Series: Tireseus Title: The Cycle Chapter: One Rating: PG-16 Pairing: Willow/Buffy Spoilers: Season two. Timeline: This is Angel becomes Angelus and goes all grr. Beta Readers: Scotty Welles Shadow Mage The Dark Gremlin Summary: A spell sends Willow's life spiraling out of control, and no matter what she does things only get more and more complicated. Disclaimer: So not mine <><><><><><><> PROLOGUE <><><><><><><> Willow slunk along the bookshelf and peeked around it. Her dark red hair came loose from where it'd been safely tucked behind her ear. Short hair was something she was still getting used to; the spell that had changed her back had left her hair much darker than before and, in her opinion, much sexier. The temporary transformation into male form had shortened her hair considerably, and seeing how much less trouble it was that way, she'd kept it short upon returning to female form. She'd grown to love it this way; still girlish, but light and sassy. At the moment, though, her hairstyle was the last thing on her mind. On tiptoe, she slunk past the table where Buffy was trying to read her history book. She took slow, careful steps, watching out for any lint that would make noise under her sneakers. She lifted her arm and pressed her hand to the library doors, pushing them open with exquisite care. She held her breath as she stepped out into the hall and... "Willow...?" 'Damn.' She spun around with a fake smile pasted on her face, giving the blonde Slayer a wave. "Ohhh, hiiii! I didn't see you there." She ignored the 'yeah, right' look and stepped back. "Oh, is that history? Wow, that's a good book, a best seller, my favorite book of all. It's got some interesting articles on Vikings. Which I'm sure you'll love. You know, with all the violence, and weapons, and mystic beliefs, and...oh, look what time it is," she said, looking at her bare wrist. "I've got to go. Jenny'll be waiting for me." She dashed out of the library, and started to walk rapidly towards to computer lab. "Willow. Wait." It wasn't a request. She shifted from foot to foot, biting into her bottom lip. "I've really got to..." "Please." 'Oh no, not the eyes, please don't...Oh goddess, she did.' Willow nodded nervously, trying to avoid looking at her friend. "Wills, are you mad at me?" Buffy asked her, the voice softening. "Did I do something wrong?" "NO! I mean, no. Why would you think you did something wrong? If anyone did anything wrong then it would be me, not that I did anything wrong, because I didn't. You're my friend and I would never intentionally hurt you, because you're you, and I'm me, and...I need to go." She brushed past her friend, determined to get as far away from her as she could. Buffy stepped in front of her. "Is it Angel?" "It's not Angel," she said, trying to get out of there. "But you admit that there's something wrong," the Slayer persisted. 'Oh that was sneaky.' Willow kept her back to her friend, knowing that if she looked at her friend she'd be a gonner. Those pleading blue eyes and.... 'NO!! Bad Willow.' "You're my best friend, and since you came back, it's like you don't want to be around me anymore. Is it me? Did I say something, or...?" "No, I just...Buffy, I've really got to go." She forced her feet to move, ignoring the part of her that wanted to engulf the Slayer in her arms and tell her everything. "Willow...I miss you." The lost, pleading voice tore through her heart, but she kept going, unable to risk losing her friend. 'You already have,' she told herself. <><><><><><><> She walked past the chem lab...and stopped, backing up quickly. Did she see what she thought she saw...? She cocked her head curiously and entered the room, staring in shock. Yup, she did. Cordy didn't notice her as she added something to an already half-full beaker. A spell book was beside it. 'Oooh, Cordy and magic, not a good combination...' Curiosity turned to fear as the cheerleader began to chant a summoning spell. She opened her mouth to stop Cordy, but froze as the last ingredient fell into the mixture, setting off an explosion... <><><><><><><> CHAPTER ONE <><><><><><><> "Whoops." She groaned, trying to ignore the male voice that parroted her. A male voice that sounded distinctly like... "Oh my god, William! You're back!" Cordy shrieked. "Eww, what are you wearing? That's just gay. Cute, but gay." She forced her eyes open and sat up. "Giles..." She gulped and reluctantly looked down. "...someone stole my breasts..." Recognition entered her mind as her...no, his voice resonated in the room. "Oh goddess, not again..." He reached down and yanked the sneakers off his sore feet, having been crammed into the too-small shoes. He let Cordy help him up, taking some pleasure in the lustful look in her eyes as he pulled off the fuzzy, bright pink flowered sweater. He wasn't crazy enough to go walking around the school in it, for any length of time. Looking back down at himself, he sighed. The baggy jeans he'd been wearing as Willow were now excruciatingly tight, hugging his lower body like skin. The white top he'd worn under the sweater was even tighter, making it impossible to breathe comfortably. "Did I say gay?" Cordy whispered huskily. "I meant...sexy." He rolled his eyes at Cordy, trying to think about something other than the lithe body pressed into his arm, and the long, graceful hand laying over his heart. Ruby red lips drifted closer to his and... "It's me, Cordy," he said, leaning his head away from hers. "Willow." She opened her eyes, lips still half-pursed for the kiss. "Willow...?" "Yeah. It's me." Those eyes widened with comprehension, recognition...and then disgust. "EWWW!! Ew-ew-ew-ew-ew-ewww...!" Cordy backpedaled fast, bumping into the table and bouncing nervously in place, as though trying to shake off the last few moments. "What did you do, anyway?" Turning away from her in annoyance, he grabbed the spell book, marking the page, and tucked it into her...his book bag with her...HIS shoes and sweater. He scowled at Cordy, with the knowledge that it was more effective as a male, then stalked through the empty hall towards the computer lab. He glared over at Cordy when she fell into step with him. "What are you doing? Haven't you caused enough trouble today?" "Are you kidding?" she squealed, already over the girl-kissing cooties thing. "I'm not about to miss any of this for the world." Typical. He ignored her and turned into the classroom to sat in the chair across from Jenny. "H'lo, Willow," the young teacher absently acknowledged him without looking up from the forms she was filling out. "With you in a minute..." Cordy set next to him and studied him. "That look is sooo you. Well, the William you anyway. Hmm...I know just the thing. There's this shop at the mall that specializes in men's clothes, and there's this sexy outfit that would just..." "Oh my goodness, what happened?" Jenny cut in, suddenly looking up and taking notice of her change. He shot another glare over at Cordy. "Why don't you ask Miss May Queen?" Cordy bristled under Jenny's sharp look. "Hey, it's not my fault. I was just trying to help." "Yeah, right. And Bart Simpson knew what happens when you mix acids and bases..." Cordy glared back at him. "It's your fault, you big doofus. Ever since William...you...left, Buffy has been moping around like her favorite dog died. Then Willow...the other you...has spent the last three months acting all awkward and trying to avoid her. So yes, I was performing a spell." Jenny rubbed her forehead. "What spell?" she asked, obviously dreading the answer. "It's only a summoning spell." Cordy grabbed the book from his book bag and handed it to the gypsy. "See, look." The teacher scanned the page quickly, then groaned. "Oh, Cordiella...You didn't." Cordy gulped, slightly looking unsure. "What is it?" Jenny handed the spell back to her. "Read it out loud." She took it, obeying. "Goddess Aphrodite, Goddess Discord. Bring back the love of the mourning. Bring the man and woman of guilt back together, For only together shall they bring Their love's mourning to an end. For the cycle shall bound the man and woman into one, And then shall find balance. Let the cycle permanent the soul Of the two of the one." William involuntarily braced himself for another explosion, but no magical powers were invoked by the words without the accompanying ritual. "Do you know what that means?" Jenny asked patiently. "Um, that Willow and Buffy would be friends again, and Buffy would get her human teddy bear back?" "It means that Willow now has an extra set of chromosomes," Jenny informed her, her own patience clearly wearing thin. "Male chromosomes." Cordy looked blank. Jenny sighed and tried again. "It means that I'm now going to have to teach her how to change from male to female at will. It means that we're now going to have to search for a spell to counteract this, and unless we do, then that means that Willow will be stuck constantly shifting from form to form." "Um. Oops?" "Oops?" William turned to growl at Cordy. "You rearrange my entire reproductive system, and all you can say is Oops? I've gotta replace my entire wardrobe, learn how to pee standing up, and start shaving my face instead of my legs, and that only merits an Oops?!" "Wills," Jenny broke in, the nickname working either way. "Calm down. This may not be an insoluble problem, or an insurmountable lifestyle adjustment." "Yeah," Cordy muttered. "Have a cow, already..." He sighed tiredly and rubbed his eyes. "Look, we need to get out of here before Buffy sees me." Jenny nodded. "Unfortunately, I'm going to need to stay here and talk to Rupert. I can't drive you right now." Cordy perked up. "I can take you home." She eyed him critically. "But we're going to have to do something about that hair Style it a little more." William snatched up his book bag and followed behind her, thinking of all the evil things he could do to her. Maybe he could cut a lock of her hair off, or... "William!" the astounded voice burst out. 'Rosenburg, you are so busted.' He subtly pushed his book bag into Cordy's arms, and turned to the Slayer, taking in the sight of the blonde dressed in workout clothes. "Buffy, hi..." He cleared his throat, and smiled happily. "I was going to try and find you tonight." She broke into a huge smile, posing coyly. "Why not now?" He pointed at his clothes and shoeless feet. "I had a small accident." Buffy laughed softly, taking in his attire. "What happened? A clothes demon come after you?" "I stopped over at the beach and got pushed in. Lost my shoes, and my clothes shrunk up on me." The Slayer walked into his arms and sighed contentedly. "I've missed you so much. You left so suddenly, and...I wanted to talk to my friend Willow about you, but she's been..." She broke down into tears, soaking his shirt. He frowned at the 'I told you so' look that Cordy was shooting him and did the only mature thing he could. He stuck his tongue out at her and crossed his eyes. He pulled the smaller woman tight against his chest, trying not to admit whata thrill it gave him. "Hey, it's all right. I'm here now." "I don't know what to do..." He ran a hand through her hair, and engulfed himself in the rich smell of his friend. "Tell you what, why don't we meet tonight? We can go up to that mountain view that I saw on my way here." "That's make-out point..." Buffy looked at him. "...and there's no one else I'd rather go with you." "Great. I'll pick you up at eight, and then we can talk." "Is that what they're calling it now?" Cordiella interrupted. "Because I thought it was sex." "Tell me, has anyone bought your book yet?" he responded. "'The Virtues of Cheerleader Sluts'?" "Meow. Someone forgot to get declawed." "I'll call your vet for you, but I'm not sure they take cats with rabies." Cordy raised her eyebrow with a one-cornered smile. "Remind me to take you with me to be neutered." "Aren't you afraid they'll put you down?" "They're probably a lot better at it then you." "Oh, I don't know, I think I could figure out a way to kill you. Painfully." "Look, are we going or not? I have things to do other than play taxi driver to you," Cordy snapped back. "Fine." He kissed Buffy quickly then chased after the brunette, narrowing his eyes as he thought of all the delicious things he could do to the brunette. <><><><><><><> William grunted in frustration and dumped the last of the shopping bags on the floor. How on earth had he gone from trying to kill the cheerleader to shopping with her was beyond him. But at the time Cordy's argument seemed logical. "You can't run around in the same tight shirt and jeans for however long you're stuck like that," she'd pointed out. "Besides, the only pair of shoes you have that actually fit are those horrid, torn-up loafers." He ran a hand through his newly cut hair and sighed. This whole thing was just so messed up. He was supposed to be Willow right now, not William. The only good thing was that today marked the last week of school, and being Willow, she had been exempt from all her exams. Normally she would've taken them anyway but unless he learned to stay a 'she' before tomorrow, then that just wasn't going to happen. He grabbed the pair of black cargo shorts and one of his new tee shirts, yanking them on without bothering to remove his new running shoes. "Willow?" He sighed and went down stairs to see Jenny and Giles leaning over a couple of books. The frustrated faces of his mentors didn't bode well with him, alerting him that something was terribly wrong. "What's wrong?" Giles took off his glasses and glanced at him nervously. "We've found a spell that will help with your predicament. However, while it will leave you female, it will simply suppress your male form." Will looked from one to the other, searching for some hint. "But that's a good thing, right?" "By and large, yes," Giles admitted. "It will stop the constant shifts, but the second set of chromosomes will still exist. There doesn't seem to be a way to make them remain dormant, but..." "Can't you just reverse the spell?" Jenny glared angrily at the nearby wall. "The spell that Cordiella performed is permanent." Will gasped desperately, and fell back aiming for the couch...and missing. From his seat on the floor he stared up with tear-filled eyes. 'Oh goddess, I'm in trouble now.' " I signed the release waiver, so feel free to put things in my slot anytime." - Charles Angels. Odo: Madam Ambassodor, I'm not like you. Every sixteen hours I revert to a liqiud. 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