A
Altoz
Guest
SUNNYDALE: September 2002:
"Riaowwrowrow!:" A small but determined black and white cat-shaped projerctile launched itself at Willow and Tara as they entered their apartment:
"Hello Kitty sweetheart. Someone was fed well by Uncle Doug while we were, wasn't she?"
Kitty Fantastico nuzzled Tara as she took her off Willow:
"Whp;'s a big girl now? Kitty Fantastico is a big girl ,oh yes..."
"Pour her some milk while I catch up wih Buffy and the big Kiwi lug."
"Hello, Willow."
"Hi, Dawnie. Everything okay at home?"
"Doug sat me down and explained what happened to Buffy a few months ago. She was possessed. so she wasn't completely responsible for her actions. I understand now, Willow. Why is it that you, Tara and Doug treat me like an adult but she's so overprotective, though?"
"Dawnie, you only lost your mother two years ago. Can you really blame Buffy for wanting to protect the only flesh and blood she's got left?"
"I'm seventeen now. That's a year older than she was when she became a slayer."
"She just wants to see you grow up into an intelligent, beautiful woman, Dawnie. Like me and Tara and the Dougster. Is he handy?"
"Very. He's almost completely fixed up the place after Warren's attack. Damnl. I was going to say it was almost like having Xander back, but it isn't. Nothing ever will be. Anyway, Buffy's out doing grocery shopping while Doug;'s over here" Dawm motioned toward the phone and Doug laid down his hammer and set of nails:
"G;'day, Willow. How was Tuscany?"
"Oh, beautiful. Tara and I spent hours walking through the forests and vineyards while Alessandra Norton took us on a grand tour of her brother's estate. How about you? Taking time off, I hope?"
"I refuse to answer that question on the basis that I'm a workoholic."
"Ahem. All work and no play makes Dougster almost a dull guy? You haven't been to the Rainbow Zone yet, have you?"
"Yeah, after patrol one night. Apparently I even look too scary for the gay paras in the 'Dale. And I don't do one nighters anymore. Haven't for a while. Also, I'm a mutant gay man, who lacks the usual showtune and interior decor genes. And I didn't know moisturiser from fragrance either. Dawn had to tell me what the difference was. And Buffy and her are whispering in corners. I suspect they may be trying to matchmake for me."
"Do you realise I had the exact opposite of this conversation with Xander? He was always scared he wasn't manly enough. Now, you're worried you're too butch. Don't worry. Doug, there's still the opera. At least you don't have to sing while that's being performed."
"Thank Gaia. Honestly, though, Willow, that time with Sweet was one of the most frightening periods of my whole life."
"How is Buffy?"
"She was doing okay until that ridiculous episode with Travers. Alessandra read him the riot act, I understand?"
"Oh yeah, Tara and I were in Westbury when she tore several strips off him. That thunderstorm and lightning was her? I never realised she was such a powerful elemental witch"
"Oh, definitely. Yeah, you can tell when Travers and her are getting the daggers out at Council meetings. Damn and blast the hereditary Council leadership. If it wasn't for Rupert, Chris Lonnergan and 'Lessa, I'd have walked out like Buffy did long ago. Ah, here she is now. Willow..." Doug handed over the phone to Buffy as he took the groceries off her:
"Hey, you. And thanks for the phonecall about the Council. You should have seen Doug's reaction that night on patrol. He's good with wood, that man. "
"Jonathan sends his regards. He's settling in quite well at Westbury."
"Father Chris sent us holy water to dip the stakes in. Apparently it accelerates the effects of staking and weakens other vampires in the vicinity/"
"It's been good having him here, Wills. He's almost like a younger version of Giles without the badboy routine. Talking about Giles with him has helped a lot. He's like the brother I never had. Anyhow, now you're back, can Tara take over the Magic Box during the afternoon? It;ll only be until the semester starts."
"When she's finished playing with fur baby... yes, that'll be fine. Have you heard anything from Anya?"
"No. Given the Lethe spell while she left Sunnydale 2002 behind, I don't think we will, either. Wherever she is., I hope she meets someone good for her, like Xander. She was a friend and she deserves to be happy. Are you going to patrol with me tomorrow?"
"After we've had time to rest from the flight back, sure thing."
And at that moment, a beaten-up looking white panel van with some Mandarin bumper stickers and a Free Tibet flag waving from an open window passed a road sign that indicated that its sole occupant was now only about fifty miles from Sunnydale. He was humming U2's Beautiful Day and wished his bass guitar didn't have a broken string. He was at peace, true peace, for the first time in six long years, during which time he'd made his way to Tibet and then, when terrorists shattered his happiness there, back to the United States the long way. Daniel "Ox" Osbourne was back in town again, but this time there would be a few changes...
END
"Riaowwrowrow!:" A small but determined black and white cat-shaped projerctile launched itself at Willow and Tara as they entered their apartment:
"Hello Kitty sweetheart. Someone was fed well by Uncle Doug while we were, wasn't she?"
Kitty Fantastico nuzzled Tara as she took her off Willow:
"Whp;'s a big girl now? Kitty Fantastico is a big girl ,oh yes..."
"Pour her some milk while I catch up wih Buffy and the big Kiwi lug."
"Hello, Willow."
"Hi, Dawnie. Everything okay at home?"
"Doug sat me down and explained what happened to Buffy a few months ago. She was possessed. so she wasn't completely responsible for her actions. I understand now, Willow. Why is it that you, Tara and Doug treat me like an adult but she's so overprotective, though?"
"Dawnie, you only lost your mother two years ago. Can you really blame Buffy for wanting to protect the only flesh and blood she's got left?"
"I'm seventeen now. That's a year older than she was when she became a slayer."
"She just wants to see you grow up into an intelligent, beautiful woman, Dawnie. Like me and Tara and the Dougster. Is he handy?"
"Very. He's almost completely fixed up the place after Warren's attack. Damnl. I was going to say it was almost like having Xander back, but it isn't. Nothing ever will be. Anyway, Buffy's out doing grocery shopping while Doug;'s over here" Dawm motioned toward the phone and Doug laid down his hammer and set of nails:
"G;'day, Willow. How was Tuscany?"
"Oh, beautiful. Tara and I spent hours walking through the forests and vineyards while Alessandra Norton took us on a grand tour of her brother's estate. How about you? Taking time off, I hope?"
"I refuse to answer that question on the basis that I'm a workoholic."
"Ahem. All work and no play makes Dougster almost a dull guy? You haven't been to the Rainbow Zone yet, have you?"
"Yeah, after patrol one night. Apparently I even look too scary for the gay paras in the 'Dale. And I don't do one nighters anymore. Haven't for a while. Also, I'm a mutant gay man, who lacks the usual showtune and interior decor genes. And I didn't know moisturiser from fragrance either. Dawn had to tell me what the difference was. And Buffy and her are whispering in corners. I suspect they may be trying to matchmake for me."
"Do you realise I had the exact opposite of this conversation with Xander? He was always scared he wasn't manly enough. Now, you're worried you're too butch. Don't worry. Doug, there's still the opera. At least you don't have to sing while that's being performed."
"Thank Gaia. Honestly, though, Willow, that time with Sweet was one of the most frightening periods of my whole life."
"How is Buffy?"
"She was doing okay until that ridiculous episode with Travers. Alessandra read him the riot act, I understand?"
"Oh yeah, Tara and I were in Westbury when she tore several strips off him. That thunderstorm and lightning was her? I never realised she was such a powerful elemental witch"
"Oh, definitely. Yeah, you can tell when Travers and her are getting the daggers out at Council meetings. Damn and blast the hereditary Council leadership. If it wasn't for Rupert, Chris Lonnergan and 'Lessa, I'd have walked out like Buffy did long ago. Ah, here she is now. Willow..." Doug handed over the phone to Buffy as he took the groceries off her:
"Hey, you. And thanks for the phonecall about the Council. You should have seen Doug's reaction that night on patrol. He's good with wood, that man. "
"Jonathan sends his regards. He's settling in quite well at Westbury."
"Father Chris sent us holy water to dip the stakes in. Apparently it accelerates the effects of staking and weakens other vampires in the vicinity/"
"It's been good having him here, Wills. He's almost like a younger version of Giles without the badboy routine. Talking about Giles with him has helped a lot. He's like the brother I never had. Anyhow, now you're back, can Tara take over the Magic Box during the afternoon? It;ll only be until the semester starts."
"When she's finished playing with fur baby... yes, that'll be fine. Have you heard anything from Anya?"
"No. Given the Lethe spell while she left Sunnydale 2002 behind, I don't think we will, either. Wherever she is., I hope she meets someone good for her, like Xander. She was a friend and she deserves to be happy. Are you going to patrol with me tomorrow?"
"After we've had time to rest from the flight back, sure thing."
And at that moment, a beaten-up looking white panel van with some Mandarin bumper stickers and a Free Tibet flag waving from an open window passed a road sign that indicated that its sole occupant was now only about fifty miles from Sunnydale. He was humming U2's Beautiful Day and wished his bass guitar didn't have a broken string. He was at peace, true peace, for the first time in six long years, during which time he'd made his way to Tibet and then, when terrorists shattered his happiness there, back to the United States the long way. Daniel "Ox" Osbourne was back in town again, but this time there would be a few changes...
END