***

Oz was in the large back room which they had turned into a library. He knew Willow was there before he even heard her voice. He leaned back against the shelves, half hoping they would forget about him. No such luck.

Giles raised his voice. “Have you found anything of importance?”

Oz breathed out slowly and stepped out to walk down the short hallway. “Nothing,” he replied. He looked over at Willow. “Hey. You’re back.”

Willow had frozen on seeing Oz. But she quickly regained speech. “Yeah. You too. I uh… I didn’t expect you to be here.” Cordelia gave Xander a look that clearly said in Cordy speak Only you would be idiot enough not to tell her. The look he sent said equally clearly I’m sorry, I kinda thought I could avoid it for a bit. Then he spoke into the awkward silence. “So, it’s one big happy reunion.” His voice sounded a little false but everyone appreciated the interruption. Willow turned to Giles.

“So I’d umm…” She paused then smiled a little. “I haven’t done this in a while. I’m wondering if you’ll tell me what’s up.”

“Of course.” They sat down around Angel’s main room. It was almost like the old days. Almost, but not quite. “Umm… well. Uhh. It’s like this. The council seems to have lost the new slayer.”

“What?” said Willow.

Xander responded helpfully “Y’know. Slayer: the chosen one, one girl in every generation born to...”

“I know what a Slayer is Xander. ‘What’ as in ‘What, the council lost her?’”

“Yes.” Giles continued somewhat impatiently. “We, uh… the last slayer died in India 3 weeks ago and unfortunately the council wasn’t paying attention. I suppose they weren’t really expecting a death so soon after Linh’s.”

“It’s really embarrassing for the council,” added Cordelia smugly. “They even had to call on Giles.”

Giles continued “They believe the slayer is in this region. Perhaps even in Sunnydale.”

“Because anyone who’s anyone comes here,” Xander said.

“As it is I have not been any more fortunate in finding the girl and the vampiric activity in Sunnydale is getting worse. It seems that Spike is back.”

“Spike?” said Willow. Oz looked at her sharply, noticing the strangeness in her tone.

Xander spoke quickly. “Y’know, Spike, platinum blonde British vamp, looks like Billy Idol.”

“Xander, I know who Spike is.”

“Geez, I was just trying to help. I thought you might have forgotten after five whole years.” Willow looked suitably contrite and Xander gave her a smug grin. She smiled back and rolled her eyes just a little.

Giles spoke again. “If we don’t find her before Spike... well, I don’t know exactly what Spike is planning on, but I’m sure it’s rather awful.” He looked around. “Things are getting desperate.”

“So you called on us,” said Willow.

“The Scooby gang is back!” announced Xander happily. He put his hand out palm down in the middle of the circle, obviously aiming for a cheer. When no one responded he spoke again. “… Aaaand … break!”

***

It was very late. All the others were in bed, in various parts of the mansion, but Willow couldn’t sleep. She was on Australian time but she wasn’t sure she could have slept even if she weren’t. Angel’s mansion lay in darkness. The way it should be. She sat in an armchair half reading a volume of prophetic writings about the Slayer. The other half of her was too tense to read anything. Suddenly a shadow appeared in the doorway.

“Hey.”

“Oh, Oz.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“That’s OK. I was just…” she waved her hands vaguely.

“Exorcising demons?”

“Well, just one actually.” She smiled sadly, pleased that even now he could read her so well.

“Yeah. It was hard for Cordelia too. She was close to him.”

“Of course. Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Poor Cordelia.”

He stood in the doorway in silence for a moment.

“Well, I just wanted to check you were OK.”

“I am. At least, I will be. Soon.”

“Guess it’ll take some getting used to.”

“Guess so.” She wasn’t exactly clear what he was referring to.

“G’night then.”

“Good Night. Thank you.” He smiled as he left the room and she felt her chest compress a little. She shut her eyes and allowed herself the luxury of dwelling on him. It wasn’t just that he was cute… and sexy, although he certainly was that. It was the way he held himself. He had a strange quiet confidence. He seemed centered, though not on himself. His body and mind seemed focussed. Sometime in his life he had developed the art of standing still…. He was also damn cute.” She smiled at herself and sighed.

***

Oz picked up his ever-present guitar and began to strum quietly, careful not to wake the others. He let his mind drift to Willow, curled up in Angel’s armchair. She was luminous. Almost transparent. It was clear that she had suffered, and that she was hiding terrible things inside her, but she couldn’t hide her innocence. Not the innocence of someone who knows nothing, the innocence of someone who has seen everything and yet somehow remained untainted. She was also beautiful and intelligent and sweet… Oz stopped himself before he went overboard. Or maybe I already have. He grinned a little at the thought and concentrated on his music, playing a song he’d written years before.

She is the corner of my room
She is the stories in my head
She is presence
She is absence
She is everywhere

She is the whisper in my throat
Of every word I’ve never said
And I’m desperate
I am waiting
She is never there

So what am I that she should shout inside me
Her voice a sadness I can only hear
And when she speaks an ending out of silence
Should I believe she’s here.

She is the glow that lights the sky
She is the distance we can’t share
She’s a moment
She’s a lifetime
She is everywhere

She is the ache within my spine
She is the desert I can’t bear
And I’m thirsting
I am waiting
She is never there.

So what am I that she should shout inside me
Her voice a sadness I can only hear
And when she speaks an ending out of silence
Should I believe she’s here.
She’s never here

But she still overwhelms me
She lifts me higher and she overwhelms me
She still overwhelms me
She drags me deeper and she overwhelms me
She overwhelms me

She is the corner of my room
She is the stories in my head

She is everywhere.

***

“So, what have we got?” asked Willow briskly. It was a brand new day and they were definitely going to find the slayer. She’d decided.

“Well, the prophecies revealed very little,” Giles responded. “We have this odd reference to her living in the forest. And we see her referred to as the uh… ‘little lost one’.”

“And it mentions that she’s asleep, right?” said Xander.

“OK. So prophecies are pretty useless…” said Cordelia.

“Well, not exactly useless…” interrupted Giles, slightly huffily.

“No, of course.” Willow smiled.

“What about all the information from the council?” asked Cordelia. “They must be good for something.”

Giles pulled some papers from a desk drawer. “Right, well. The slayer is named LaMie LeCroix. Born in France in May, 1989. Moved to the United States in 1992 and lived in Las Vegas, where her parents were tragically killed on her seventh birthday. The council lost track of her then.”

“That’s all?” said Willow.

“There’s a picture.” Giles handed around a photograph of the girl at seven. She was slight and freckled with straggly dark blonde hair.

“Was she adopted?” asked Oz suddenly. “Maybe we could check the adoption records for this area at the time.”

“Those are private,” said Giles.

Willow smiled. “I think I could get in. That’s what I’m here for, right?” Willow went to the computer. Oz watched over her shoulder.

A couple of hours of committed searching brought them no joy. Suddenly Oz spoke. “Cordy, Xander, do you know the Forresters?”

Cordelia replied. “Yeah. They moved into town when we were freshmen I think. They were kind of the mini- Chases for a while. Although mom thought they were pretty peculiar.”

“Don’t they have a daughter?”

“I think so. Weird looking thing. At least she was when I knew her. Yeah, I’m pretty sure. Her name is … Jaime. Jaime Forrester.”

“That’s what I thought. But look.”

Cordelia looked over Willow’s shoulder.

“OK, that’s a little more than peculiar.”

“What is?” asked Xander impatiently.

“It’s a letter from the Nevada Social Services to the Sunnydale branch of the California Department of Family Services,” Cordelia replied.

Willow read the letter. “Charles and Savannah Forrester were deeply traumatized by the loss of their only child, a daughter. It has affected them in ways that I need not explain at this time. However, I must say that I do not recommend they be approved for an adoption at any time.”

“It’s dated March, 1996,” said Oz. There was a pause.

“So then, who’s Jaime?” asked Cordelia.

***

<< For those who want to know, Jaime Forrester is played by Julia Stiles (from 10 things I hate about you) or a look alike would be fine, Ana-Lucia Bonilla is played by Yelba Osorio (resume at http://www.nosotros.org/membership/bios/osorio_yelba.html) and Toby O’Nan is played by Shawn Hatosy (from Outside Providence, the Faculty) .>>

Jaime Forrester was struggling with Math. The numbers were swirling together in odd patterns. “Shit,” she muttered. She reached over to her bedroom door and grabbed a jacket then opened her window and swung one leg out.

“Jaime,” came a voice from the darkness.

Jaime slid down the sloped roof and dropped off the edge, cleverly landing on her feet.

“Ana. What the hell are you doing here.”

Ana-Lucia Bonilla had learned a lot in her seven years of friendship with Jaime. So she knew that despite her words Jaime was glad to see her.

“Yeah, well nice to see you too. You want me to leave or you want to give the evil Jaime a time out for a while.”

“No, don’t go.” Ana still looked irritated. “Sorry.”

“’S okay. Hey. How’d you do that…um, that slidey droppy thing.” She indicated the roof.

“I dunno, I just seem to…” A noise from the house made her start. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Sure. So what’s the plan?”

“Your place?”

“Nah, that won’t work. Socorro’s out. Gina’s sick, so the twins are in my room. And Ma and Pa are going nutso at each other.” Off Jaime’s look she continued. “It’s nothing to worry about, Jaim. Just the usual stuff. Your parents are just so … “

“I know. So, Toby’s then?”

“Toby’s it is.”

***

“So we’re pretty sure this is the girl, right?” asked Xander.

“Yes. It all fits.” Giles replied.

“The forest thing- living with the Forresters, the little lost girl thing - she’s an orphan… don’t know about the asleep thing.” Said Willow contemplatively.

“Well, I hope she is now. It’s almost 2am,” said Giles.

“On a school night,” added Oz. The others looked at him. “I’m presuming she’s a better student than I was.”

“Well, we can’t bother her now,” said Cordelia.

“This is important slayer business,” said Giles, with emphasis.

“Yes. But I don’t think surprising her with this news while she’s in bed is the best way to go about it. We can drop in tomorrow morning.”

“Very well,” Giles concurred, reluctantly.

“OK, good then. I’m for bed.” Cordelia turned decisively and left. The others looked at each other a moment and straggled away, sleepily.

***

“Why, hello Cordelia. It is nice to see you after all these years. You look lovely, dear.” Cordelia and Willow stood on the Forrester’s front steps.

“Hi Mrs. Forrester. This is my friend, Willow Rosenberg.” Willow gave a little awkward wave as her name was spoken. “We actually wanted to have a chat with Jaime.”

“Oh?”

“You see, she’s a senior now and uh… Willow here is doing an article on the different experience of seniors in 2005.”

“I am,” said Willow.

“Alright she’s in her room. Go on up.” Mrs. Forrester followed them up the stairs. “So how are your parents Cordelia.”

“Fine. They’re fine.”

“Things have been a little difficult for them this last while, haven’t they.”

“Well, not any more. They’re wonderful. Everything is fine.” Cordelia’s eyes flashed and Willow put a hand on her arm. Fortunately they reached Jaime’s door at that time.

“Thanks Mrs. Forrester,” said Willow. They knocked on the door and pushed it open.

“We need to talk,” said Cordelia as they entered.

Jaime stood up. “Hey. What the… Cordelia?”

“In the flesh.” Cordelia looked her up and down. “You’ve improved. But don’t you know that the riot girl look went out about 10 years ago now?”

“Well then, it’s due for a come back.”

Cordy frowned. “Fair point.”

“Cordelia,” Willow interrupted. “We have more important matters to discuss than…”

“Right OK. Why don’t you tell her.”

Willow turned to face Jaime. “OK, so here’s the thing. You’re the slayer. The chosen one. One girl in every … well, you kill vampires.”

“Huh?”

“You see, vampires are real, as well as a whole lot of other things that I don’t really want to go into - you’ll know all about them soon enough. And…” Jaime looked irritated.

“I think we should have let Giles do this part, Will,” said Cordy.

Jaime interrupted. “OK. I don’t know what you two are on but I have to get to school.” Jaime walked past Cordelia who grabbed her arm.

“This is important.”

“I’m not sure anything could be more important than getting to class on time.” Jaime wrenched her arm free and ran down the stairs three at a time.

“That’s not good,” Cordy said unnecessarily.

“Well at least we know she thinks school is important,” said Willow.

“I’m guessing that was sarcasm.”

“Oh.”

***

“Hey Jaims.” Toby leant back on the lockers by her. “You get home OK?”

“Yeah. They had no idea I was gone.”

“Good. Y’know Ana stayed at my place.” Toby smirked a little.

“Toby. She’s been doing that since you were seven. And you always get forced to sleep on the floor.”

“I know.” He blushed a little. He glanced across the hall way to where Ana-Lucia was standing, surrounded by people. “She looks amazing, doesn’t she?”

Jaime laughed slightly bitterly. “Yep. And every guy in the school is thinking the same thing as you, Toby O’Nan.” Jaime had no idea how Ana managed to be in with every in crowd that had existed in Sunnydale High since they were in 9th grade and still could make it clear to everyone that the likes of Jaime Forrester and Toby O’Nan were her nearest and dearest. It was a skill that only Ana had.

Ana freed herself and walked over to talk to her friends. “Hey guys. We should get to class.”

“Sure. You know, Ana, you really shouldn’t wear that top... or that skirt for that matter. You’re just asking to be labeled a mindless bimbo.”

“Now you’re telling me what to wear Jaime? What’s all your militant feminism good for if I can’t dress how I like? Anyway all the important people know I’m not mindless.”

“Well sure, but…you’re just succumbing to the desires of … guys like Toby here.” Toby looked embarrassed.

Ana snorted. “Toby has never given a thought to what I wear. Jaime, it’s 2005. Women are better off than ever before. Besides, I like what I’m wearing. That’s all.” She continued with a grin. “Oh darn. Here we are at Math. Now I won’t be able to hear your extremely well-reasoned arguments about misogyny and oppression. Maybe later?”

Jaime smiled. Ana could charm anyone. It was a strange, strange thing. Nearly as strange as Cordelia Chase and that Willow girl had been this morning. Speaking of which… she turned and whispered to Ana, “Cover for me.”

“Jaime, where are you going?”

“The library,” Jaime threw over her shoulder as she stalked off.

“Oh sure. The library. Where else?” Ana muttered to Toby as they went into class.

“Where the heck is the library?” asked Toby.

“I think it’s by the gym. Who knows? No one ever goes there anyway.”

***

Jaime sat still, poring over some musty books she had found in the back corner of their library. She didn’t know how they had come to be there. The books seemed really old, but the library’s collection was largely new, probably because all the books had been destroyed when the school was.

“Found you!” Toby and Ana poked their heads around the shelves.

“Whatcha reading?” asked Ana.

Jaime looked at her friends. “The craziest lot of insanity I’ve ever seen.”

Toby picked a book up. “Slayer’s Chronicles.” He opened it.

“Here’s the thing,” said Jaime. “These two girls came to my place this morning. They went off with some mumbo-jumbo about how I was the Slayer.”

“The Slayer?” Ana questioned.

“I don’t know it’s some weird…”

“The Slayer, the chosen one,” Toby read. “One girl in every generation born to fight the powers…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyhow, it’s crazy.”

“Yet here you are,” said Ana sensibly, “reading books all about it.”

“Not for long. I’m outta here.” Jaime stalked out.

“She keeps on doing that,” said Ana with a sigh.

Toby continued leafing through the book.

“Earth to Toby…” Ana looked over his shoulder at the book. “Toby!” she chastised him.

He looked up at her. “What?” She looked at the book. “Oh no,” he stammered a little “I wasn’t looking at that, I was just reading this, it’s pretty interesting.”

“Sure, and you get Playboy for the articles…” she teased. She paused and then spoke slowly. “You know what, though. That picture there looks a lot like Jaime.”

Toby looked, blushed and turned away and then looked again in amazement. “You’re right,” he breathed.

***

“You allowed her to leave?” exclaimed Giles. They were back in Angel’s mansion.

“Well, it wasn’t like that really…” Willow began.

“Willow, you should have just brought her here and let me do the explaining. It was very silly of you to think you could just inform her of her duties. Without the proper training…”

“Giles,” Cordelia interrupted. “Willow needed to say something. I wasn’t going to get her to come with us by discussing her choice of clothes, which by the way, was fairly hideous.”

Giles was not impressed. But Willow smiled. It was odd, odd but nice, to be supported by Cordelia.

“We need another plan,” she said. “Giles, please…”

“We could kidnap her,” suggested Xander.

“We need a legal plan,” said Willow.

“Like hacking into the adoption records was so legal, Will.”

“Touché.” She smiled at Xander.

“Maybe kidnapping is the only way,” said Giles. “It wouldn’t really be kidnapping per se.”

“Giles,” said Willow. “When was the last time you tried to tie up a slayer…” Willow paused and looked down. “Of course there was that time when Buffy… when she had that roommate, that demon roommate… before I shared her place.”

Oz rescued her. “You’re right, Will. It’d be pretty tough to keep a hold of her.”

“And I don’t suppose we’d look very trustworthy after that,” said Giles.

Willow looked up again and wiped her eyes. “Right, kidnapping is out.”

***

Jaime was walking home when a dark car with tinted windows pulled up swiftly beside her. A pale arm reached out and grabbed her by the hair, dragging her into the car. She struggled in vain. But by the time she was in the car, the pale arm was smoking slightly.

***

Early the next morning Xander and Willow sat pajama clad on the couch watching Saturday morning cartoons. Willow’s feet were tucked under Xander’s legs and they sat companionably.

“Hungry?” asked Xander

“A bit.”

I’ll get you something.”

Xander went into the kitchen and returned with two bowls brimming with Froot Loops.

“Froot Loops, Xander?”

“Who do you think did the grocery shopping?”

Willow took a mouthful. “These are disgusting,” she said as she made yummy noises. She tucked her feet back under his legs to warm them. “What’s on next?”

“Histeria,” said Xander happily.

They sat in silence for a few moments.

“Y’know, it’s so nice to be here, Xand. It’s almost like I never left. I just wish…”

“I know.”

“It’s just that… I mean, I wish she was here and I wish… it’s just that whenever I think of her I think of the last hour or so and I can’t get that out of my head. I want to remember her but when I do it’s all so awful…” Xander reached for the remote and turned the TV off.

“I know, Will.” He reached to hold her hand but she drew away from him, pulling her legs under her chin.

“You don’t know anything, Xander, you don’t know what I… Xander, I had to…”

“I know, Will. I know you had to.”

She was crying now. “I had to kill her.”

“I know.”

“I killed Buffy.”

“You didn’t kill her at all. You saved her, Will. You saved me and you saved her.” He moved closer to her and held her hands.

“Weird kind of saving,” she said.

“The weirdest, but the only thing you could do for her.”

After a moment’s pause she asked quietly, “How did you know?”

“I figured it out. You would never have left unless it had been something really terrible. I knew all along.”

“Oh… does Giles know?”

“Yeah. I told him. But I think he’d already figured it out too.”

“Oh.” She moved closer to him and let him wrap his long arms around her.

***

Cordelia stood in the hallway watching Willow and Xander.

“Hey,” said a quiet voice. She turned to see Oz.

“Morning,” she said.

Oz looked out into the main room and raised his eyebrows slightly.

“That’s good crying, right?” he asked Cordelia.

“Yeah.”

A knocking at the door brought Xander quickly to his feet. Willow hurriedly wiped her face. Cordelia and Oz stepped into the main room as he opened the door. Two teenagers stood there.

“Jaime’s gone!” said the girl.

Everyone looked startled a moment then “Giles!” called Cordelia.

Giles looked down from upstairs. “Yes?”

“We have a problem.”

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