FIC - Almost Paradise: 2/4 (W/X)
Charles Glasgow
Author: Chuckg <cgla...@hotmail.com>
Distribution: Ask and it shall be yours. It's also up at
http://members.home.com/glasgowc1/almostparadise.htm.
Disclaimer: They're Joss', not mine. If they were mine, I'd have had them
together by the end of Season 3 at the absolute latest.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Some cliffhanger, eh? Rest assured, people... whatever else I may or
may not do, I do *not* believe in cop-out Reset Buttons.
Dedication: To my wonderful beta reader Melissa Rogerson, and to my good
friend Randi Eldevik for her continually nagging me to "Take a chance!", and
also for helping correct my Latin. And special thanks to Jerry, for
reminding me that I needed that Xander/Anya scene.
Spoilers: Anything up to 'The Gift'
Timeline: Sometime in Season 6, with Buffy having been back alive long
enough that things have started to return to normal for her. Oh, and I'm
deliberately leaving *out* the Season 6 Willow spoilers.
Relationships: W/X, some S/B, Tara/Amy, Anya/you-figure-it-out *eg*
Summary: Xander and Willow wake up to a whole new world. Should they keep
it? Or can they?
Feedback: Please. *g*
ACT TWO
EXT. UC SUNNYDALE CAMPUS, THE QUAD, EARLY AFTERNOON
(Note -- until otherwise mentioned, all of these scenes will have no sound).
Xander and Willow are sitting on the grass in the shade of a tree, eating a
picnic lunch together. In addition to the normal impedimenta of such an
occasion, there is a bottle of champagne and two glasses. They clink the
glasses in a toast and drink to their wedding, wearing goofy lovestruck
grins all the while. They finish the toast and kiss, deeply.
EXT. SUNNYDALE, DOWNTOWN, EARLY AFTERNOON
Xander and Willow are walking down the sidewalk, holding hands, practically
skipping. She points in a shop window and says something we don't hear.
Xander laughs, and she smiles.
INT. ICE CREAM PARLOR, AFTERNOON
Xander and Willow are seated at the table. He's got the remnants of a
monster sundae laid out before him and she's got a vanilla cone.
Deliberately waiting until Xander is looking at her, she takes a dab of ice
cream and places it on her nose. Xander leans over to kiss it off, but
they're both giggling so hard that he misses on the first try. They
practically fall off their seats doubled up with laughter.
INT. XANDER'S APARTMENT BUILDING, HALLWAY
Xander and Willow walk up to Xander's apartment door. They stop, hug, and
kiss (obviously something they've been doing a lot today, given the degree
of practice they seem to have had). Xander unlocks the door with a
flourish... and then sweeps Willow up into his arms, officially carrying her
across the threshold of their home.
FADE TO BLACK
INT. XANDER'S BEDROOM -- CEILING POV
(sound is back on)
We come in to an overhead shot of Xander's bed from directly above. Xander
and Willow are both in bed snuggled together, under the covers so as not to
lose the PG-13 rating, eyes blissfully closed and her head lying on his
chest. The sheets most definitely aren't neat this time.
WILLOW (dreamily)
Mmmm...
XANDER (likewise)
Yeah.
WILLOW (teasingly)
No words?
XANDER (pleasantly)
Don't need any.
WILLOW
Glad to hear it.
They lie together for a short while longer, in silence.
XANDER
Well...
WILLOW (teasingly)
Thought you didn't need words.
XANDER
One thing I... never mind.
WILLOW (tolerantly)
Xander...
XANDER (firmly)
Not gonna say it.
WILLOW (cheerfully)
Ohhhhh. You're not gonna say "Hey, did you know that for a lesbian you're
pretty..."
XANDER (desperately)
*Willow*!
Willow giggles.
WILLOW
Relax, Xander. Don't blame you for bein' a little confused. (giggles again)
Under the circumstances.
XANDER (lets out his breath)
OK, I admit it. I *was* wondering...
WILLOW
... about 'back to Boystown'? Especially with what I've said on that topic
before? I know. But it's like... like a big knot untied in my head earlier
today. You with me?
XANDER (teasingly)
Nope. Wouldn't know aaaanything about that.
CUT TO a side-angle shot. Willow pulls back a little to teasingly punch him
in the shoulder and then nestles back into his arm.
WILLOW (mock-stern)
Hey!
They giggle.
WILLOW
It's... I know, I was *so* on the "Hello, gay now!" thing. It was... it was
like I felt like I had to keep re-affirming it, to be faithful to...
Wlllow tenses.
XANDER (hugs her closer)
It's OK, Will.
Willow stops to relax into the hug, hugs him back. She goes on.
WILLOW
... Tara. But... OK, I feel so silly now. It's not about 'gay' vs.
'straight', or anything else. It's... it's like everybody else is so hung up
on dividing the whole world into the categories 'girl' and 'boy', and I was
just dividing it into 'who I love'... OK, 'who I love *that* way', and
'everybody else'.
Xander muses on that for a second. He turns to look at and smile at Willow.
XANDER
You know, that's a pretty cool way of lookin' at it.
WILLOW (teasingly)
Does this mean that you're gonna announce...
XANDER
No, 'cause the person who I love most in this world is in bed with me right
now.
They rest together comfortably for a little longer.
WILLOW
Xander?
XANDER
Yup.
WILLOW
Question of my own.
XANDER (teasingly)
Thought you didn't need words.
WILLOW (turns to look him in the eye again and continues on)
Where on *Earth* did you learn to do...?
XANDER (easily)
Oh, that was from...
Xander suddenly stops dead, tensing up and closing his eyes as if in pain.
WILLOW
Oops.
XANDER (sighing)
No. *I* should be going 'Oops'. (thumps his head back onto the pillow) I
mean, how can I... especially *now*... take time out to think of...?
WILLOW (understandingly)
How can you not?
XANDER (deliberately reprising Buffy's classic line)
I think I speak for everyone when I say... huh?
WILLOW
Xander, give me a little credit here, OK? You were engaged. That's a serious
step.
Xander's euphoric mood has already evaporated even before this fresh
reminder of his prior life. Willow leans over and hugs him again, tighter,
trying to reassure him.
WILLOW
And I... I know, we agreed that we'd have to give those things up, 'cause
of... all those good reasons. Even entirely aside from how happy we are. And
we did, and we will.
XANDER (looks into Willow's eyes)
And that's why I shouldn't have been...
WILLOW
But I can't expect you to just flick a switch and click, no more *feelings*,
can I? I mean... if you *could* get over being engaged just like that,
that's when I'd better *start* worrying about our marriage.
XANDER (sighs)
I know, Will. And I love you. (concernedly) You know that I love you.
WILLOW (warmly)
Of *course* you do. And I love you. And we're gonna spend the rest of our
lives together making each other as happy as we possibly can, and I'm not
gonna wig if you, you know, think about the past or feel a little weird
about it. I understand that you're gonna have to sometimes. And maybe I'm
gonna do the same thing sometimes, and...
XANDER (finishing Willow's sentence for her without even having to wait)
... total non-wigging over here, too.
They hug. Xander's still looking a little down.
WILLOW
Hey, *smile*.
XANDER
I just don't want you to worry, OK? I'm... 'till death do us part'. We
didn't actually get the ceremony, but we re-affirmed those vows today and
I'm damn well gonna live by them. I just... just don't *ever* want to give
you the slightest reason to doubt me. Not ever again. After all the
King-of-Cretins routines I've dropped on you before, I owe you at *least*
that much.
WILLOW
Xander, doubt is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
XANDER
I know.
Xander still looks just a tiny bit pensive. Willow looks at his expression
for a moment, and then sits up. (Blanket still tastefully covering)
WILLOW (decisively)
OK, get dressed.
XANDER
Again... huh?
Willow looks down at Xander in resolve face.
WILLOW
There's someone you need to talk to.
INT. MAGIC BOX, FRONT ROOM, EARLY EVENING
Anya's at the counter, looking a little tired after her long day. She's in
the process of closing the register. We hear the bell on the door jingle.
ANYA (reciting the Customer-Greeting-Ritual for the zillionth time that day)
Hello, welcome to the Magic...
Anya looks up and her expression falls totally flat. She continues on in
tones more appropriate to suddenly finding a dead rat on one's pillow.
ANYA
Oh. It's you.
PAN to Willow coming in the door. Through the windows we see Xander waiting
nervously outside. FOLLOW Willow up to the counter.
WILLOW
Hi. Ummm... we need to talk.
ANYA (flatly)
What is it now?
WILLOW
Errr... question. How long have Xander and I been married?
ANYA (not knowing where this is going)
Almost a year.
WILLOW
And how long were you and him dating before that?
ANYA
A couple months. We broke up several weeks before your ex got caught with
that other werewolf and ran out on you. (exasperatedly) And we haven't been
anywhere near each other since then...
WILLOW
... I know. The ex-girlfriend-of-a-married-guy rules. Which you've been
really, really good on.
ANYA (slightly confused but still annoyed with Willow)
Thank you. I think.
WILLOW
The point is... look. Xander's my husband.
ANYA
As you've only seen fit to remind me about a thousand times.
WILLOW
A-and if I don't trust him, then I'm doing it all wrong. And... and I
shouldn't have been so paranoid about you, either. In any time. So...
ANYA (in a I-couldn't-care-less-if-a-meteor-fell-on-your-head-right-now tone
of voice)
So?
WILLOW
Take all those stupid rules I made up back in the whenever and junk 'em, OK?
I was... I don't know what I was back then, but the words 'unreasonably
jealous witch' come to mind.
ANYA (cattily)
For a start.
Willow frowns, but takes it without retaliating.
WILLOW (taking a deep breath)
The *point* is... you know about cheating, and why it's bad for
relationships...
ANYA (sarcastically)
Just a little.
WILLOW (gritting her teeth)
... so I know you're not gonna do it. And... and I trust Xander's heart. I
pretty much *have* to, duh, I chose to *marry* him. So I'm knockin' down the
Berlin Wall here. If you and Xander ever need to talk, you know, like normal
people, don't mind Willow at all.
ANYA (wearily)
Thank you *so* much.
WILLOW
Good. 'Cause Xander really needs to talk to you right now.
Willow turns and leaves before Anya can say anything. Xander reluctantly
comes in the door, practically being pushed by Willow. She stays outside.
XANDER (breathing deeply)
Hi.
ANYA (much more friendly than she was to Willow -- that is to say, normally
friendly if not especially warm)
Hi Xander.
XANDER
I... look, before we start, where we're standing? Between us?
ANYA (expertly deciphering the Xanderbabble)
Emotionally? You're the guy who taught me that not all men were totally
untrustworthy scum, even if they are still kind of weak-willed and
indecisive.
Xander winces.
ANYA (continuing on, oblivious)
We had a nice time together. But I saw your heart wasn't really in it except
maybe physically, so I said that we'd better just call it a day before we
ended up hurting each other. That's one of the classic ways in which a
relationship goes bad, you know.
XANDER
Oh.
ANYA
You were very nice, though. Even at the end.
XANDER
Thanks.
ANYA
Willow said you needed to talk. About us? Why?
XANDER
Actually... I needed to talk to you *about* Willow.
ANYA
It's simple. She doesn't like me, so I don't like her. (pause) If that makes
you feel bad, I... I'm still not sorry. But if it makes you feel better,
I'll wish I could be.
XANDER
No, that's not it either.
ANYA
Then I have absolutely no clue why you're talking to me.
XANDER (biting the bullet)
Do you think... do you think Willow and I should be doing this?
ANYA (totally lost)
Doing what?
XANDER
Marrying.
ANYA (*more* than totally lost)
Xander, your first anniversary is in three weeks. That's a little late for
second thoughts about the altar.
XANDER (stuck)
I... I just had this... well, OK, it was a...
ANYA (light-bulb-over-head-moment)
Ohhhh. You and Willow are experiencing your first major marriage problem
about something and you're clueless how to handle it because you've never
really had to deal with one before and you're afraid it's going to end up
going really bad, so you're coming to me for *professional* advice. Because
I have eleven hundred years of experience with watching every possible way
that men and women can hurt each other and learning everything about how
relationships can go bad.
XANDER
Uhhh... yes! Yes, that is *exactly* why I'm here.
ANYA
In that case... *professionally* speaking... I have absolutely no clue why
you're talking to me.
Xander hits a mental brick wall.
XANDER
Uh.
ANYA
You and Willow have one of the deepest emotional bonds I've ever seen. Which
is not surprising, given that you've known each other since you were
squalling infants. You practically raised each other from birth and trying
to protect and cheer up the other one was your main mission in life all the
way up until you met Buffy. And still a lot after you met Buffy. If one of
you gets hurt even for a second, the other one goes crazy the instant they
know about it and can't rest until they've done everything possible to fix
it. The *only* way you could possibly hurt each other in any important way
is if you hid important things from each other, and for all the time I've
seen you two together you've been so open that you might as well both be
living in the same brain.
Xander's breathing deeply, almost sagging with relief.
XANDER
You really think so?
ANYA
Do I ever say anything that I don't mean?
XANDER
*Never.*
ANYA
So don't worry. I haven't seen one like you and Willow since the 12th
century. And even they weren't quite as meant for each other as you two are.
XANDER (limp as a wet noodle with release from worry and guilt)
Thanks. I know that must have been really hard for you to say. I mean, what
with you and Willow being...
ANYA
She was afraid of losing you. (ruefully) Actually, what with everything I've
seen, I can sympathize with that. A little.
XANDER
Wow.
ANYA (full vengeance-demon expression, albeit on a human face)
And if you *ever* tell her I said that you'll wish your *grandparents* had
never been born.
XANDER (holding up his hands to ward off Anya's wrath)
No power on this Earth shall drag your secrets from my lips.
ANYA (smiles)
Good.
They pause for a second.
XANDER
So we're cool.
ANYA
If by "cool" you mean "absolutely no emotional issues remain unresolved
between us", then yes.
XANDER
Thanks.
He shakes Anya's hand.
ANYA
Don't mention it.
Xander turns to go... and then stops.
XANDER
None of my business, but I just gotta know. Are you...?
ANYA
Seeing anyone new? (she smiles warmly and continues on in an unthinking
moment of happiness) Yes I...
Anya suddenly claps her hand over her mouth.
ANYA
Argh!
XANDER
Weren't supposed to know?
ANYA
Nobody is. He's still embarassed about how to tell his friends. I'm trying
to learn how to be understanding about it.
XANDER
(Sgt. Schultz voice) I know *nothiiiiiing*! (pause, continues in normal
voice) He is being good to you, isn't he?
ANYA (confidently)
He knows what'll happen to him if he isn't. (smiles, continues warmly) Yes.
He is.
XANDER
Well, good luck.
ANYA
Thank you.
Xander leaves. FOLLOW to:
EXT. STREET, IN FRONT OF THE MAGIC BOX
Xander is coming out the door. He stops and gives Willow a rib-crushing hug,
no holding back, smiling from ear to ear.
XANDER
And thank *you*.
WILLOW (sighing happily)
Don't mention it.
They release, hold hands and turn to go. As they start to walk away,
Xander's eye happens to fall on Giles' sporty red convertible parked at the
curb. He wrinkles his brow in thought for a second.
XANDER (suddenly shaking his head)
*No.*
They walk on a few steps further. Then, struck by another thought, Xander
stops and turns to look at Willow.
XANDER
Look, about that Wiccan club tonight. It's still early, so if you want to
take off and...
WILLOW
Thanks. But I don't need to go tonight.
XANDER (encouragingly)
Hey... you showed me mine, I'll show you yours?
WILLOW (smiling)
Don't need to, Xander. Not now.
She hugs. They kiss.
WILLOW
Besides, they hold 'em every week.
Suddenly Buffy sticks her head out of the shop door.
BUFFY
Guys! Whoa, guys! Hate to break this up, but...
INT. MAGIC BOX, FRONT ROOM.
Spike and Giles are sitting in chairs. Anya's just coming up out of the
basement holding a big leather tool roll. As she comes over and drops it on
the table, it flips open to reveal an assortment of medieval weapons.
SPIKE
Right, that's more like it! (grabs a mace) Here luv, catch. (Spike throws
the mace hard right at Buffy's head, just as she's coming in the door.)
BUFFY (casually making an off-handed catch without even looking)
Ooo. Thanks.
CUT back to:
GILES
Look, Anya. You've been on your feet all day, and this isn't exactly an
opening of the Hellmouth. Perhaps you'd better sit this one out.
ANYA (curtly)
I was going to suggest that. Lock the front door when you go, I'll close up
the back.
Giles looks a little put out. FOLLOW as Anya goes and enters the back room.
Then her head sticks out the door again.
ANYA (less curtly)
Thank you.
She goes back through the door.
CUT back to Giles smiling slightly. Xander and Willow have finished coming
in and taking their own seats at the table.
WILLOW (whispers to Xander)
Didn't Anya only start coming along with us because of you? Why would she
still be here if you two never got serious?
XANDER (whispering)
I've got a theory.
WILLOW (whispering)
Give.
XANDER (low-voiced, but absolutely firm)
No power on this Earth.
GILES
If we're quite finished?
XANDER (rubbing his hands together)
Scooby time, huh? So, what's the occasion? Vampires? Demons? Zombies?
BUFFY
Hobbits with leprosy.
XANDER
Oh.
GILES
*And* vampires. Several of Glory's left-behind minions have hooked up with
one of the second-string vampire gangs.
XANDER
Sounds easy.
GILES
And are using their rather eclectic knowledge of forgotten magicks to help
point them towards the burial site of a rather nasty artifact, the Locus of
Everon.
WILLOW
Isn't that the one that can make heads explode up to half a mile away, but
only on the summer solstice?
SPIKE (drawling ironically)
Well, they can't all be world-destroyers, can they?
BUFFY
Spike! Feet off the table! (Buffy elbows him gently)
GILES
And I know the solstice is quite some time away, but we might as well take
the opportunity to nip this in the bud.
XANDER (looking around and doing the headcount)
Where's Dawn?
BUFFY
Sleepover at a friend's.
SPIKE (muttering too low to be heard)
The *one* bloody night of the week she manages it, and we get demons. And
not even big ones.
GILES (stoically ignoring the byplay)
In any event, they should be in the tunnels under the west side of town. So
we'll enter *there* (pointing to a spot on the map on the table) and proceed
to *here*, patrolling this sector. Does everyone have their gear?
WILLOW (checking in her purse)
Got it!
SPIKE (holding up his clenched fist)
All I need.
BUFFY
Good to go!
XANDER
Anybody got a spare cross?
CUT TO:
INT. ELECTRICAL SERVICE TUNNEL, UNDER SUNNYDALE
The Scooby Gang is marching down the tunnel with Buffy and Spike on point,
Xander and Willow in the middle, and Giles in the rear. Xander has a
battleaxe and Giles a broadsword, Willow's got the big flashlight, Buffy's
holding the mace and Spike has a lit cigarette. He takes a puff as Buffy
holds up her hand and the group halts. Buffy peers her head around a corner
to look down a side passage. Xander bumps into Spike's back when everything
halts. Giles is a few paces behind everyone and busy looking backwards,
making sure nothing's coming up behind them.
SPIKE
Hey, watch it! (takes another drag, drops it on the floor and steps on it)
You're getting your pheromones all over my jacket.
BUFFY (still looking around the corner)
Phero-what?
SPIKE (takes a sniff)
If you'd got my nose, you wouldn't need to ask. (looking back at Xander) And
next time, take a shower when you finish.
BUFFY (turning back to the group and finally clueing in)
Ooooo. (teasingly, to Willow) Sounds like *somebody* had themselves a nice
big happy this afternoon...
Willow blushes and Xander winces a little... and then Willow gets an evil
little grin on her face. She opens her mouth and continues on in a
near-exact imitation of the same voice Buffy used on Spike when it was her
line.
WILLOW
You're a *pig*, Buffy.
Xander and Spike both choke trying not to laugh. Buffy gives Xander and
Willow the hairy eyeball and then turns to give a laser-beam death stare to
Spike. At this, Spike can't take it anymore and fearlessly laughs out loud.
Buffy stamps her foot prettily and turns red in the face.
BUFFY
Oooooo...
She turns back to Willow and, caught halfway between laughter and blowing a
fuse, gives Willow an evil little smile of her own. Buffy then turns to go
back down the hallway. As she and the rest of the group start walking again,
Buffy starts humming "Ding, dong, the witch is dead".
BUFFY
Dum, dum, da dum dum dum...
FADE TO BLACK
INT. UNDERGROUND CHAMBER
There's a furious melee going on between the Scoobies and the Minion/Vampire
combination... well, as furious as a melee can get when one side is composed
of very mediocre combatants. Buffy's busy single-handedly unleashing some
gravity-defying Slayer-Fu on three second-rate vamps simultaneously, Giles
is having a broadsword/quarterstaff duel with one of Glory's minions, and
Willow's just finished dusting a vamp with a levitating stake. CLOSE IN to
where Xander and Spike have ended up back-to-back and flanked by two more
axe-wielding minions.
XANDER
Whoa!
Xander smoothly pivots and rams the hilt of his axe right into the chest of
a vampire who'd sneaked up behind a busy Spike with a dropped stake in its
hand. The vamp dusts.
SPIKE
Well. Guess I owe you...
Spike, having just flattened the minion in front of him, suddenly turns and
reaches out to roughly grab Xander by the throat and collar, yanking his
head down almost fast enough to give him whiplash. Spike's other hand
viciously thrusts forward with a punch that could shatter bulletproof
glass... and goes right through where Xander's head *used* to be, crushing
the skull of the minion coming up behind him.
XANDER and SPIKE (in unison, Xander a little breathlessly)
Jack.
Spike lets Xander up.
BUFFY (O.S., cheerily)
What's the matter, guys, don't want to play any more?
Sound effects of running feet.
GILES (O.S., wearily)
Buffy...
FADE TO BLACK
INT. MAGIC BOX, FRONT ROOM
The gang is back, looking rumpled after their somewhat strenuous night but
not really worse for wear. No bandages, no serious wounds. They're sitting
around the table, except for Spike who's over idly fiddling with things on
the counter and only listening with half an ear.
BUFFY
So, the ones who got away will still be trying for this Locus thingy.
XANDER
After they stop running. I mean... (he shrugs, puffs his chest out). They
were *wimps*.
BUFFY
You'd rather we got more ex-Army Ranger vampires, like last week? (shudders)
Good thing you could use those military manuals to predict what kind of
spots he'd like to pick to shoot from, or me and Dawn would *still* be
sleeping in Spike's crypt so as to miss out on the whole
sniper-rifle-through-the-window experience.
XANDER
Ah yes. Wimpiness is a good thing. The world would be far better off with
more wimpiness and don't you even think about it.
PAN over to Spike closing his mouth before saying anything... after all, if
they can see it coming then it's not really any fun. Off-screen, Willow
chuckles.
PAN back to:
GILES
Well. I suppose our next course of action is...
BUFFY
... find the Locus before they do? OK!
Buffy suddenly pauses.
BUFFY (warily)
Hey, does this mean...
WILLOW (cheerily)
Research party?
GILES
Research party.
CUT to Spike hurriedly getting off the counter, which he's been sitting on,
and heading straight for the door.
SPIKE
Right! Guess I'll hit up the ol' informants at Willy's then. You know,
information and all that.
CUT over to Buffy, who is almost breaking the sound barrier to keep up with
Spike.
BUFFY
I'm *so* with you there! (unconvincingly) After all, Willy's is a dangerous
place, you'll need backup...
Buffy and Spike are out the door before anyone can say a word.
SPIKE (O.S., and even less convincingly as they fade into the distance)
Too right. Couldn't hope to handle myself in there alone...
CUT BACK to the table. Giles is looking off-screen.
GILES (jokingly)
You can at least keep him here, can't you?
PULL BACK to show Willow and Xander coming out of the stacks, him with an
armload of books.
WILLOW (smiling)
Juuuust possibly. (to Xander) You start on that stack, I'll go get the rest.
GILES
I'll go start in on the manuscripts.
Giles leaves to go into the back. Willow heads back into the stacks. Xander
sits down at the table and yawns, stretching himself out comfortably in the
chair.
XANDER (griping mildly)
And so another night is spent playing that wonderful game known as "Read
till your eyes bleed".
Xander turns to look over at Willow, who's industriously going down the
shelves full of books pulling out selected volumes. His expression softens
into a contented smile.
XANDER (cheerfully)
Sounds fine to me.
Xander reaches for the first book and casually flips it open... and he stops
dead, his pleasant expression lapsing right into shock. Xander blinks, then
blinks again. Then he reaches up to rub his eyes. Then he stares at the book
again.
XANDER (moaning)
No...
Xander turns white and he clutches his stomach as if he's about to throw up.
He slumps into his seat, his face set in a mask of abject misery. Willow
turns upon hearing the "thump* of the book falling to the table when Xander
drops it.
WILLOW
Xander? XANDER! What is it, what's wrong?!?
She runs over and grabs Xander before he can fall out of the chair. He's
gasping for breath as if he were punched in the stomach, and tenses up the
instant Willow touches him.
XANDER (haltingly)
It...
Xander visibly struggles against an overwhelming compulsion to not speak.
Then he slumps again, in utter despair.
XANDER (soft, almost whispering)
I know, Will. (turns to look her in the eyes) I know where we are.
Willow freezes like a deer caught in headlights. She turns paler than a
ghost.
WILLOW (terrified)
A-and?
FADE TO BLACK
INT. MAGIC BOX, BACK ROOM
Buffy is sitting on the couch, her eyes red with circles under them. She's
nervously twining her fingers together. Dawn is sitting next to Buffy,
staring worriedly off to the side, one hand resting on Buffy's forearm. Anya
sits on Buffy's other side, looking straight ahead with a bleak
thousand-yard stare as if she's so emotionally exhausted that she can't even
react anymore. Buffy is *not* Happy Bouncy Buffy anymore, she's Thin And
Tired Buffy from earlier episodes.
PULL BACK to show Giles nervously pacing the floor, and Tara kneeling down
(where Dawn is staring) checking something that we can't quite see yet.
Everybody looks like they've been pulling a sleepless all-nighter. Nobody is
wearing the same clothes that they were in prior scenes. Giles most
especially is *not* in tweed.
GILES (wearily, without much hope)
Any change?
PULL BACK...
... to show what Tara is kneeling next to. Xander's and Willow's comatose
bodies are laid out on the exercise mats, an aluminum survival blanket
covering them.
TARA (sadly)
None.
FADE TO BLACK
--
Chuckg
Brendan Meteer
news:X5jt7.10087$My2.4...@news1.mntp1.il.home.com...
> Title: Almost Paradise
> Author: Chuckg <cgla...@hotmail.com>
> Distribution: Ask and it shall be yours. It's also up at
> http://members.home.com/glasgowc1/almostparadise.htm.
> Disclaimer: They're Joss', not mine. If they were mine, I'd have had them
> together by the end of Season 3 at the absolute latest.
> Rating: PG-13
> Notes: Some cliffhanger, eh? Rest assured, people... whatever else I may
or
> may not do, I do *not* believe in cop-out Reset Buttons.
> Dedication: To my wonderful beta reader Melissa Rogerson, and to my good
> friend Randi Eldevik for her continually nagging me to "Take a chance!",
and
> also for helping correct my Latin. And special thanks to Jerry, for
> reminding me that I needed that Xander/Anya scene.
> Spoilers: Anything up to 'The Gift'
> Timeline: Sometime in Season 6, with Buffy having been back alive long
> enough that things have started to return to normal for her. Oh, and I'm
> deliberately leaving *out* the Season 6 Willow spoilers.
> Relationships: W/X, some S/B, Tara/Amy, Anya/you-figure-it-out *eg*
> Summary: Xander and Willow wake up to a whole new world. Should they keep
> it? Or can they?
> Feedback: Please. *g*
Great Stuff!
> XANDER
> You really think so?
>
> ANYA
> Do I ever say anything that I don't mean?
>
> XANDER
> *Never.*
Yes, that's our Anya!
> XANDER
> (Sgt. Schultz voice) I know *nothiiiiiing*! (pause, continues in normal
> voice) He is being good to you, isn't he?
A Hogan's Heros referance. I like.
This is Classic! I was laughing about this one for a while!
> XANDER (griping mildly)
> And so another night is spent playing that wonderful game known as "Read
> till your eyes bleed".
>
> Xander turns to look over at Willow, who's industriously going down the
> shelves full of books pulling out selected volumes. His expression softens
> into a contented smile.
>
> XANDER (cheerfully)
> Sounds fine to me.
Awww!
> Xander reaches for the first book and casually flips it open... and he
stops
> dead, his pleasant expression lapsing right into shock. Xander blinks,
then
> blinks again. Then he reaches up to rub his eyes. Then he stares at the
book
> again.
Ruh-Roh.
> XANDER (moaning)
> No...
>
> Xander turns white and he clutches his stomach as if he's about to throw
up.
> He slumps into his seat, his face set in a mask of abject misery. Willow
> turns upon hearing the "thump* of the book falling to the table when
Xander
> drops it.
>
> WILLOW
> Xander? XANDER! What is it, what's wrong?!?
>
> She runs over and grabs Xander before he can fall out of the chair. He's
> gasping for breath as if he were punched in the stomach, and tenses up the
> instant Willow touches him.
>
> XANDER (haltingly)
> It...
>
> Xander visibly struggles against an overwhelming compulsion to not speak.
> Then he slumps again, in utter despair.
>
> XANDER (soft, almost whispering)
> I know, Will. (turns to look her in the eyes) I know where we are.
>
> Willow freezes like a deer caught in headlights. She turns paler than a
> ghost.
>
> WILLOW (terrified)
> A-and?
Hrmmm...
> INT. MAGIC BOX, BACK ROOM
>
> Buffy is sitting on the couch, her eyes red with circles under them. She's
> nervously twining her fingers together. Dawn is sitting next to Buffy,
> staring worriedly off to the side, one hand resting on Buffy's forearm.
Anya
> sits on Buffy's other side, looking straight ahead with a bleak
> thousand-yard stare as if she's so emotionally exhausted that she can't
even
> react anymore. Buffy is *not* Happy Bouncy Buffy anymore, she's Thin And
> Tired Buffy from earlier episodes.
>
> PULL BACK to show Giles nervously pacing the floor, and Tara kneeling down
> (where Dawn is staring) checking something that we can't quite see yet.
> Everybody looks like they've been pulling a sleepless all-nighter. Nobody
is
> wearing the same clothes that they were in prior scenes. Giles most
> especially is *not* in tweed.
>
> GILES (wearily, without much hope)
> Any change?
>
> PULL BACK...
>
> ... to show what Tara is kneeling next to. Xander's and Willow's comatose
> bodies are laid out on the exercise mats, an aluminum survival blanket
> covering them.
>
> TARA (sadly)
> None.
OK, I get it now!
Great stuff, keep it coming!
-Brendan
Richard Lee
Keep it coming. And Fast.
Lejo
Jeanny
Charles Glasgow <cgla...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:X5jt7.10087$My2.4...@news1.mntp1.il.home.com...
> Author: Chuckg <cgla...@hotmail.com>
> Distribution: Ask and it shall be yours. It's also up at
> http://members.home.com/glasgowc1/almostparadise.htm.
> Disclaimer: They're Joss', not mine. If they were mine, I'd have had them
> together by the end of Season 3 at the absolute latest.
> Rating: PG-13
> Notes: Some cliffhanger, eh? Rest assured, people... whatever else I may
or
> may not do, I do *not* believe in cop-out Reset Buttons.
Ooooooo...I like that! Can't wait for the next part! And Hooray for no
cop-out Reset Buttons!
Jeanny
Charles Glasgow
"Jeanny" <jeann...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:YWFt7.68183$Dz6.1...@e3500-atl2.usenetserver.com...
I might, however, believe in *teasing* people with Reset Buttons.
Or I might not. *eg*
--
Chuckg
Dave
<cgla...@hotmail.com> writes:
>
>WILLOW
>... Tara. But... OK, I feel so silly now. It's not about 'gay' vs.
>'straight', or anything else. It's... it's like everybody else is so hung up
>on dividing the whole world into the categories 'girl' and 'boy', and I was
>just dividing it into 'who I love'... OK, 'who I love *that* way', and
>'everybody else'.
>
Good to see someone got Willow a clue as a wedding present.
And so much for the red herring. This chapter shows my theory was right. I knew
watching Batman Adventures would pay off some day. <G> Now where's part three?
Dave
"God loves. Man kills."