chapter's title is by Charles Williams
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three: Neither Corn Nor Carnival
Watching Xander dig brought up two things. One, Anya began to expand her fantasy life and utilize her imagination. Two, Buffy began to pine for a good, old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner. Willow was too preoccupied with Oz to think about it much, but she promised Buffy they would come. Giles was roped into hosting and it all seemed like it would be perfect. Of course, it was the Hellmouth and a nasty murder coupled with Xander’s syphilis were the first indicators that something was the matter.
Buffy was out shopping for yams. It was a brutal mission and she’d had to use all her Slayer resources in order
to accomplish it.
It was late and she was walking home with bags full of groceries. She was starting to feel unusual the past few
days, like she was being watched. It was a creepy feeling and yet, not one that scared her. It was like something
she would’ve welcomed. She pushed it to the back of her mind. After all, she had a dinner to cook.
A flash of white caught the corner of her eye and she sighed in frustration. It wasn’t like Slayers got holidays
off, but she’d think the forces of evil would avoid more special days than just Halloween.
“Spike, I know it’s you. Let’s just get this over with because I don’t trust Anya to put the brandy in on time.”
She could hear sounds of a fight and rounded a tombstone to see Angel and Spike simultaneously fighting
each other and what looked like an authentic Native American. She wondered if she’d stepped into another
dimension as Spike smashed his elbow in Angel’s face and then grabbed the Indian’s arm as it was about to do the
same and twisted it behind the Indian’s back.
Why was there an Indian and why was there Angel? Those were the two questions Buffy wanted answered and
so threw herself into the fight with abandon.
“I’d like an explanation,” she grunted out, taking a blow to the stomach from Spike.
“For him, nothing pretty.”
“Shut up, Spike. Angel?”
“You weren’t supposed to see me, Buffy,” Angel said, twisting under the Indian’s knife and keeping it from
hitting Spike.
“Not what I was looking for.” Buffy ducked to avoid a blow and discovered Spike had blocked it for her. That
was strange enough to render her almost action-less.
He smirked at her and kicked Angel in the ribs.
“What’s with Tonto here?”
“Chumash Indians. They’ve been stirred up by the excavation.”
“And why Spike?”
“I’m bored,” the object of discussion put in. “Thought I’d find me some fun.” The Chumash brought his knife
toward Buffy’s heart. Spike leapt in front of it and the knife grazed harmlessly aside. The Chumash shimmered and
turned into a bird and Spike’s heroics allowed Angel to hit him over the head. Buffy pulled out a stake and held it to
his heart. “Wait,” he muttered, “I’ve got information.”
“I’ve heard that before. After what you did to Willow?”
“Bird’s fine. Those soldier boys. I know all about them.” Buffy hesitated. “I’ve been in their lair. They’re on the
campus.”
“Fine, but you’re coming with me.”
“Make it rough, Slayer,” he growled playfully.
She made a face at him, but pulled him along behind her with Angel’s help back to Giles’ house whereupon she tied
him up and decided a gag would be necessary.
Then she went to have a private talk with Angel. She wasn’t exactly pleased to see him and he didn’t know it
yet, but he was on the first midnight flight back to LA.
***
Willow almost toppled over as she moved the next stack of books. Oz’s room had become a library in the short time that he’d been back. It was rivaled only by her own dorm room where she could swear she tried to keep the books from getting on Buffy’s side.
“Four days, Will,” Oz reminded her. “Could you take a break?”
“No, no. There’s so much here. I just need to get through it. Before anything else happens.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
“It is the place of evil we live on,” Willow muttered. “I’m sure something…”
“Wolfy?” he suggested mildly.
She turned to face him, the books forgotten.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re just waiting for me to go off again and you’re trying to fix it before it can happen. I get it. I’m
waiting too. But I gotta not freak out over it.”
“So, I’m freaking? Well, yes, I am. But, it’s not like I don’t have reason.”
“Probably every reason in the world. I just don’t want you to give up your life for this research.”
“I’m not-“ The phone rang, interrupting her. Willow reached over to answer it. “Buffy? Hi. No. No, I can’t talk.
I’m sorry. Oh, dinner. Um, maybe later. I’ll try. Bye.” She turned back to Oz. “What’s with the life-giving up crazy
talk?”
He pointed to the phone.
“You don’t think that slightly resembled life -giving up?”
“I can’t help that our needs are more important than Buffy’s.”
“They’re important, I agree. I just feel like the wolf’s only half the problem. We gotta deal with us issues and
still have time to be the sidekicks in the saving the world gig.”
“Fine, you’re right,” Willow acquiesced. “But I just want to finish this Compendium. Please?”
He smiled at the look on her face.
“Fine, but come here.”
She curled up against him tentatively. She was a bit unsure of herself these days where he was concerned. She could admit to herself it was part of the reason for her book rampage. She didn’t want to approach him first anymore. She wanted him to make every first move.
“I can read here,” she said, opening the book up.
He read over her shoulder, softly stroking her hair.
***
He thought he could tell what was going on in her head. He wished he could make the thoughts and fears go away. But he knew it was his fault. Every decision he’d made had led them here and all he could do was make sure that things didn’t escalate.
He’d been leaning heavily on research as well the last couple of days. He hadn’t seen Devon in that time, had
shown up for three out of five classes and done zero homework. He might have seen Buffy twice, but Willow had
almost literally spent the last four days in his room, reading. That didn’t make him as happy as having her there
normally did.
“Hey, Will?”
“Yeah?” she asked, only half listening.
“I love you.”
She twisted around to face him.
“Really?” She’d obviously been having trouble believing it lately.
“Really. Forever.”
“I love you too.”
“We’ll figure this out. Together.”
Willow softly pressed her lips to his and turned back to her book. Oz picked up where he’d left off in the one
he’d been reading before, still playing with her hair.
He felt a little bit better.
***
Spike ducked another arrow.
“Oi, watch the heart!”
“Stop whining.” Buffy slowly made her way to his chair and tugged on the leg, making him fall over with a yell.
Buffy didn’t know why she had made sure he wouldn’t be dusted, but letting him bang his head on the floor was a
bonus.
“I do believe some back up is necessary,” Giles said unnecessarily.
“Well, I’m not untying him,” Buffy said, pointing her thumb back at the struggling Spike.
“I’m no fan of Angel’s, but it might have been nice…”
“Giles, I’m more concerned about the cranberry sauce.”
“Perhaps you could try calling Willow and Xander again?”
“Xander’s on his way, with syphilis. And Willow, no answer.”
“Splendid Thanksgiving, don’t you think?”
“Whinge, whinge, Watcher,” Spike put in.
Buffy heard the snapping as he broke through his ropes and flung herself at him, pinning him to the floor behind the
couch.
“Didn’t know you wanted it that bad, Slayer,” he said and smirked from beneath her.
Buffy ignored him and searched for something to keep him occupied. Giles’ weapon chest was at hand and
she rummaged through it with one hand as she held him down with the other. If there hadn’t been flying death all
around them, she doubted he would have stayed still. She managed to find some manacles that would take him
longer to break out of.
“Stay down,” she warned him.
“Cause I was planning on picking out my ashtray,” he said sarcastically.
Buffy crawled towards Giles, having grabbed a crossbow.
“I’d like to start fighting back now,” she explained.
She shot a few of the Indians, but they didn’t seem to mind it too much. Sounds of a scuffle from outside
seemed to indicate that even a syphilis-infected Xander was going to put up a fight.
The arrows stopped flying and the warriors descended into Giles’ flat. One of them she recognized from the
cemetery. They fought for awhile, but he didn’t seem to be fully on her physical plane or something like that.
Something that kept her from killing him.
Swiping his knife seemed to help. Then it seemed not to.
“A bear. You made a bear!”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Undo it! Undo it!” Spike cried from his position on the floor.
Another slash with the knife and the bear changed back into the warrior who dissipated into dust. Buffy turned
to Giles and saw his opponent disappear as well, though not before conking Giles on the head.
A normal day then. Despite it’s being Thanksgiving. But there was one thing that was not normal and that was
the fact that not all of the Scoobies had made it to the fight. Buffy was irked. After making sure Giles wouldn’t bleed
to death, Spike wouldn’t escape and that the rapidly recovering Xander was ensconced on the couch with a nursing
Anya, Buffy gave in to her heart’s desire and rushed to the kitchen.
It took a long time to clean up the mess. There was broken glass and broken furniture and burnt potatoes.
Buffy was only mollified because her gravy seemed to turn out almost as well as her mom’s.
They’d just managed to salvage all the food when Willow and Oz strolled in.
“What happened?”
“Usual thing whenever I try to do something nice. Hellmouth-y goodness. Thanks for the timely arrival.”
“Buffy, I’m so sorry. Are you guys okay?”
Oz took a look around the room.
“You cleaned up nicely.”
“We’re fine. Xander is no longer planning on dying and Giles has his usual bump. Plus, I captured Spike.”
“Slightly off on the details there, pet.” Spike had been relocated to a chair with several sets of chains. Buffy
wasn’t taking anymore chances.
“Why’s he not dusty?”
“Information. I have it. Care to come get it, Red?” Spike leered at her and Oz took a step forward.
“Um, no, no thanks. So, can I help with dinner?”
“We’re all done,” Anya announced. “I helped.”
“Buffy, I’m sorry. I was just all caught up.”
“I can see that,” Buffy said, pointing to the mussed hair and Oz’s shirt on inside out. “But don’t sweat it. I
wanted Thanksgiving, we’re all here, all alive, so let’s enjoy it.”
“Excellent plan says the recovering, starving man.” Xander stood up from the couch.
They gathered around the table and Buffy served her first Thanksgiving dinner.
by Jesterlady
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Willow/Oz, Xander/Anya, slight Spike/Buffy if you squint :)
Summary: A rewrite of BTVS S4, but this time, I'm really focusing on Willow/Oz.
Disclaimer: I don't own BTVS. Some lines are from the show. The title is by George Hebert. This chapter's title is by Charles Williams
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three: Neither Corn Nor Carnival
Watching Xander dig brought up two things. One, Anya began to expand her fantasy life and utilize her imagination. Two, Buffy began to pine for a good, old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner. Willow was too preoccupied with Oz to think about it much, but she promised Buffy they would come. Giles was roped into hosting and it all seemed like it would be perfect. Of course, it was the Hellmouth and a nasty murder coupled with Xander’s syphilis were the first indicators that something was the matter.
Buffy was out shopping for yams. It was a brutal mission and she’d had to use all her Slayer resources in order
to accomplish it.
It was late and she was walking home with bags full of groceries. She was starting to feel unusual the past few
days, like she was being watched. It was a creepy feeling and yet, not one that scared her. It was like something
she would’ve welcomed. She pushed it to the back of her mind. After all, she had a dinner to cook.
A flash of white caught the corner of her eye and she sighed in frustration. It wasn’t like Slayers got holidays
off, but she’d think the forces of evil would avoid more special days than just Halloween.
“Spike, I know it’s you. Let’s just get this over with because I don’t trust Anya to put the brandy in on time.”
She could hear sounds of a fight and rounded a tombstone to see Angel and Spike simultaneously fighting
each other and what looked like an authentic Native American. She wondered if she’d stepped into another
dimension as Spike smashed his elbow in Angel’s face and then grabbed the Indian’s arm as it was about to do the
same and twisted it behind the Indian’s back.
Why was there an Indian and why was there Angel? Those were the two questions Buffy wanted answered and
so threw herself into the fight with abandon.
“I’d like an explanation,” she grunted out, taking a blow to the stomach from Spike.
“For him, nothing pretty.”
“Shut up, Spike. Angel?”
“You weren’t supposed to see me, Buffy,” Angel said, twisting under the Indian’s knife and keeping it from
hitting Spike.
“Not what I was looking for.” Buffy ducked to avoid a blow and discovered Spike had blocked it for her. That
was strange enough to render her almost action-less.
He smirked at her and kicked Angel in the ribs.
“What’s with Tonto here?”
“Chumash Indians. They’ve been stirred up by the excavation.”
“And why Spike?”
“I’m bored,” the object of discussion put in. “Thought I’d find me some fun.” The Chumash brought his knife
toward Buffy’s heart. Spike leapt in front of it and the knife grazed harmlessly aside. The Chumash shimmered and
turned into a bird and Spike’s heroics allowed Angel to hit him over the head. Buffy pulled out a stake and held it to
his heart. “Wait,” he muttered, “I’ve got information.”
“I’ve heard that before. After what you did to Willow?”
“Bird’s fine. Those soldier boys. I know all about them.” Buffy hesitated. “I’ve been in their lair. They’re on the
campus.”
“Fine, but you’re coming with me.”
“Make it rough, Slayer,” he growled playfully.
She made a face at him, but pulled him along behind her with Angel’s help back to Giles’ house whereupon she tied
him up and decided a gag would be necessary.
Then she went to have a private talk with Angel. She wasn’t exactly pleased to see him and he didn’t know it
yet, but he was on the first midnight flight back to LA.
***
Willow almost toppled over as she moved the next stack of books. Oz’s room had become a library in the short time that he’d been back. It was rivaled only by her own dorm room where she could swear she tried to keep the books from getting on Buffy’s side.
“Four days, Will,” Oz reminded her. “Could you take a break?”
“No, no. There’s so much here. I just need to get through it. Before anything else happens.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
“It is the place of evil we live on,” Willow muttered. “I’m sure something…”
“Wolfy?” he suggested mildly.
She turned to face him, the books forgotten.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you’re just waiting for me to go off again and you’re trying to fix it before it can happen. I get it. I’m
waiting too. But I gotta not freak out over it.”
“So, I’m freaking? Well, yes, I am. But, it’s not like I don’t have reason.”
“Probably every reason in the world. I just don’t want you to give up your life for this research.”
“I’m not-“ The phone rang, interrupting her. Willow reached over to answer it. “Buffy? Hi. No. No, I can’t talk.
I’m sorry. Oh, dinner. Um, maybe later. I’ll try. Bye.” She turned back to Oz. “What’s with the life-giving up crazy
talk?”
He pointed to the phone.
“You don’t think that slightly resembled life -giving up?”
“I can’t help that our needs are more important than Buffy’s.”
“They’re important, I agree. I just feel like the wolf’s only half the problem. We gotta deal with us issues and
still have time to be the sidekicks in the saving the world gig.”
“Fine, you’re right,” Willow acquiesced. “But I just want to finish this Compendium. Please?”
He smiled at the look on her face.
“Fine, but come here.”
She curled up against him tentatively. She was a bit unsure of herself these days where he was concerned. She could admit to herself it was part of the reason for her book rampage. She didn’t want to approach him first anymore. She wanted him to make every first move.
“I can read here,” she said, opening the book up.
He read over her shoulder, softly stroking her hair.
***
He thought he could tell what was going on in her head. He wished he could make the thoughts and fears go away. But he knew it was his fault. Every decision he’d made had led them here and all he could do was make sure that things didn’t escalate.
He’d been leaning heavily on research as well the last couple of days. He hadn’t seen Devon in that time, had
shown up for three out of five classes and done zero homework. He might have seen Buffy twice, but Willow had
almost literally spent the last four days in his room, reading. That didn’t make him as happy as having her there
normally did.
“Hey, Will?”
“Yeah?” she asked, only half listening.
“I love you.”
She twisted around to face him.
“Really?” She’d obviously been having trouble believing it lately.
“Really. Forever.”
“I love you too.”
“We’ll figure this out. Together.”
Willow softly pressed her lips to his and turned back to her book. Oz picked up where he’d left off in the one
he’d been reading before, still playing with her hair.
He felt a little bit better.
***
Spike ducked another arrow.
“Oi, watch the heart!”
“Stop whining.” Buffy slowly made her way to his chair and tugged on the leg, making him fall over with a yell.
Buffy didn’t know why she had made sure he wouldn’t be dusted, but letting him bang his head on the floor was a
bonus.
“I do believe some back up is necessary,” Giles said unnecessarily.
“Well, I’m not untying him,” Buffy said, pointing her thumb back at the struggling Spike.
“I’m no fan of Angel’s, but it might have been nice…”
“Giles, I’m more concerned about the cranberry sauce.”
“Perhaps you could try calling Willow and Xander again?”
“Xander’s on his way, with syphilis. And Willow, no answer.”
“Splendid Thanksgiving, don’t you think?”
“Whinge, whinge, Watcher,” Spike put in.
Buffy heard the snapping as he broke through his ropes and flung herself at him, pinning him to the floor behind the
couch.
“Didn’t know you wanted it that bad, Slayer,” he said and smirked from beneath her.
Buffy ignored him and searched for something to keep him occupied. Giles’ weapon chest was at hand and
she rummaged through it with one hand as she held him down with the other. If there hadn’t been flying death all
around them, she doubted he would have stayed still. She managed to find some manacles that would take him
longer to break out of.
“Stay down,” she warned him.
“Cause I was planning on picking out my ashtray,” he said sarcastically.
Buffy crawled towards Giles, having grabbed a crossbow.
“I’d like to start fighting back now,” she explained.
She shot a few of the Indians, but they didn’t seem to mind it too much. Sounds of a scuffle from outside
seemed to indicate that even a syphilis-infected Xander was going to put up a fight.
The arrows stopped flying and the warriors descended into Giles’ flat. One of them she recognized from the
cemetery. They fought for awhile, but he didn’t seem to be fully on her physical plane or something like that.
Something that kept her from killing him.
Swiping his knife seemed to help. Then it seemed not to.
“A bear. You made a bear!”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“Undo it! Undo it!” Spike cried from his position on the floor.
Another slash with the knife and the bear changed back into the warrior who dissipated into dust. Buffy turned
to Giles and saw his opponent disappear as well, though not before conking Giles on the head.
A normal day then. Despite it’s being Thanksgiving. But there was one thing that was not normal and that was
the fact that not all of the Scoobies had made it to the fight. Buffy was irked. After making sure Giles wouldn’t bleed
to death, Spike wouldn’t escape and that the rapidly recovering Xander was ensconced on the couch with a nursing
Anya, Buffy gave in to her heart’s desire and rushed to the kitchen.
It took a long time to clean up the mess. There was broken glass and broken furniture and burnt potatoes.
Buffy was only mollified because her gravy seemed to turn out almost as well as her mom’s.
They’d just managed to salvage all the food when Willow and Oz strolled in.
“What happened?”
“Usual thing whenever I try to do something nice. Hellmouth-y goodness. Thanks for the timely arrival.”
“Buffy, I’m so sorry. Are you guys okay?”
Oz took a look around the room.
“You cleaned up nicely.”
“We’re fine. Xander is no longer planning on dying and Giles has his usual bump. Plus, I captured Spike.”
“Slightly off on the details there, pet.” Spike had been relocated to a chair with several sets of chains. Buffy
wasn’t taking anymore chances.
“Why’s he not dusty?”
“Information. I have it. Care to come get it, Red?” Spike leered at her and Oz took a step forward.
“Um, no, no thanks. So, can I help with dinner?”
“We’re all done,” Anya announced. “I helped.”
“Buffy, I’m sorry. I was just all caught up.”
“I can see that,” Buffy said, pointing to the mussed hair and Oz’s shirt on inside out. “But don’t sweat it. I
wanted Thanksgiving, we’re all here, all alive, so let’s enjoy it.”
“Excellent plan says the recovering, starving man.” Xander stood up from the couch.
They gathered around the table and Buffy served her first Thanksgiving dinner.
