Jackter glanced from the impassive face of Angel, to Buffy’s combined expression of nerves and fear, to the slightly strained appearance of Giles. “Well?” he asked impatiently, placing Harry is his carrier and tossing a few cat treats inside.
Giles glanced from vampire to Slayer and bravely took a step forward. “I suppose it should be me.”
“Very well. What do you wish to see?”
“I would never rescind my decision to become a Watcher…particularly your Watcher,” the former-librarian said gently, turning to his charge, who smiled at him. “Knowing you, all of you, has been an experience I don’t wish to be without.” Pausing, collecting his thoughts and his emotions, he removed his glasses and began to clean them. “Perhaps one of the only things I regret in my tenure on the Hellmouth is something that will bring pain to many of you. Particularly to Angel. I’m sorry. I don’t wish that upon you. What’s done is done.” He paused again, his gaze growing far away, lost in a memory. “However…I would very much like to know. And so I hope you can bear with me.”
“What, Giles?” Buffy asked.
Giles’ eyes ticked to hers and held them with compassion. “I would like to know how life would be different, for myself, for all of you…if I’d been able to save Jenny.” He said this quietly, though his eyes remained level on Angel’s. He watched as the vampire blanched noticeably. Buffy took Angel’s hand and squeezed it.
Cinder and ash, flame and fire, ‘Tis the other’s life to see we desire Two roads before us, but one to take Show the other, the choice not made.
*FLASH!*
Sunnydale High School
February, 1998
Giles stood in the classroom, his nerves on edge, as Jenny stood across from him, book in her arms.
She made the first move. “How've you been?”
He glanced back as Buffy and Willow retreated from the room, then turned back to her, a nervous smile playing on his lips. “Not very well. Since Angel lost his soul, he seems to have regained his sense of whimsy,” he tried to say easily, giving off a slightly forced laugh.
Her brow furrowed in concern. “That sounds bad.”
“He's been in Buffy's bedroom. I'm going to have to drum up a spell to keep him out of the house.”
She nodded thoughtfully, then handed him a book from the pile. “Here, might help. I've been… reading up since Angel changed. I don't think you have that.”
Touched at her concern he took the book from her hands, blushing. “Thank you.”
They remained in uncomfortable silence for a moment until she leaned on one hip and asked, “How is Buffy doing?”
His defenses went up instantly. “How do you think?”
Jenny sighed. “Rupert, I know you feel betrayed,” she began.
“Yes, that's one of the unpleasant side effects of betrayal,” he said somewhat harshly.
“I was raised by the people Angel hurt the most,” she pleaded. “My duty to them was the first thing I was ever taught. I didn't come here to hurt anyone. I lied to you because I thought it was the right thing to do. I didn't know what would happen.”
Pausing, she swallowed. “I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you.”
*FLASH!*
The Magic Shop
Jenny held the orb before her. “A present for a friend of mine…”
“Oh, yeah. What are you gonna give him?” the shopkeeper asked.
She lifted the orb to eye-level, gazing into it as began to glow. Determination steeled her face. “His soul.”
*FLASH!*
Sunnydale High School
The computer screen lit up Jenny’s face, in stark contrast to the semi-dark surroundings. Night was on its way. She was reading in earnest when movement caught her attention and she turned suddenly. “Oh, hi.” Guiltily she turned off the monitor.
Giles was standing in the doorway, on his way home for the evening. “You're working late.”
“Special project…” she told him, nodding and rising from her chair. Changing subjects she moved to safer ground, though safer not by much. “I spoke to Buffy today.”
His eyes lit up slightly. “Yes?”
“She said you missed me,” she murmured, and delighted when his face flushed and he stammered a reply.
“She is a meddlesome girl.”
Glancing back at the computer, Jenny fought her instinct to keep quiet. “Rupert, I don't want to say anything if I'm wrong, but I may have some news… I have to finish up - can I see you later?”
Giles glanced at the computer, then back at her, please she wanted to see him. “Yes. You could stop by the house.”
Jenny smiled up at him, equally pleased at the thought of spending time with him…and of making things right between them. “Okay.”
“Good.” Flashing her one last uneasy grin, Giles walked out to his car.
*FLASH!*
Later that night Jenny frantically tapped at the keyboard of her computer. “Come on… come on…” Suddenly she sat up and scanned what she’d done. “That's it! This will work.”
Satisfied, she ordered the computer to print, then save. “This will work.” With a happy smile she moved around the computer monitor and gasped at the figure standing in the doorway to her classroom. “Angel! How did you get in here?!”
He smirked and began strolling lazily to the front of the class. “I was invited…The sign in front of the school: ‘Formatia trans sicere educatorum.’”
“Enter, all ye who seek knowledge.”
He shrugged. “What can I say? I'm a knowledge seeker.”
Jenny’s eyes darted to the door, nervous now. “Angel… I have good news.”
He cut her off. “I heard. You went shopping at the local boogedy boogedy store.” Walking to her desk he picked up the crystal orb from its resting-place. “The orb of Thessulah. If memory serves, this is supposed to summon a person's soul from the ether, store it until it can be transferred. You know what I hate most about these things…?” With a mighty throw he shattered the orb against a blackboard, causing Jenny to jump and scream. “They're so damned fragile. Must be that shoddy Gypsy craftsmanship.”
She cowered in a corner as he crossed to the computer on her desk. Placing one hand on the monitor, he spoke. “I never cease to be amazed by how much the world has changed in just two and a half centuries. It's a miracle to me. You put the secret to restoring my soul in here…” With a shove the computer fell to the ground, crashing, glass shattering and smoke rising up from the pieces. Turning back to the printer he ripped some pages from the feeder. “…and it comes out here.”
Now he glanced at the pages, scanning them quickly. “The Ritual of Restoration. Wow, this brings back memories.” With a grin he ripped the pages and tossed them down to the now burning computer parts.
Jenny took a step forward. “Angel, wait…! That's your--”
“My what? My ‘cure?’ No thanks. Been there, done that. And déjà vu just isn't what it used to be.” He rounded on her, just as Giles appeared in the doorway.
“Jenny, I--” he began, when he realized that Jenny wasn’t alone. “Angel.”
“Rupert!” Angelus called out merrily. “So glad you could join us! Jenny and I were just going over one of the many reasons I’m going to kill her tonight. Would you like to weigh in?”
Giles eyes ticked from Angel’s to Jenny’s and his face steeled. Reaching into his bag he pulled out a stake and a crossbow. “Jenny, go,” he ordered.
“So soon?” Angelus grinned. “We’re just getting started.”
“You’ve ruined it,” Jenny told him, edging towards Giles. “You ruined the spell. It took me months to work it out and you ruined it. Gone, forever,” she spat.
“And I’m so broken up about that,” Angel told her, clutching his chest. “But unfortunately, it doesn’t mean you won’t try again. And I’m afraid…I just can’t let that happen.”
“I think you’ll have to,” Giles warned him, low and mean, dropping his books to the ground and taking Jenny’s hand. “Back off, Angelus. Leave this place.”
“Whatcha gonna do, Watcher? Kill me?”
Giles reached inside his bag and pulled out a crossbow, leveling it at Angel’s chest. “If I must,” he said simply. “Arm yourself,” he then ordered Jenny, thrusting his bag at her. She delved into it, bringing up a stake and a cross for protection.
Angel smirked. “You think those things will stop me?”
Giles considered. “Perhaps not. But I have to wonder, Angel…how thoroughly you’ve thought through this plan. If you kill us here, tonight…Buffy will come after you. Any hesitation she’s show before will be gone. I think you know that.”
Angel continued his advance. “And yet.”
The Watcher was not finished. His eyes steeled and he glared hard at the vampire in front of him, pushing Jenny back behind him as subtly as possible. He spoke, slowly now, enunciating each word clearly, carefully, and sending a shiver down Jenny’s spine. “She will hunt you down, Angelus. She will hunt you down and she will not forgive. She will not forget. And she will not stop. Not until you are dead. And I doubt very much that she will stop to take into consideration that you were once the man she loved as she plunges the stake into your heart or takes the ax to your neck.” He stopped just feet from the vampire, perilously close, and looked him in the eye. “She will, in fact, step through your ashes, to get to the next fight. And she will win.”
Angel stared at the man before him for a brief moment before grinning easily and stepping backward. “This isn’t over.”
“I should expect not.”
“I’ve done what I came to do…almost, at any rate. The curse is gone. And trust me when I tell you…you won’t get another chance to translate it. You’ll be dead before that can happen.” Angel continued to back up, heading for the door at the far end of the room. “And that, my friends, will be sooner than you think.” With those words he backed completely out of the room and swooped down the hall, duster flapping.
Jenny sagged against the chalkboard as Giles turned to her. “Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded wearily, her entire body quaking with fear. “He was going to kill me. He would have, if not for you.”
Giles forced a grin. “I imagine you’re right. We shouldn’t linger. He may come back, and I really don’t know what kind of threat I might be against him. Most of my bravado came from the hot toddy I had in my office earlier.”
She looked up now, a smile on her lips. “Drinking on the job?”
“Yes…well. I’m staving off a cold.”
Jenny moved to the desk quickly and began gathering her things. “Why did you come back?”
Giles gave her a sheepish grin. “I forgot a book, actually. I was almost to my car when I remembered it. I would have been here more quickly, I’m afraid, but I spent a few minutes talking myself into coming back in here instead of heading to my house. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes widened. “Sorry? You saved my life. I don’t think apologies are in order. Anyway…his real purpose tonight wasn’t to kill me. That part was probably just for fun.”
Giles looked confused. “I’m sorry?”
Jenny smiled at him and picked up a disk. “That the one good thing about a hundred and forty-one-year-old vampire. Angel doesn’t know anything about computers. First rule of thumb? Always back up your work.”
Giles watched with a sad smile on his face, pleased that not only had Jenny survived, but that he had been the reason for it.
Buffy gave him a loving glance and slipped her hand into his. Together they watched as the scene changed, revealing Buffy fighting Angel near the school. Suddenly, from seemingly nowhere, appeared Xander, Giles, Willow, Oz and Cordelia, all with weapons…and chains. The surprise attack worked and Buffy used it to her advantage, sweeping in and kicking out, knocking Angel to the ground, unconscious.
*FLASH!*
Jenny sat on the library table, legs crossed, eyes closed. The Orb of Thessulah sat in front of her on a pillow of blue velvet. To her right was Cordelia, weaving a web of smoke in the air from the essential herbs needed to perform the ritual. Angel, in the book cage, howled in anguish and frustration at what was about to be done to him. Chains prevented his struggles from being effective.
Jenny spoke first in Latin. “Quod perditum est, invenietur,” //What was lost, shall be found.// Then switched to English, “Not dead, nor not of the living. . .Gods, bind him, cast his heart from the demon realm return his soul.”
Her eyes rolled back then, causing Willow to gasp. When Jenny spoke again, it was in Rumanian. “Te implor Doamne, nu ignora accasta rugaminte! Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-I va transporta sufletul la el!” //I call on you, Gods, do not ignore this supplication! Let the orb be the vessel to carry his soul to him!//
Buffy gripped the arm of the chair she was seated in, her eyes straining on Angel’s form in the book cabinet, praying earnestly that this would work, and be over soon.
Wind seemed to pick up now and Jenny was deeply under the bindings of the magics she invoked. “Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce. . .” //It is written, this power is my people's right to wield. . .//
She muttered more Rumanian now, the chant seemed to go on forever until finally her entire body stiffened and then her arms came up, pleading to the heavens. “Asa sa fie! Acum!” //Let it be so! Now!// she roared.
There was a sudden flash of light and all eyes snapped to Angel. His body went rigid and a rush of energy went through him, causing his eyes to glow momentarily. After a moment he gasped again and slumped to the floor.
“Jenny did it,” Angel murmured.
Willow looked amazed. “Not me. I didn’t. I wasn’t in the hospital…none of that happened. Spike didn’t team up with Buffy to stop all that Acathla stuff.”
“She returned his soul before it got that point,” Cordelia whispered. “She made up for lying to everyone by returning his soul.”
“Spike and Dru?”
“They’re gone,” Buffy told him, sitting back on one of the couches in the mansion. “Left town in a big and fast way after your soul was returned.”
Angel grimaced.
“What?”
“I think…he wasn’t too happy about me being around Dru,” he said hesitantly.
Buffy arched an eyebrow. “And why would that be, exactly?” she said, half-seriously.
He put a hand over hers and squeezed it, but said nothing.
A moment passed between them before Buffy looked away nervously and took a deep breath. “I think that about covers the Adventure of Angelus…”
“But?”
“There’s…there’s something else. You should know.”
Angel sat up, moving one arm to the back of the couch. “What is it? Something else I did?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Nothing like that. More like…something you can do now.”
“Something I can…?” he caught her expression and his eyes widened. “Something…we…can do?”
Buffy was suddenly terrified and he heard her heart race. “Wow…am I subtle or what?” she chided herself.
“How is this possible?” he asked. “What about the curse?”
Buffy couldn’t possibly meet his eyes at that moment. As it was, her face was flaming red. “She took care of it. Put something else into the curse. Changed it. She couldn’t change the whole thing…she doesn’t speak the language and apparently it’s wicked complicated…but she thinks she managed to loop the loophole. Took the rider out of it.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means…your soul isn’t yours, exactly…but it’s close. I mean…Angelus could still make a comeback…but not from…not if…we…”
“She was that specific?”
Buffy sighed, embarrassed beyond belief. “You’ll have to ask her. All she told me is, ‘I made sure this will never happen again because of you.’ Meaning me.”
Angel was floored.
*FLASH!*
February, 1999
“Computer class after school?” Jenny asked Willow as they stopped to part ways in one of the bustling Sunnydale High hallways.
Willow nodded eagerly. “Of course! I can’t wait to try out that new laptop. With all the extra memory and the new CD drive…” she gushed, obviously in heaven.
Jenny grinned. “And we’ll check out that new site I was telling you about.”
“The one that techno-pagan friend of yours set up? The one in Tripoli?”
The redhead practically bounced as she spoke and Jenny couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s the one. He just posted some new stuff this morning…something bad’s coming. There are signs.”
Now Willow sobered. “Bad is never good. I mean…well, of course not but…you know what I mean. What’s up?”
“Don’t know yet,” Jenny said, shaking her head. “Cryptic messages I figure we’ll hand over to Rupert or toss out on the web-ring and see what comes up.” She shifted some books in her arms. “Anyway…when you’re done uploading all the new software to the systems we’ll go over FTP files and the like. Then it’s fun stuff.”
“Ok! I can’t wait!”
“Can’t wait for what?” Xander asked, sidling up beside them with Cordelia on his arm.
“Computer stuff after school,” Willow told him.
Cordy rolled her eyes. “Again? Jeez. You know? I think you’re actually starting to look like Steve Job. And that’s not a good thing.”
“Only some of it’s technical computer-stuff,” Jenny told them. “The rest is mystical-computer stuff.”
“Things neither of us shallow people are interested in,” Xander concluded, kissing Cordelia on the end of her nose.
Buffy strolled up next. “Is this a private pow-wow?”
“The more the merrier, if your home page is www.witchystuff.com,” Xander quipped. His joke was received with rolled eyes.
“Lame even for you,” Buffy told him, then turned to Jenny. “Have you seen Giles? Or Faith, for that matter? She didn’t show up for patrol last night. Things are kinda…odd. I dunno.”
“She is rather…twitchy, isn’t she? I mean, even Wesley’s not that hyper,” Cordelia commented.
Buffy shrugged. “I don’t know. Ever since the thing with the deputy mayor,” she said, lowering her voice, “she’s not been the friendliest.”
Xander rolled his eyes dramatically. “Well, I know after I murder someone then try to blame it on my bestest-Slayer, I’m usually a bucket of sunshine.”
“Hey,” Buffy grumbled. “We’re past that, remember? She was scared, and though her choices in the matter were none that sane people would make, we forgave and she’s on the road to recovery.”
The bell rang then and they all moved to leave. “If you do see Rupert, Buffy,” Jenny called as she headed to class, “tell him to find me. Something’s up.”
“Something,” Buffy repeated gravely. “Not a ‘you’ve just won Publisher’s Clearing House’ something, I’m guessing.”
Jenny shrugged. “What can I say? Never a dull moment.”
“I’m still with Dru!” Spike shouted happily. “Now this is a reality I could get used to. No chips, got my girl…”
“Where am I, exactly?” Anya asked impatiently, tapping a foot on the ground.
“Holy schnikies,” Xander muttered, eyes-wide, staring at Cordelia. “We’re…you’re…and us…”
She nodded dumbly. “Spike left. And Willow seems like she’s computer-gal instead of spell-gal…so, no Cordelia gets impaled through the heart. Or the torso, for that matter.”
“You’re not here,” Willow told Anya. “Xander and I…we…Xander and Cordelia didn’t break up. So probably Oz and I didn’t break up.”
Xander turned to his ex. “You and I, still together.”
“Yeah,” a stunned Cordelia nodded.
“This can’t end well.”
Now Cordelia’s head shook. “No, not at all.”
“Wesley’s here,” Dawn offered, giving the ex-Watcher a grin.
“And, hyper, apparently,” he noted with a raised eyebrow towards his co-worker. Cordelia winked at him.
Willow spoke to the group. “Lots of stuff changed, then…didn’t it? If Angel didn’t die, Spike and Dru left…so that means Buffy didn’t run away.”
Xander nodded. “Which means no welcome-home party with zombies.”
“And no Angel gets all freaky and starts seeing ghosts,” Cordy chimed in.
“And Faith still showed up,” Willow commented.
“The deputy mayor was still murdered, however accidentally,” Giles murmured.
Buffy didn’t hear a word any of her friends were saying. Instead, she and Angel were staring at each other.
“No curse,” she murmured.
“No curse,” he agreed, just as stunned.
“She did it.”
“Willow translated that curse from her.”
“Yes, she did.”
“So does that mean…?”
“All this time…?”
“Oh my God.”
Buffy raised her hand shakily. “Seconded.”
*FLASH!*
Sunnydale
March, 1999
Buffy stood, raising her glass and clinking her fork against it, signaling everyone in the room to settle down. “Toast time,” she grinned, taking the microphone from the bandleader. She turned, nervously, to the crowd of expectant faces and began. “I’ve known Giles and Jenny for a while now. First as teachers at school, and then as friends. I don’t know which has been more invaluable to me. And nothing makes me happier than to see them together now…not just as coworkers, but as husband and wife.” She smiled again anxiously. “I can’t think of two people more perfectly matched. And…it’s no secret that I’m not good with words…as I’m sure Giles would be quick to agree with, so I’m going to stop using my own and read from a poem that I love…I think it was written for you two.”
Buffy turned then to Angel, who reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket and retrieved a piece of paper. Handing it to her, he clasped her hand and squeezed it supportively. She smiled and turned back to the audience.
May the road rise to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sunshine warm on your face The test of gold is fire The test of truth is time The tests of God’s love are the heavens above And everything sublime Treasures in life are many Dreams realized, but a few I know the test of God’s goodness Is when he gave me a friend like you
Her voice broke as she uttered the last words and carefully folded the piece of paper again. She turned loving eyes to Angel, seated next to her, then swept the room, meeting each of her friends in turn before finally settling back on Giles and Jenny. “To my dearest friends, Rupert Giles and Jenny Calendar. I know I speak for all of us when I say our lives are better for having you in them.”
Jenny and Giles beamed at her, tears in both their eyes, as they clinked their champagne flutes together and gently kissed each other’s lips.
“And now…I think it’s time for your first dance,” Buffy said graciously, and handed the microphone back to the bandleader.
“You got married!” Buffy gasped. “And I gave a toast!”
“And you did good!” Willow exclaimed, almost surprised.
Giles continued to watch, fascinated and saddened at the same time.
*FLASH!*
Sunnydale High School
May, 1999
“Rupert, it’s very clear. Something’s going to happen. Here. And soon. Very soon. And we don’t know what, and we don’t know when.”
“Look, it’s no biggie. Me and B’ll scope out the town some more, see what’s the what and find the bad guys,” Faith interjected.
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Giles murmured thoughtfully. “The portents are clear. A great destruction will fall upon Sunnydale, soon. It’s predicted. Unfortunately, we have no idea what or when.”
“Good…you’ll look stuff up,” Buffy tried. “That’s what we do. You read, we slay. You said there’s portents. What do they say?”
Giles removed his glasses and rubbed at tired eyes. “They’re unclear. All them. Useless.”
Buffy turned to Jenny and Willow at the computers. “Anything on your end?”
Both women shook their heads.
“Fine then,” Buffy said, jumping down from her seat on the table. “We’re gone. Patrol. Beat up demons for information. You know…”
“Our jobs,” Faith finished, coming to her side. “I’m ready. Let’s get this done. I’m itchin’ to try out that new broadsword.”
Buffy smiled at her enthusiasm and turned to Angel. “You in?”
He nodded, watching Faith walk out of the library. Buffy cocked an eyebrow. “See something you like there, mister?”
His eyes ticked back to hers. “Just the opposite.”
“What, Faith? What’s wrong with Faith?”
Angel watched the swinging door of the library for a moment before shrugging. “Just…for me. Be careful. I have this feeling.”
Buffy stared at him for a moment, confused and concerned, before nodding. “Sure. Ok. But I’m sure you’re just worrying for nothing. Faith’s fine.”
Faith appeared at the doorway. “I thought this was a joint effort!”
Buffy and Angel shared another glance, then headed after the younger Slayer. “Slow-pokes,” Faith teased. “Where we headed?”
“Willy’s, probably,” Buffy told her.
Angel nodded. “We’d better check out the Mayor, too. His dealing’s lately have been darker than I like in a city leader.”
“Yeah,” Faith nodded. “No one’s into bribes and money laundering anymore.” Off Buffy and Angel’s looks she quickly continued. “Yeah, okay. I’ll hit up the Mayor’s, you guys take Willy’s.”
“Willy’s is a no-brainer. I’ll come with on the Mayor…you wanna check out the bar, Angel?” Buffy asked.
He shook his head. “Let’s do Willy’s together. I’ve got another place in mind after that,” he told her.
Buffy glanced at Faith and then took Angel’s hand. “Ok. We’ll meet up later, okay?”
“Share war-stories,” Faith nodded, and headed down the block.
“What was all that about?” Buffy asked after she’d gone. “What other place?”
“There really is another place I want to look into,” he told her, watching Faith’s retreating figure. “But I wanted to see if she’d go for checking out the Mayor.”
“Why? Your ‘feeling?’”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“You think Faith’s involved with the Mayor?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I just think something’s off with her.”
“But the Mayor? I mean…how? And why? Faith’s still fighting the good fight, Angel. Last night we staked two vamps and killed the Pilar demon. Bad people don’t try to rid the world of evil. They invite evil over for tea.”
Angel glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. “Ok! Ok! I could be wrong.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Buffy teased.
“Oh yeah? Name one.”
“Where should I start?”
They continued to bicker as they headed out for Willy’s.
*~*~*
*FLASH!*
Graduation Day
“It’s soon, I’m sure of it,” Giles told Buffy. “It’s something to do with the Mayor, but what I don’t know. It’s what all the portents are talking about.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him as she sat on the table in the library, her legs swinging. “Okay, great. But what are we going to do about it? We don’t even know what ‘it’ is. Or when. Or where. Or how. We’re missing all the key ingredients. And I’ve got Graduation to attend. Speaking of which, I’ve gotta book. Mom bought me a new dress, and one for herself, not-matching, thank the Gods. I’ve got posing in the cap and gown to do.”
“Me too,” Willow told them. “Mom actually remembered it was today.”
“Mark it on the calendar,” Xander chimed in. “My parents do not know, a fact which I’m still dancing inside about.”
“What time do we have to be there again?” Oz asked.
Willow answered. “Two o’clock for dressing and lining up, the program starts at three.”
“What are we doing until then?” he asked her meaningfully.
She shrugged. “Dunno. Can you think of…oh…Oh! Well…sure,” she whispered, and they clasped hands. Jumping off the table they headed for the door. “See you guys in a few hours…we’re…uh…last minute gown alterations.”
Buffy gave them a knowing grin and waved them off. “Cuteness in the purest form,” she told Xander.
“Lust-bunnies is more like it,” Cordelia sneered, but without much feeling. “I hate our gowns. Why burgundy?”
Faith walked into the room just then. “Check out the collegiate-bounds!” she called out.
“Are you coming to the ceremony today?” Buffy asked as Faith slid into the chair in front of her. “Party after.”
Faith nodded. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll hoot and holler for you all, then we can make with the cake and punch.”
*FLASH!*
The Mayor stepped up to the podium and took out his index cards. “Well. What a day this is. Special day. Today is our centennial, the one-hundredth anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale. And I know what that means to all you kids. Not a darn thing. 'Cause today something much more important happens. Today you all graduate from high school. Today all the pain and the work and the excitement is finally over, and what's a hundred years of history compared to that?”
He paused in his speech and looked out over the bored faces of the Sunnydale graduates and their parents. “But you know what, kids? Maybe the two things are connected. Maybe you have a place in Sunnydale's history, whether you like it or not. It's been a long road getting here, for you, for Sunnydale... there's been achievement, joy, good times... and there's been grief. There's been loss. But we persevere, right?”
“So as we look back on...” He lurched a bit, then continued, “ ...on the events that have brought us to this day... we...” Now he gasped and grabbed hold of the sides of the podium, almost as if in pain.
The sky turned dark; an eclipse shadowed the sun. “What’s going on?” Willow asked Buffy, but the Slayer was staring at the Mayor. In confusion she glanced to the right, left, where the guests were seated, and made eye contact with Faith, who winked at her, a grin on her lips. Buffy gasped. Angel had been right.
“We must all... AHH.” Now the Mayor screamed before turning back to the audience, excitement mingled with pain on his face. “It has begun. My destiny. Little sooner than I expected --I had a whole section about civic pride, but... I guess we'll just get to the big finish.”
With those words there was a great rush of wind and light and suddenly Mayor Wilkins exploded from his human body, now taking the shape of a giant snake. With a mighty roar he reared back and struck, chomping first on Principal Snyder, then heading to the faculty seats.
“Jennnnnny!” Giles shrieked, leaping towards the fire. Buffy grabbed his arm at the last moment, pulling him back from the flames as they both watched in terror. In a moment, Jenny Calendar was no longer.
Faith jumped to her feet, her expression one of fear and jubilation, and she nimbly stepped on top her chair. The students flew from their seats, screaming, as they followed the parents down the steps of Sunnydale High, only to be accosted by vampires.
The Mayor and the vampires began to feed.
“Jenny’s dead! Jenny’s dead!” Willow screamed, tears on her cheeks.
“We’ve got to help these people!” Buffy shrieked as she and Willow ran for safety.
“Oz!! Where’s Oz? Xander? Cordelia?”
Buffy looked around fervently. “I don’t know. We’ll find them. But you’ve gotta get out of here. I’ve got to find my mom and…”
“Me,” a voice came from behind them. Buffy stopped running and whipped around to find Faith standing there, armed. “Time’s up, B.”
“What?” Buffy gasped as she received a left hook to the cheek. She fell to the ground, looking up at Willow. Her best friend stared back at her in horror. “Run.”
“I--” Willow glanced from Faith to Buffy and back again before turning and heading down the steps.
"It's you and me time, girlie,” Faith snarled, reaching for Buffy and picking her up by the hair.
“Faith…owww! Wait! What?”
“Not much time for questions! Gotta lot of work to do!” Faith laughed merrily and kicked out, knocking Buffy to the ground. “See…B? The thing I realized a while back…we’re different. Always will be. You’re a goodie-two-shoes, built to follow orders and take assignments. And I’m like that too. I just prefer to do my beck-and-call work for someone who gets results.” She jutted a thumb back towards the Mayor-Snake who was attacking the screaming citizens of Sunnydale with enthusiasm.
Buffy rose to her feet, barely avoiding being mauled by running students. “You’re…what? Angel was right?”
Faith shrugged. “Probably. Doesn’t much matter now.” She began to circle Buffy.
*~*~*
Across the campus the Mayor-Snake was on the rampage and Giles had flown to semi-safety behind some bushes as he assessed the damage. “Jenny,” he whispered, brokenly. But now was not the time.
“Mr. Giles!” Giles looked up to see Joyce Summers running past him. “Buffy. Where’s Buffy?”
He shook his head. “I—I don’t know. I’m sure she’s fine. You have to get down!”
Joyce refused. “My daughter’s out there! She’s out there somewhere, with that hideous snake thing on the loose.” With that she turned and ran, calling for Buffy.
“Joyce!” Giles cried, but it was no use.
*~*~*
“You’re not getting out of this alive, Faith,” Buffy announced, as they circled each other.
“Might want to recalculate those odds. I’ve got the reptile on my side.”
Buffy lunged at the brunette, kicking out and knocking her to the ground. Faith rolled and leapt up, delivering a roundhouse that hit Buffy in the chest. She stumbled backwards before regaining her footing and ran back into the mix. It was a flurry of action as the two Slayers fought for domination amid the destruction and chaos around them. Bodies were everywhere, students, parents, teachers. What the vampires drained the Mayor then disposed of.
“Buffy!” a voice screamed.
Buffy took a half-second to note that her mother was behind them, leaning against a tree, somewhat hidden from the Mayor.
“Mom! Stay back!”
Faith glanced to Joyce and grinned. “I think Joyce wants to participate! Go tag her into the ring!”
“Deal with me,” Buffy ordered.
“Don’t think so.” Launching herself into a series of flips, Faith landed squarely in front of Joyce. “Hi mom,” she growled, and reached into her waistband, producing a jagged looking knife. “Let’s play.” Forcing Joyce in front of her, Faith twisted her arm and brought the knife up to Joyce’s throat.
“Faith!” Buffy shouted. “No!”
“No? No? Why not, B? It’s gonna happen anyway. Mayor’s going to finish you all off. Might as well be with a little gash in the jugular than getting ripped in half by snake-teeth. Do snakes even have teeth? Maybe they just swallow you whole. Either way, this has to be the better deal.” She inched the knife closer to skin and Joyce whimpered.
Buffy stared in horror, her brain working, trying to think of a way out of this. She met her mother’s eyes.
“Faith, don’t do this,” Joyce pleaded. “Why are you doing this?”
Faith grinned. “Power, Joycee. I’ve got it. B doesn’t. Feels good.”
“Killing me will feel good?”
“Actually, probably not. Killing your daughter’s going to be pretty nice, though. Been dreamin’ about that. You’re sorta like icing on the cake, Joyce. Not necessary, but it makes the rest so much better.”
“Tell me why, Faith,” Buffy requested, her voice very calm but still not masking the panic beneath it.
Faith sighed. “You know, Joyce, I’m a bit disappointed in our dear Buff. She didn’t figure it out until it was all too late. And now…look. It’s just crazy out here! All because she didn’t do her job. She was too busy with Giles and Jenny, planning weddings and dinners and toasts. Too busy to go patrolling with me, when I came across this squat little demon guy who just happened to have these Books of Ascension. Too busy with Angel, shagging like a minx, since he’s all uncursed now, to care much about what I was doing. And now…time to pay the piper.”
Suddenly, Buffy saw movement from behind Faith and her mother. Willow, Xander and Oz. She saw them assess and regroup, then attack in a flurry of motion. Oz and Xander grabbed Faith’s arms, but at the last second, Oz slipped and fell, hitting his head on a large tree root. He lay there, dazed. Faith screeched, enraged now, and broke free of Xander’s gasp. With primal rage she looked Buffy in the eye and drew the knife across Joyce’s throat.
“Stop! Stop!” Dawn screamed, crying hysterically. “I don’t want to see this! I don’t to see this!”
Buffy moved to her sister, crying openly as well, and wrapped her arms around the slender brunette.
“I—I don’t get it. Because Jenny lived…we didn’t know to stop the Ascension?” Xander asked shakily.
Wesley, seeing that Giles was too upset to speak, took it upon himself to offer an explanation. “Angel wasn’t sent to Hell…I think that’s one of the triggers. Faith’s first feelings of betrayal, from what I’m told, occurred when it was revealed that Angel had been returned…and that Buffy had kept the secret. But the emotional upheaval that occurred with Faith after the murder of the deputy mayor…that seems to have been unavoidable.”
“And…Anya never came to Sunnydale. She’s the one that told us about the Ascension,” Xander pointed out.
“We got so busy…with the wedding and stuff…I mean…Faith was doing well, so we didn’t suspect,” Willow added. “All that stuff that pointed out the Mayor…she intercepted it all because we were busy.”
“Angel suspected her,” Gunn pointed out.
“But I didn’t act on it,” Angel countered.
Buffy ignored them all. Moving to Giles she touched his arm gently. “Are you okay?”
He tried to give her a smile that failed to meet his eyes. “Ah…yes. I’m—I’ll be fine. Thank you,” he told her. She was unconvinced, but didn’t push it. “Thank you,” he said to Jackter. “I will remain here.”
Jackter rose from his seat. “Who is next?”
The scenes in this episode are taken from Passion, and Graduation Day.
A note from Buffychick: I have no idea who the author is of the poem Buffy reads at Giles and Jenny's wedding. The best man in my own wedding read that as part of his toast. He only told me it's an old Irish verse.
