full 3/4 1/2   skin light dark       
 
Second Youth by Ariel Dawn
 
Lazy Sunday
 
<<     >>
 
Disclaimer: Yes, I am the creator of all things Buffy...sadly only in dreams.
__________________________________________
Lazy Sunday

Buffy stumbled down stairs to take in the mess that she and Willow had left from their girls night out. Ice cream cartons, gummy bear bags, and a half eaten bowl of popcorn littered the living room. Buffy’s colourful assortment of nail polish along with cotton balls and polish remover were under the coffee table. Buffy stooped to pick the collection up, only to step on a gummy bear.

It was Sunday morning, and instead of sleeping in with her yummy mate, she was cleaning. This was something that heralded another apocalypse, she was certain of it.

She was having breakfast with Anya in town. The truth was that Buffy kinda felt bad about leaving Anya out of her and Willow’s friend fest. Anya was her friend, more so now that before, but still Buffy liked Anya, and she was rapidly skyrocketing to the number two position in the best friend Olympics.
__________________________________________
“So Xander was telling me that he’s thinking of asking Giles to be his best man,” said Anya.

The two women were eating omelettes in a brightly lit restaurant on Sunnydale’s main drag.

“Really? Does that mean I have to walk up the aisle with Giles? And dance with him at the reception?”

“You weren’t planning on dancing with him at the reception anyway?”

“Well, I guess I hadn’t thought about it.” Buffy took a sip of her orange juice.

“I don’t know, sometimes I think I’m doing this wedding thing all wrong. I’ve never attended one before, well at least not in a non vengeance capacity. I don’t know what’s expected and traditional, except for everything that comes out of the bridal magazines. They have been my life line, literally.”

“It’s your wedding Anya, you and Xander have to make your own traditions and your own memories, who cares what other weddings looked like, or what other couples did?”

“Xander does,” mumbled Anya.

“Then Xander is a poop head. It’s your day. If you want to include some stuff from your own demon traditions, then that’s great. If he doesn’t accept that...well you will just have to make him see.”

Anya smiled. “I could. We’ve had the discussion, somewhat. He really didn’t like it. I think the groom’s right of self flagellation turned him off demon traditions.”

Buffy laughed. “Ya I can see that happening. But Anya, if he doesn't respect your beliefs, do you really think that you should just cater to his ideas about how a marriage... I mean a wedding should take place?”

Anya was silent for a while.

“You are right. It’s my wedding too. He just has these issues about demons. I think they are getting better though. I mean he’s not always muttering about you and Spike anymore, not after you talked to him.”

“One of my better talking head times. They don’t always work.”

“No, but you tried. I know you did. I just hope that Willow doesn’t go off the deep end. I know of quite a few people who are just lost to the potential darkness of magic, like there’s this guy Rack...bad news, let me tell you...”

Buffy smiled.

“Rack’s gone Anya, I took care of him right after Amy.”

“You were the one that turned Amy back?” gasped Anya.

Buffy’s eyes went wide. “Oh crap. You can’t tell anyone Anya. I meant to keep that a secret.”

“Why? You have witchy power now? What’s so wrong about that? It’s not like you are going to blow up the world or anything...are you...going to blow up the world?”

“No, Anya, strictly here on a live my life over kick.”

Anya nodded.

“But could you...blow up the world if you wanted to? I ask as a point of interest...I never had that kind of power.”

“I don’t think I could Anya, I wouldn’t try anyway, I’m the Slayer, the world protector.”

“So are you willing to impart gossip from the future?”

“Anya...”

“I bet you told Willow lots of stuff, come on, just a couple of things?”

Buffy smiled.

“You managed to acquire a very fruitful portfolio of investments, The Magic Box was doing very well, in it’s online business anyway.”

“And Xander?”

“What about Xander?” Buffy gulped.

“Do we live happily ever after?”

Buffy didn’t answer.

“Buffy?”
__________________________________________
It broke Buffy’s heart to tell Anya that she didn’t live happily ever after with Xander. Luckily the ex demon didn’t push any further.

Buffy arrived home from Breakfast to find Spike still fast asleep in their bed. Looking at him all cute and boyish, clutching her pillow, she could help but think about all the things that she wanted to change. She didn’t want Spike to die. She didn’t want Xander and Anya to go through the painful altar leaving episode, the problem was, she really didn’t think that they should get married at all. It was horrible to think of her friend like this, but Xander was a bigot, when it came to demons and ex demons. Anya deserved someone better than Xander. And Xander needed to have someone that he could love without having to try and change.

Buffy flung off her shoes and crawled in beside Spike.

“Mmm Slayer,” he moaned as he pulled her closer to him.

“Not naked Slayer though,” he frowned. “Want Naked Slayer.”

Buffy giggled and started to divest herself of her clothes.
__________________________________________
Buffy was humming along to some peppy pop song that she couldn’t quite remember the words to, while she cleaned the bathroom. Willow and Tara were up and about already, Spike was asleep, naturally, and Dawn... Where was Dawn.

Buffy peaked her head into Dawn’s room to see the teen still sleeping. It was at least noon. It was funny how Dawn had passed that trait on to her offspring. Buffy remembered trying to get Eleanor to get up on Sundays with limited success.

Buffy walked into the room and stared at the sleeping body. She looked so much like Eleanor. Buffy jumped on the bed and started to bounce up and down.

She was having such a good time, jumping on the bed, that she lost herself for a moment.

“Eleanor Michelle Summers-Wells! Get your lazy ass out of bed!”

The moment the words were out of her mouth she stopped jumping. crap, crap, crap!

“Who the hell is Eleanor Michelle Summers-Wells?” asked an angry and sleepy Dawn.

“Uh, no one.“ Buffy jumped off the bed and ran out of the room.

“Nuh uh,” said Dawn as she jumped off the bed herself and chased after her sister.

“Who is Eleanor Michelle Summers-Wells?”

Buffy ran into her room and hid behind her bed.

“Tell me Buffy!” shouted Dawn as she entered the room.

Buffy peaked her head out from behind the bed.

“Buffy...”

“Bloody Hell Nib! Can’t a vamp sleep in peace?”

“Sorry Spike...” mumbled Dawn. “Buffy!” she hissed.

Buffy rolled her eyes and stood up.

“Tell her, Slayer, before I do,” mumbled the sleepy vampire into his pillow.

“You don’t know...”

Spike sat up and looked at Buffy.

“Tell her!” he growled.

“Fine,” Buffy hissed.

Buffy stomped out of her bedroom and followed Dawn down stairs.

Down in the kitchen Buffy grabbed her box of cereal and started munching.

“So?” asked Dawn.

Buffy exhaled loudly.

“Eleanor Michelle is/will be your daughter, Dawn. She was/is like my own daughter, raised her, you were so busy being a watcher, tracking down potential slayers and Andrew, well he wasn’t around much either. She looks so much like you Dawn. I miss her. Sometimes it’s hard to see you acting like a teenager when you’re my sister who’s dead, Dawn.”

Buffy wiped a tear away from her cheek.

“How’d I die, Buffy?”

“Vampire... isn’t it always? Your Slayer was kidnapped and tortured and killed. Turned. She killed you Dawn.”

Dawn was crying now too.

“I’m not going to let it happen that way Dawn. Not again.”

Dawn leapt up and hugged her sister.

“Don’t you think I knew what I was doing? You can’t change the future Buffy!”

“A future where you leave your little girl an orphan?”

“At least I know that she’ll have Aunt Buffy to take care of her.”

“Dawn...”

Dawn pulled back from the hug.

“I love you Buffy.”

Buffy smiled. “I love you too Dawnie.”

Dawn sniffed. “Gonna make me lunch now?” asked Dawn.

“After the tear fest? You betcha.”

“Yay!”
__________________________________________
Willow and Tara came home to find Dawn and Buffy working on Dawn’s English essay.

“I feel like I’ve slipped into the twilight zone. Look at Buffy with the homework!” said Willow.

“Shouldn’t Dawn be doing her own homework?” asked Tara hesitantly.

“Only proofreading,” protested Buffy.

“Buffy’s been doing lots of work on her thesis,” said Dawn.

“Yeah, Giles told me, I guess I had to see it for myself. I’d love to read it,” said Willow.

“You missed the stupid Buffy lecture in which Bad things happened.”

“Or good things, depending on point of view. Spike’s my brother in Law!” gushed Dawn happily.

“Ooooh! Party! Claiming party!” said Willow.

“We should have an engagement party for Anya and Xander don’t you think?” said Tara, “First anyway?”

“Tara’s right,” said Buffy. “Anya and Xander have been all announce-y first. Besides I don’t know if this is something that Spike wants to celebrate with a party.”

“That’s fair,” said Dawn.

“So party for Anya and Xander then?” offered up Buffy.

“Is this a present type party?” asked Tara.

“I think it’s a go for presents,” said Buffy.

“I can do decorations!” Willow jumped up and down.

Buffy looked harshly at Willow.

“Non magic decorations,” clarified Willow.

Tara smiled happily.

“A theme party!” said Dawn suddenly.

“You mean besides the over arching wedding theme?” asked Buffy.

“Duh! How about like a whole welcome to the demon world Xander. It would be hilarious.” Dawn started making notes for the party.

“Or not?” said Willow.

“I like Dawn’s idea, sweetie,” said Tara.

“We could find out what Anya ate in Arashamahar, Willow, you could invite D’Hoffryn,” offered Buffy.

“D’Hoffryn? Are you sure?” asked Willow.

“Absolutely! We could find out who her demon best friend was/is,” said Dawn, still making notes.

“Hallfrek,” stated Buffy.

“Who frek?” asked Dawn.

“Hallfrek Vengeance demon, Anyanka’s best friend,” supplied Buffy. “What?” said Buffy after Willow started giving her looks. “I’m helping her with the wedding, of course I know who Hallfrek is! She’s a bride’s maid.”

“Huh. Looks like we’ve got some research to do,” said Willow.
__________________________________________
tbc...
 
<<     >>