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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 Caleb Colton
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight: Murmur at Nothing
Buffy snuck through the cemetery with unusual secrecy. She normally didn’t care if vamps heard her coming, but tonight she wasn’t hunting vamps. She’d followed her quarry through quite a large section of Sunnydale and was getting tired. It was time to make a move.
The Commando didn’t stand a chance and Buffy had kicked his taser away before he knew what was
happening. A muffled groan came through his mask as she kicked him in the stomach and he stumbled backwards.
He caught her arm before it hit and got in a swing of his own before she tripped him onto his back and held her knife
to his throat.
“Now,” she said, “before I get testy at having people come into my territory, I’ll give you a chance to explain
yourself.”
“Buffy?”
“Riley? I knew you were acting funny the other night!”
“Buffy, what are-“
“Ah ah, my turn.” Buffy ripped his mask off. “Now, tell me about the Initiative and what they’re doing in my
town.”
***
Oz made the final turn into the campus and pulled up outside Willow’s dorm. She turned to him as she opened the door.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I need to sleep. We both gotta think.”
“Right.” Willow couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. Oz reached for her.
“Stop it, Will. We’re cool, it’s just late. I love you.”
“I know.” Willow kissed him back. “You’re going to meet me at Giles’ tomorrow?”
“I will. With bells on. As much as a guy such as myself doesn’t do bells.”
“I like you anyway.” She kissed him again and headed inside. Oz had wanted to wait on a Tibet decision and
she agreed with him. She was more inclined to think they could do something here and she definitely didn’t want
him to go so far away. Who knew what would happen? But Sirjani had given them research to give to Giles who
could help them here and she was willing to start with that.
***
“You told her what?” Maggie wheeled on the hapless Riley.
“I told her nothing confidential. She already had the intel.”
“But she’s nothing; she’s just a college girl.”
“Not according to what I saw. She said she’s the Slayer.”
“The Slayer? A myth.”
“I can only tell you that, ma’am.”
Maggie’s face grew quiet.
“Dismissed, Finn.” She walked back towards 314. “Now the question becomes what we are to do about it.”
***
Giles headed through the cemetery, thankful that it was daylight. He wasn’t sure where he could find Spike, but at least he didn’t have to worry about other vamps as he tried.
“You’re getting to love this cemetery, aren’t you, Rupes?”
“Spike!” Giles almost shouted as he turned around. He was passing a shady patch next to a couple of crypts.
“You gonna run tell the Slayer where I am since I can’t leave?”
“I doubt that. I’m sure you’ve squatted next to an entrance to the sewers at least.”
“Well, you’re right at that.” Spike lit a cigarette and leaned back against the crypt wall. “Whatcha want?”
“I wanted to…to thank you.”
Spike almost spit the cigarette out.
“Take it back, I don’t want it.”
“Spike, I grow tired of your inability to act like a decent…”
“Human being? Newsflash, Watcher, I'm not human.”
“Point taken,” Giles conceded. “But your behavior has never suggested someone who does things because he
is supposed to. I believe you could be a great asset if you’d only allow yourself.”
“A great asset? Sodding lunatic you are.”
“No, Spike, I’m quite intelligent and observant. If you’d pull your head out of your own arse, you’d see it and
stop being such a bloody ponce.”
“Pulling out the big guns now. Well, you can bloody forget it.”
“Just think about it. You know where to find me. Though I have revoked your invite to my house as I’d rather
appreciate not being killed in the middle of the night.”
“You wound me. I’d never kill you in your asleep. That’s Angel’s style. It’s more fun when you’re awake.”
“I’m starting to regret this conversation. I’m not suggesting forever friendship; I’d just like to think we could
cohabitate in a profitable way for both of us.”
“Cold day in hell.”
“Best put your coat on then.” And Giles walked away. He wasn’t sure why he was so adamant about this. He
felt within his deeply honed Watcher’s instinct that this could be a good thing for their lives. As much as it would
annoy the hell out of them.
***
Spike slipped into the sewers, throwing his cigarette into the dank water. So, the Watcher wanted an alliance. Well, it had been less horrible the other night than he thought. And he knew for a fact that killing demons was a lot more fun, if less tasty, than killing humans. Maybe he would think about it. Maybe.
***
Buffy had been taking a refreshing walk before patrol. Xander had joined her and they’d laughed and hung out. Normal for a Slayer and her friends who were used to graveyards. Then she’d been attacked, Xander had been knocked out and she was getting angrier by the minute. These weren’t demons she was used to seeing, not that Sunnydale didn’t attract them like moths to flame. The flame being her, of course.
And then Frankenstein had shown up and Buffy had gotten scared. She was alone with only a stake and an
unconscious, sometime pizza delivery boy and this monster was stronger than anything she’d faced for a long time.
Xander groaned and stirred to awakening.
“Xander, run. And I mean it. I’ll find you, but you’ve got to get out of here.” Buffy wasn’t sure how she’d
managed to get all those words out while fighting off the monster.
***
Xander slowly pulled himself to his feet. He didn’t like his chances of fighting and he hated to run, but he knew Buffy couldn’t worry about him and fight at the same time. He left, knowing he was going to go straight to Giles and everyone in between.
***
“You care about this boy deeply. That is interesting. Perhaps I should find out what makes him so special.”
“Perhaps you should find out what makes me so special,” Buffy grunted, falling to the ground.
“Thank you. I will.”
“Now that we’re on such good terms, how about telling me who the hell you are?”
“My name is Adam.”
“Not very pleased to meet you.” Buffy gave him a blow to the head that actually made him stumble a bit and
she made her getaway as fast as she could. She wasn’t far from the fence of the cemetery and she vaulted over it,
landing on an injured leg and wincing. She ran for the relative safety of Giles’.
***
Adam watched her go and made his own way home. Maggie met him as he slipped back into 314.
“What are you doing? You were supposed to kill her. Adam, this is not the plan.”
Adam calmly skewered her.
“I have changed the plan, Mother. But I will make you proud.”
***
They were rallying the troops when Buffy burst into the room, limping, bleeding and scared.
It was probably a shock. It wasn’t often that Buffy looked like that. Willow moved instantly to her friend.
“Here, sit down, it’s okay.” Giles ran for the medical kit he kept handy and had been ready to use on Xander.
“What was it?”
“Adam. That’s all I know. Adam. And he’s weird.”
Buffy let herself be treated; feeling her Slayer healing start to work and allowing her anger to build back up.
“Either a new baddie is in town…” Oz let his sentence hang.
“Or the Initiative cooked something up for me,” Buffy said viciously. “And I’m ready to think it’s that one. But
research, I guess.”
“Of course. And it’s time for you to be in bed. We need you fit, Buffy. Patrol can go for one night.”
“I’m taking Xander home. He needs rest and I know just how to do it. You can fill us in on any weird
Frankenstein creatures when he’s well,” Anya announced and gently supported Xander out.
“Let’s get back home. I can’t show my face to my mother or she’ll freak,” Buffy told Willow.
“I’m staying,” Oz said. “Giles is starting my meditation. Use my van, Will.”
“Won’t you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. If I need to, I’ll call.”
“Be careful. And good luck.” Willow helped Buffy out and Giles put away the med kit and got out Sirjani’s
notes.
***
Oz turned back to Giles, feeling as if he was embarking on the hardest thing he’d ever do in his life. Sirjani had warned him it would be hard, but Oz just didn’t know if he could take disappointing Willow again in case this didn’t work out as well as they hoped.
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 Caleb Colton
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight: Murmur at Nothing
Buffy snuck through the cemetery with unusual secrecy. She normally didn’t care if vamps heard her coming, but tonight she wasn’t hunting vamps. She’d followed her quarry through quite a large section of Sunnydale and was getting tired. It was time to make a move.
The Commando didn’t stand a chance and Buffy had kicked his taser away before he knew what was
happening. A muffled groan came through his mask as she kicked him in the stomach and he stumbled backwards.
He caught her arm before it hit and got in a swing of his own before she tripped him onto his back and held her knife
to his throat.
“Now,” she said, “before I get testy at having people come into my territory, I’ll give you a chance to explain
yourself.”
“Buffy?”
“Riley? I knew you were acting funny the other night!”
“Buffy, what are-“
“Ah ah, my turn.” Buffy ripped his mask off. “Now, tell me about the Initiative and what they’re doing in my
town.”
***
Oz made the final turn into the campus and pulled up outside Willow’s dorm. She turned to him as she opened the door.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I need to sleep. We both gotta think.”
“Right.” Willow couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. Oz reached for her.
“Stop it, Will. We’re cool, it’s just late. I love you.”
“I know.” Willow kissed him back. “You’re going to meet me at Giles’ tomorrow?”
“I will. With bells on. As much as a guy such as myself doesn’t do bells.”
“I like you anyway.” She kissed him again and headed inside. Oz had wanted to wait on a Tibet decision and
she agreed with him. She was more inclined to think they could do something here and she definitely didn’t want
him to go so far away. Who knew what would happen? But Sirjani had given them research to give to Giles who
could help them here and she was willing to start with that.
***
“You told her what?” Maggie wheeled on the hapless Riley.
“I told her nothing confidential. She already had the intel.”
“But she’s nothing; she’s just a college girl.”
“Not according to what I saw. She said she’s the Slayer.”
“The Slayer? A myth.”
“I can only tell you that, ma’am.”
Maggie’s face grew quiet.
“Dismissed, Finn.” She walked back towards 314. “Now the question becomes what we are to do about it.”
***
Giles headed through the cemetery, thankful that it was daylight. He wasn’t sure where he could find Spike, but at least he didn’t have to worry about other vamps as he tried.
“You’re getting to love this cemetery, aren’t you, Rupes?”
“Spike!” Giles almost shouted as he turned around. He was passing a shady patch next to a couple of crypts.
“You gonna run tell the Slayer where I am since I can’t leave?”
“I doubt that. I’m sure you’ve squatted next to an entrance to the sewers at least.”
“Well, you’re right at that.” Spike lit a cigarette and leaned back against the crypt wall. “Whatcha want?”
“I wanted to…to thank you.”
Spike almost spit the cigarette out.
“Take it back, I don’t want it.”
“Spike, I grow tired of your inability to act like a decent…”
“Human being? Newsflash, Watcher, I'm not human.”
“Point taken,” Giles conceded. “But your behavior has never suggested someone who does things because he
is supposed to. I believe you could be a great asset if you’d only allow yourself.”
“A great asset? Sodding lunatic you are.”
“No, Spike, I’m quite intelligent and observant. If you’d pull your head out of your own arse, you’d see it and
stop being such a bloody ponce.”
“Pulling out the big guns now. Well, you can bloody forget it.”
“Just think about it. You know where to find me. Though I have revoked your invite to my house as I’d rather
appreciate not being killed in the middle of the night.”
“You wound me. I’d never kill you in your asleep. That’s Angel’s style. It’s more fun when you’re awake.”
“I’m starting to regret this conversation. I’m not suggesting forever friendship; I’d just like to think we could
cohabitate in a profitable way for both of us.”
“Cold day in hell.”
“Best put your coat on then.” And Giles walked away. He wasn’t sure why he was so adamant about this. He
felt within his deeply honed Watcher’s instinct that this could be a good thing for their lives. As much as it would
annoy the hell out of them.
***
Spike slipped into the sewers, throwing his cigarette into the dank water. So, the Watcher wanted an alliance. Well, it had been less horrible the other night than he thought. And he knew for a fact that killing demons was a lot more fun, if less tasty, than killing humans. Maybe he would think about it. Maybe.
***
Buffy had been taking a refreshing walk before patrol. Xander had joined her and they’d laughed and hung out. Normal for a Slayer and her friends who were used to graveyards. Then she’d been attacked, Xander had been knocked out and she was getting angrier by the minute. These weren’t demons she was used to seeing, not that Sunnydale didn’t attract them like moths to flame. The flame being her, of course.
And then Frankenstein had shown up and Buffy had gotten scared. She was alone with only a stake and an
unconscious, sometime pizza delivery boy and this monster was stronger than anything she’d faced for a long time.
Xander groaned and stirred to awakening.
“Xander, run. And I mean it. I’ll find you, but you’ve got to get out of here.” Buffy wasn’t sure how she’d
managed to get all those words out while fighting off the monster.
***
Xander slowly pulled himself to his feet. He didn’t like his chances of fighting and he hated to run, but he knew Buffy couldn’t worry about him and fight at the same time. He left, knowing he was going to go straight to Giles and everyone in between.
***
“You care about this boy deeply. That is interesting. Perhaps I should find out what makes him so special.”
“Perhaps you should find out what makes me so special,” Buffy grunted, falling to the ground.
“Thank you. I will.”
“Now that we’re on such good terms, how about telling me who the hell you are?”
“My name is Adam.”
“Not very pleased to meet you.” Buffy gave him a blow to the head that actually made him stumble a bit and
she made her getaway as fast as she could. She wasn’t far from the fence of the cemetery and she vaulted over it,
landing on an injured leg and wincing. She ran for the relative safety of Giles’.
***
Adam watched her go and made his own way home. Maggie met him as he slipped back into 314.
“What are you doing? You were supposed to kill her. Adam, this is not the plan.”
Adam calmly skewered her.
“I have changed the plan, Mother. But I will make you proud.”
***
They were rallying the troops when Buffy burst into the room, limping, bleeding and scared.
It was probably a shock. It wasn’t often that Buffy looked like that. Willow moved instantly to her friend.
“Here, sit down, it’s okay.” Giles ran for the medical kit he kept handy and had been ready to use on Xander.
“What was it?”
“Adam. That’s all I know. Adam. And he’s weird.”
Buffy let herself be treated; feeling her Slayer healing start to work and allowing her anger to build back up.
“Either a new baddie is in town…” Oz let his sentence hang.
“Or the Initiative cooked something up for me,” Buffy said viciously. “And I’m ready to think it’s that one. But
research, I guess.”
“Of course. And it’s time for you to be in bed. We need you fit, Buffy. Patrol can go for one night.”
“I’m taking Xander home. He needs rest and I know just how to do it. You can fill us in on any weird
Frankenstein creatures when he’s well,” Anya announced and gently supported Xander out.
“Let’s get back home. I can’t show my face to my mother or she’ll freak,” Buffy told Willow.
“I’m staying,” Oz said. “Giles is starting my meditation. Use my van, Will.”
“Won’t you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. If I need to, I’ll call.”
“Be careful. And good luck.” Willow helped Buffy out and Giles put away the med kit and got out Sirjani’s
notes.
***
Oz turned back to Giles, feeling as if he was embarking on the hardest thing he’d ever do in his life. Sirjani had warned him it would be hard, but Oz just didn’t know if he could take disappointing Willow again in case this didn’t work out as well as they hoped.
