Switcheroony
by alicorn
Chapter 33
[reviews]
Giles recalled watching the sun setting as they had waited for the cab to take them to Xander's apartment. Despite being sure that a slayer would be of better use out there, he hadn't wanted to let Faith out of his sight just yet. However, merely an hour later, sitting here debating how to approach their problem and waiting for Wesley to call back, Giles found that he was now questioning his very own motives.
Cordelia's description of the vision and Faith's recollection of the man that had sold her the curse matched everything they had seen in their joined visions or had subsequently surmised. Nothing remained to make him doubt that Cordelia and Faith's motives were honest and well meaning, although they may have been a little extreme in their actions
"Whilst I can understand your hesitation at asking Angel for help, we do have Faith; and another slayer could prove to be beneficial in the long run. I know that you've had some training, Willow. But your powers are borrowed. A fully-trained and experienced slayer may be just what we need to get Buffy back safely," he explained, responding to Willow's insistence that they wouldn't need any help from LA.
"Count me in," Faith responded quickly, before turning to Willow and adding a little more quietly, "If that's okay with Red?"
Willow ignored her offer and turned to Giles. "I've been thinking about that. I know I'm not a ... a real slayer but I am a real witch. There must be some way of using my other abilities. I mean ... wasn't the original Slayer brought about by the use of magics?"
"Yes. There was an element of magic involved but I don't see how ... Oh, you mean that within the slayer powers there may be reside enough residual magic ability to allow you to channel a spell! Interesting. Although I'm not sure if this far down the line ... Well, it's certainly worth investigating," Giles concluded, clearly impressed by Willow's theory.
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The folder was titled Special Projects Division but try as he might, Wesley couldn't get the file to open. He'd tried every hacking code Willow had ever passed on to Cordy. In desperation he had tried typing in Wolf, Ram & Hart in Hebrew, Latin and even ancient Babylonian to no avail. "Damn it." He tried to download the file unopened but it just wouldn't copy.
"Wesley! We need to be leaving," Angel pointed out, glancing through the crack in the door. Breaking in had been just a little too easy and he couldn't shake the nagging feeling they were being watched.
"I know, but there's something good here. I just can't seem get to at it," the former watcher whined in frustration.
"We'll take what we've got. It's time to go," Angel declared as he saw a guard once again turn into their corridor, check a couple of doors and then turn back long before reaching theirs. He knew there was a stairwell at the end of this corridor and that it just didn't make sense to only check the first few doors. Something stank and he wanted out. "Now!" he insisted, watching the guard turn left and out of his sight.
"Okay, okay," Wesley replied, his hand catching the floppy disk as it ejected and placing it into his inner jacket pocket. "I'm done."
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Anya pushed open the apartment door with bravado and made her entrance in anticipation of the guilt from Xander and the others, and many hours of sex that she was sure her news would bring. As every head turned her way she smiled. Attention was good. She'd missed it. But the silence she encountered was irritating. "Does no one wish to hear how I have saved the day and praise me for yet another valuable contribution to this dysfunctional romance?" she asked.
"Anya!" Xander exclaimed moving towards her. "Are you okay?"
"Like you care," she spat. "You let me walk into a slaughter. Okay, not a real slaughter. Nobody does slaughter properly any more. Besides you're still alive and there were no dead babies sitting on spikes," Anya commented. Then her pitch rising as she recalled his behavior, she continued "But there you were risking your already wounded body, for her — again," she said throwing Willow an accusing glare. "For both of them."
Xander ignored the glare, knowing he didn't want to open that can of worms again. "Okay, kinda losing me on the dead babies front, but I get it. Anya, I get it," he assured her, realizing that he had scared her again. "I went looking for you, but you'd already taken the car," he explained.
"I followed them to their poorly lit, badly sign-posted place of hiding and then I asked a truck driver for directions ..."
"A truck driver?" Xander interrupted, raising an eyebrow in concern. "You followed a bunch of mercenaries, not knowing where they were going or if they'd seen you. And then you ask a complete stranger ..." Xander ran out of words.
"He was very helpful," Anya quietly explained, soothed by Xander's concern.
"I'm sure he was but, Anya, he could have been working for them. How did you know he wasn't part of the gang? He could have dragged you off and ... Okay; we are so recapping the 'not talking to strangers' lesson."
Irritated, Anya replied, "I have a brain you know. I can completely lie to the health inspector when I have to," she said looking at Giles for support before turning back to Xander. "I distracted the truck driver with the untrue possibility I might provide him with sex. He was very accommodating. He seemed to have no problem realizing that I shouldn't be left all alone," she pointed out; hurt that Xander didn't trust her judgment.
Watching Anya begin to throw back her shoulders and extend her chin, Giles interrupted, eager to prevent bloodshed. "Xander, I'm sure Anya was very careful and Anya, I'm sure we are all very thankful to you for putting yourself in such danger," he stated, knowing that the ex-demon had probably just been very lucky. Throwing Xander a look that said 'shut up, you're only making it worse' he proceeded "So where did they take her?"
"To a dingy old warehouse just off Lanning Street ... near the docks," Anya replied satisfied that someone realized how selfless her actions had been. "The sign said Aries Holdings but I don't know how much use that will be. It looked disused to me. There was no night watchman and the framework seemed in serious need of repair. There were many holes and patched-up areas. I saw four more men greet them, but I have no idea how many more were inside."
"Thank you Anya," Giles said, feeling that maybe he had underestimated the ex-demon after all.
"My pleasure. Oh, I told Hank I was staying with my elderly uncle," Anya absently advised Giles. "Please let him down gently when he calls. He said I was priceless."
"And that you are," Xander agreed, wide-eyed and not at all sure if or how Anya was still as naïve as she appeared.
Giles glared at her and, refusing to honor her comment regarding his age with a response, he changed the subject back their present concern. "It would appear that they are going to hold onto Buffy until after the lunar eclipse tomorrow night," Giles pointed out. "We appear to be running out of time."
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Buffy couldn't believe that she was crying. She wasn't even sure why but she had felt the welling and then the thin stream of tears as they began to run down her cheeks. Thankful that no one could see her, she let the tears fall. Visions of Willow hurt, scared and injured filled her mind. Was this the end? Was what they had, what they had shared all they would ever have? Was Willow now lost to her forever?
She recalled the sweet tenderness with which they had made love ... oh and it had been making love. Of that she was now sure. Parker had shown her what just having sex was. And Willow had been nothing like him. There hadn't been any false protestations or promises from Willow. Instead every touch and gesture had been genuine, gentle and full of honest emotion. She sighed as she recalled how safe and cared for Willow had made her feel.
'Was that how it had been between Willow and Tara,' Buffy wondered. What had she been so afraid of? She hadn't felt unnatural or awkward, not with Willow. She couldn't imagine being with anyone else and feeling so right. Did Willow now know? Had she said enough? Would she now realize that Buffy had been making love to her?
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Cordelia smiled at Xander in amusement as Anya, still irritated by his earlier behavior, sat at the dining room table pointedly avoiding him and awaiting his overtures of apology. "She's gonna eat him alive," Cordy commented to Faith, as she gently smoothed a healing ointment onto her companion's right wrist.
"Yep," Faith agreed. "He's whipped and loving it. Never figured he'd take that from anyone but Buffy and Willow," she continued, as they both, without any subtlety whatsoever, observed and enjoyed the domestic bliss that was Xander and Anya.
"Anya? Honey? You know I wanted to be at home with you," he offered, slowly edging towards her, knowing from past experience that she needed reassurance.
"Oh, and that's why you went off bruise-hunting with Giles. It seems to me you just like putting your life in danger, Xander. I've seen some horrible things in my time ... I've been the cause of many of them actually ..." she stated, smiling in fond remembrance. Shaking her old self off, she continued, "I just don't understand why?"
"Anya, it's not like I knew we were going to be attacked," Xander complained.
"But you were attacked and I saw you. You always get attacked. You put your life in danger for them and they don't even sleep with you! Sometimes I'm not even sure they like you all that much - so they probably never will sleep with you. But you still risk your life. It's like you're some Lesbo groupie. I mean, look," she said gesturing towards Faith and Cordelia. "Now we have two more."
"WHAT??!" Cordelia exclaimed, dropping Faith's hand like a hot potato. "Who the hell do you think you're calling a ... a ..."
Faith's jaw dropped and then she laughed. "Lady, you got a lotta brass."
"Anya, they're not lesbians. At least I don't think ... I mean they're friends. Cordelia's just tending to Faith's wounds like any bosom buddy would ... like Willow would tend to Bu ..." Xander flailed, stopped by the mental picture now forming in his mind, his expression rapidly becoming vacant.
"HEY!" Cordelia snapped, recognizing that Xander was about to formulate one of his infamous little fantasies. She stood and marched towards him. "Perv!" she exclaimed as she planted a well aimed slap on the back of his head.
"Oww!" Xander yelped, drawn out of his thoughts by the blow. Glaring at Cordy, he reminded her "You never minded before."
"You lost the right to do that when you had illicit smoochies with her," she said, gesturing towards Willow before turning away from him completely. 'Blast, I thought I'd gotten over that,' she realized unhappily.
"Damn stud, is there anybody you haven't played 'one-on-one bind me and grind me' with for at least, oh I don't know, seven minutes?" Faith remarked, throwing Xander a knowing smile and a wink.
"I'll have you know that Xander is a Viking in the sack," Anya replied instinctively defending him. "He has many talents, which I'm certain none of you taught him and I have over a thousand years of experience," she boasted. "The manacles you can buy these days are far more accommodating."
"What?" Cordelia shrieked. "The next thing you're gonna tell me is that you don't mind him having sexual fantasies about every woman in this room."
Willow, who had been listening quietly, now glared at Xander and raised her eyebrow "Really?"
Looking at Willow in shock, Xander exclaimed "I wouldn't ... I didn't ... I haven't had ... about ... ," he began, only to have his eye distracted by Cordelia's steely gaze. "Okay, look there was that one time ... But hey Will, you're playing on my 'Team'; you know, my side of the fence now."
"Your side of the fence? Team? What team? Hey, it's not like there's a club, you know. I haven't joined a cult," Willow declared.
"This isn't about you," Anya exclaimed, feeling that Willow really should keep out of this -- before adding defensively "So don't even think about hitting me again."
Seeing the hurt expression on Willow's face, Xander jumped to her defense. "Anya, you know she didn't mean to hurt you," Xander offered. "I thought we'd talked about this?"
"Oh yes, you talked about it. I was just waiting for the orgasms," Anya replied. "You're always defending them. You never defend me!" she accused, building up quite a head of steam now that she had an audience.
"Gee that's new," Cordelia piped up sarcastically.
Xander glanced at Cordelia, smirking, "You were always perfectly capable of defending yourself," he pointed out.
Cordelia tilted her head to one side before retorting, "Thank you so much for sidestepping the issue, but that's not the point. You always took their side; never mine. Seems nothing's changed."
"That's not true," Willow stated firmly.
Turning to face Willow, Cordelia responded "How would you know?" throwing a raised eyebrow at her one-time nemesis.
"Well, he managed to keep you a secret," Willow replied, suddenly a little unsure about her ground.
"A bit late for excuses now, isn't it?" Cordelia smirked.
"And to think I believed him when he said you were different with him," Willow spat back at Cordelia. "What did you ever see in her?" she asked turning on her oldest friend.
Xander squirmed, switching from one foot to another and raising his hand to scratch his head as he watched the train wreck coming his way. The turning of Cordelia's head in his direction sent chills down his spine.
Giles stood in the kitchen both enjoying the show and yet wishing he was elsewhere. The sight of Xander floundering under the microscope of four women who it appeared knew all his biggest secrets, was almost unbearable. His masculine pride urged him to help out a fellow male, the only other of his kind in this apparently emotionally unbalanced group, but his instinct for self-preservation told him to stay out of it before the blood-letting began.
Faith stared at the angry women before her. She could tell that the wonderful Cordelia that she knew was only a few steps from full Queen C mode, while Anya was a seething ex-demon about to spit fire, a fearful Xander was looking for somewhere to hide and an uncomfortable Giles was questioning his manhood. But what really unsettled her was the fact that one of them looked and sounded like Buffy yet was so Willow-like in her words and actions, that a chill ran down her spine. Had this been any other time, any other place, she would have been happy to sit back and watch the fireworks. But seeing the body of her sister Slayer without her essence before her reminded her exactly why they were all here. And that what she was seeing was just some all too familiar misplaced anger.
"LADIES!" Faith yelled, winking at Xander. "Much as I'm enjoying this bitch fest, and believe me when I say that I am, have you all gone freakoid on me or what? Shaking up a cocktail of bitchy jealousies over him when there's important things to do?" She shook her head in disbelief, throwing Xander a dismissive glance.
"Hey," Xander responded automatically, despite the sudden guilt that overwhelmed him.
"You deaf, action man? I said shut the hell up already and get over it. All of you!" Faith almost shouted, glaring at them all and adding, "Jeeze, what is this? A rehearsal for Days Of Our Lives? We should be talking about how to rescue B, not firing your guilt crap at each other. Those guys took her, we lost her, we didn't protect her. So suck it up and let's figure out what we can do to get her back. Right, G-man?"
Willow, Xander and Anya stared open mouthed, unable to believe that Faith had just brought them all down a peg or two ... and justifiably so. Cordelia, although stunned at Faith's outburst, slowly began to smile as pride filled her. They all looked at Giles, knowing that if he replied, then they really had heard correctly and had just been told off by Faith.
"Ahhhm, well, yes indeed ..." Giles managed as he picked his proverbial jaw up off the floor, amazed that Faith had just done what he should have been doing — getting everyone focused on the mission to rescue Buffy.
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Now at the headquarters of Angel Investigations, Wesley trawled through the files he'd managed to download so quickly; wishing he'd had more time. The picture before him was scattered and fragmented. He could see that Wolfram & Hart wasn't really that particular about their client list, but that alone wasn't what had him worried. It was the frequent occult and mystical references he had found that caused concern.
Doubtful that he could make anything of the data before him, he went on-line. Surfing around their company name, he found himself amazed at the lack of information available. It was almost as if they didn't exist. He had never heard of a large law firm with such a low public profile.
Then he found it - a blog. Some guy in South America; ranting about how the firm had sold his daughter, over six years ago, in a pan-dimensional auction; claiming that Wolfram & Hart, were trying to bring about the end of the world. He further maintained that the firm was run by demons!
Retrying his search, but this time focusing on blogs, he almost jumped as over six hundred results came back. "Well," he exclaimed, as he started to read.
Almost half an hour later he sat back, his mind a melee of disbelief and concern. "Angel!" Wesley called out. "I think that we may have a bigger problem than either we or the Sunnydale group expected."
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"Willow, I really think we need to wait. If we go now they'll be expecting us and they will be prepared for us. I believe Faith is correct. We need to let the waiting get on their nerves. We must let their tiredness work for us, wait until they're already seeing us in the shadows," Giles advised her, each point coated in understanding and sympathy.
Faith watched shocked as for the second time she could ever recall Giles stood up for her. It felt good, if a little belated. But just when she thought they were getting through to a very 'wanna do it now' Red-in-blonde-hair, the face before her became pale and her eyes seemed to roll into the back of her head. Instinctively, Faith moved forward. She'd seen this with Cordy — Red was about to zonk out on them!
Willow felt herself falling to the floor overwhelmed by so many emotions, but instead of the harsh landing she had expected a pair of strong arms suddenly caught her, lowering her gently. She could feel tears welling from somewhere and a rasping breath, but they weren't hers! Then she felt something on her face, moist, no wet. Tears? But she wasn't crying — 'what the heck is ... Who ... no, No, NO — Oh Buffy don't cry ...'
"Bring her over here," Cordelia instructed, as she watched the pain filling Willow's face. Faith gently picked Willow up and placed her on the couch as Cordy had directed. The Seer had never really paid that much attention to what a vision looked like but that was before she'd been 'blessed' with them. So without shame she stared, fascinated by the way Willow's eyebrows seemed to draw together in anger and pain. 'Do I look like that? Do I look like I'm dying inside?'
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Buffy didn't know where the voice had come from. 'Maybe I'm dreaming,' she reasoned. The voice had been so soft, so endearing, so warm ... so scared? It had drawn her back into that last warm night, those soft and tender arms, those lingering lips — Willow.
She could have sworn she had actually heard her. Was she going crazy? Did the crazy hear the voices of those they longed for? Was that true madness? To be taunted by your memories and tortured by the voice of someone you long for?
Her laughter was hollow as it echoed around her enclosed space, filling her ears with its fragile tones. 'Oh great, now the wheels come off the wagon! This can't be happening - a cracked slayer. Like hell! I am so not losing it! They're just messing with me,' she decided as she tried to persuade herself that she'd only heard Willow's voice because she was scared and she wasn't used to being scared ... not like this anyhow.
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"Look, we're pretty banged up. Gotta say we could all do with some zzz's. That's sleep to you, G-man," Xander said.
"Well, I guess since this is your place, you get to make the sleeping arrangements," Cordelia noted, turning to glance at Willow. "But I don't think we should move her just yet."
"Xander sleeps with me," Anya pointed out unequivocally, still somewhat unsure about the new two additions to their group.
Cordelia held in the smile she could feel creeping up on her.
Deciding that Cordelia appeared to have regained control of her tongue, Xander glanced about the apartment as if counting. "Well, I guess if Anya and I stick with our room, you and Faith could take the spare," he offered, hiding a slight smile as he imagined the two of them on the cozy little bed he had removed from Willow and Buffy's dorm room when he had secretly gifted them with the queen-sized bed and a rose. No chance for rose on this bed tonight, he thought.
Shaking his head clear, he continued "And that leaves Giles out here with Willow," as he glanced at Giles for approval.
"That would seem sensible. I have no idea what just happened, although I gather you believe it was a vision," he responded glancing at Faith.
"Looked just like what C goes through," she replied glancing at the Seer and then back at Willow. "I'm guessing Red's gonna need a couple of pain pills when she comes to."
"They give you a headache?" Xander asked, impressed that Cordelia would regularly go through anything like what he had just seen Willow experience, and its aftermath.
"Headache doesn't really begin to cover it," Cordelia replied, somewhat embarrassed by the look of admiration she saw on Xander's face.
"Hey G-man," Faith interrupted, "I think she's coming to."
Ignoring the fact that everyone seemed to be referring to him by that damn silly nickname, Giles eagerly made his way to Willow's side as Faith stepped back to allow him complete access to the woman she'd been standing guard over for the last half hour.
"Willow?" Giles called softly as he took her small hand in his; briefly forgetting that he was being watched. Concern etched across his face, he leaned a little closer. "Willow, can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?"
"Bu ... Buuuu ... Buffffyyyy," she whispered as her eyelids fluttered.
Giles found himself blushing but pushing his embarrassment aside he responded "Willow, what did you see?"
"Hea ... heard ... no felt," Willow mumbled as her eyelids lifted and she tried to focus on the worried faces gathered around her. "Buffy. I felt her."
Giles brought his head back to look at her oddly.
"Felt her ... fear. Giles, she's so scared," Willow declared, her eyes wide.
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Holland Manners had a forbidding presence from yards away, but right up close he was terrifying, and scared the shit out of nearly every single one of his employees. Smiling, he glanced to his left at the limp body of the man he had until five minutes ago been interviewing. Dropping his eyes towards the small bloodstains on the once cream-colored carpet, he casually said "What a pity. You can't get that out of a carpet. Believe me, we've tried." Glancing up at Hyatt Ramu, without changing either his tone or facial expression, he asked "Are you afraid?"
Hyatt nodded slightly as he tried in vain to ignore the beads of sweat he could feel beginning to form as they usually did within minutes of entering into the presence of the Vice President of Special Projects.
"Well that's understandable. You've really stuck your neck out on this one. Rather egregious behavior for you. Did you actually believe I wouldn't learn everything? That I don't prepare for everything?"
"I ..." Hyatt stumbled, glancing towards the blood stains.
"You lied to us — more importantly to me," Holland noted threateningly, his eyes steely and clear. "This is a delicate moment, son. Do you admit to your ambition and lies or do you try to deny what you now know that I already know?"
Hyatt found that he was staring at his feet and so he slowly lifted his chin to meet the gaze of the one man that he truly both admired and feared. "I didn't betray the firm, Sir. I was only thinking of what was best for us all. Either 'True Night' will fall or the 'Amulet' will eventually reach its intended target. I assure you there will be no downside to this."
"Really? You decided to pre-empt matters that had been set in play by the Senior Partners decades ago; events of which you have only a very limited understanding. And yet you feel that you can assure me? My, we have become brave, haven't we?"
"Brave?" Hyatt asked as his mouth dried up. That would have inferred that he was taking a chance, that he was gambling. And he didn't gamble.
"Indeed. Well, you're in a crisis, son; A crisis of faith. Very few men make their own destinies. Those that do have the courage of their convictions and they know how to behave in a crisis. I wonder if you do," he stated, his eyes questioning.
"Like now?" Hyatt replied, realizing that he was being judged.
"Like now. Unless I'm mistaken, and I very rarely am, you may be proved to have everything it takes to go all the way here — drive, ambition and, depending on the outcome of the events you have set in motion, it would appear excellence. But I don't think you know what you're really asking for nor getting into, and until you do — I guess we will both have to wait and see. Won't we?"
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Faith stood by the door of the spare bedroom, staring at the single bed before her, more than a little surprised at how nervous and unsure she felt at having to share it with Cordelia. She hadn't shared a bed, for the purposes of sleeping, since her early days in the orphanage. Even her one-night stands didn't stay until morning.
"Okay. It's gonna be a tight fit. So you want the left or right? Or do we top and tail?" Cordelia asked grinning, bravado taking over as she fought the butterflies in her stomach. 'I've been sharing my apartment with her for over a month. Why am I so spooked now?' she wondered.
Taking her lead from Cordelia, Faith responded "Not really loving the idea of you kicking me in the head all night," she winked "so I'll take the right side." Moving towards the far side of the bed, she quipped "You don't snore, do ya?"
"Nobody's ever complained," responded Cordy. 'Where the hell did that come from? There hasn't been anybody to complain in a long time. What the hell am I trying to prove?' she wondered as she sat on the left side of the bed and removed her shoes.
"Good to know," Faith smirked as a strange almost jealous feeling washed over her. 'What's it to me that she's got exes? What was I expecting her to be - a nun?'
Cordelia pulled off her slacks and, throwing them onto her bag, she found herself staring at the door wondering why Xander had put them both in here.
As Faith bent down to pull off her shoes a sharp pain shot down the side of her head and she caught her breath. "Jeeze," she gasped. Sitting back up, she grimaced in annoyance at the tranquilizer residue that still seemed to be flowing through her veins.
"You okay?" Cordy asked anxiously, leaning across the bed to touch Faith's shoulder.
"Yeah. Just got a playback from the tranq cocktail they hit me with," Faith stated, feeling the warmth of Cordelia's hand on her shoulder. It was strange but real nice to have someone concerned about her. "May have to sleep with my boots on."
"Damn it, why did you let them ..." Cordelia questioned, jumping from her side of the bed and coming around to Faith's.
"Oh yeah, like they asked permission," Faith muttered. But before she could think of a defensive quip her breathing was cut off by the sight of Cordelia in what appeared to be only a shirt, her long legs fully exposed as she approached the Slayer to kneel at her feet and remove her boots. 'Get a grip! You've seen her naked before. What's the big? Damn, she looks good in that. Oh boy, is this going to be a long night!'
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Holland Manner's reviewed the video of Angel's visit. "You're certain that's all they took."
"Yes, Sir. Just as you anticipated," the security guard confirmed, gulping and praying that he hadn't somehow slipped up.
"Good. Very good," Manners muttered mostly to himself, "It would seem we're somewhat ahead of schedule. Interesting."
"Sir?" The security guard questioned before he could help himself.
"These are interesting times young man, very interesting times," Holland Manners replied. "Do you play the stock market?" he asked rising and walking towards the videotape machine.
"No Sir."
"Not a gambler. I like that. Well young man, the stock market isn't about buying the right shares. It's about information. The value of information; what you know, when you know it and how you use it," he stated ejecting the tape. Turning to smile at the now very nervous security officer, he continued "Did your father ever teach you the value of keeping information to yourself?"
Gulping, the officer nodded before replying, "Yes, Sir."
"Well young man, let us see if your father taught you well," he stated before opening the door and leaving with a parting nod to the now perspiring young man.
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"How long have I been out?" Willow asked as she gazed at the smiling but obviously concerned face of Giles.
"About four hours," he replied. Glancing outside he added, "It's nearly three am."
"Crikey. Where is everyone?" she asked glancing around.
"Recharging and letting their wounds heal," Giles explained. "Catching a few zzz's, as Xander calls it, seemed a good idea."
"Yeah, guess that's true," Willow commented but as she started to sit up, a little dizziness hit her. "Woooah?"
"According to Cordelia and Faith, you had a vision," Giles explained. "Do you remember it?" he asked apprehensively.
"Yeah. I remember it. Oh Giles ... She's hurting so much, so scared," Willow said her eyes wide with pain.
"I know. But we'll get her back. I promise you," Giles assured her.
As Willow attempted to swing her legs around she recalled that she had fallen. "Thanks for catching me."
"I wish I could take credit but that was Faith. She realized what was happening long before the rest of us. She caught you and made you comfortable ..." he stated nodding towards the couch, "she stayed with you until you started to come around," Giles recalled, his features pensive yet showing a trace of obvious admiration for the behavior he was describing.
"Oh," Willow responded, a little unnerved that Faith had been the one to catch her and not sure what she should say now that she knew. "Can I have a glass of water?" she asked, choosing to deal with her thirst rather than the confusion that now filled her.
Standing, Giles turned and walked towards the kitchen area. "I know you have little or no reason to believe ... I mean with all that's happened, why would you? In the present circumstances ... I feel certain that asking you to trust Faith would be pointless. But the fact remains that we are going to need her," Giles stated with certainty.
Willow stared at his back and, although the thought of trusting Faith made her insides twist, she also noted that much of what Faith had done had saved their asses. Okay, she's been the one to put said asses in a sling. But there seemed to be so many things to consider. What the ex-slayer had said to Buffy had been closer to the truth than she cared to admit. Oh Goddess, why is nothing ever simple?
"For one thing we have no idea of their numbers. Faith is the best person to help us determine that accurately," Giles continued, knowing that what he really meant was 'she's the only one I dare risk because she could probably fight her way free if she was captured.'
Willow nodded to herself as she acknowledged what Giles had omitted from saying. "Okay, so we need her. That doesn't mean I have to like her, you know."
"I understand," Giles acknowledged. "But you may have to work with her."
"Huh?"
Turning towards her as he filled the glass with water, Giles smiled in partial apology. "I've been thinking about your idea to use slayer residual magic." Turning off the faucet, he moved towards her. "After all, it was the residual slayer magic that allowed the vision rod to work as well as it did. However, at the same time I'm somewhat uncertain how much you could reasonably extract and use from one slayer's body, especially your borrowed slayer's body. But I'm fairly certain that the bodies of two slayers would contain, even allowing for a diminution over time, a sufficient quantity of magic to greatly improve our chance of success," he finished, passing Willow her water.
"Two slayers?" Willow contemplated, considering the increased options that would give her. "That might just work. But I'll need to gauge what level of magic I'm working with. Maybe do a test run."
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Slim scratched his ear again. The damn itch just wouldn't go away. He'd been sitting here for almost six hours now; staring out at the darkness, watching shadows, watching dust, watching shapes. He was getting tired, grungy and damned itchy. The warehouse was full of dust and who knew what else. He could feel his skin reacting to all of it. He could hardly complain about the filth because the guys would rib him until next century.
He glanced at the box, wondering how dirty and uncomfortable it was in there. 'Well at least she's stopped yelling out and screaming.' He'd checked her ropes and given her some water about two hours ago. She'd been pretty mouthy and he'd barely been able to stop himself from hitting her ... that is, until he had seen the tear stains down her cheeks. He never could cope with a woman crying.
Suddenly he saw it! A movement ... Yes, it was a movement ... just behind that junction box. Lining up the sights of his weapon, he tried to relax his breathing. Loosening his arms, he flexed his fingers around the trigger. Then he saw it. Damn it — a cat.
'Where the fuck are they? If they're coming, why don't they just come? What the hell are they waiting for? Maybe the Boss was wrong. What the hell are we worried about? What could a bunch of kids do, anyway?
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Giles had awakened everyone around four, stating rather cryptically that some things needed doing before dawn. Cordelia was somewhat put out at how quickly Faith had managed to reemerge from her sleep.
The Seer now stood in the shower letting the water pour over her skin in a vain attempt to wash off the feeling of confusion that had bothered her all morning. She'd awakened after only a couple of hours sleep, not having been that tired in the first place. Turning to gaze at Faith who was still very much in a deep sleep, she'd continued looking at her new friend — yes, they were friends. Not questioning that she hadn't simply gotten up and left Faith sleeping, she now wondered why she hadn't. Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander back.
She'd laid there, at first just listening to her Slayer's breathing, subconsciously setting her own breathing to the same rhythm. Then she'd turned her head to one side taking in the profile of a woman she was growing to admire more and more everyday. The chestnut hair splayed out over her pillow, a strong yet feminine jaw framing a face filled with both tenderness and strength. 'Why am I only just now seeing it?' Cordelia wondered as she focused on the dark lashes and oh-so-tempting lips.
At first she'd considered Faith just one raging female hormone, never really taking in or caring what was underneath all that brash armor. But the woman sleeping beside her was another member of the walking wounded, left to try and pull their lives back together once the 'dark side' had marched over them with its huge boots.
Just before Giles had knocked on their door, she'd observed the underlying tan on Faith's skin and recalled that afternoon when she had let Faith help her with the 'I'm not giving up on a tan just because I work nights' problem. She'd remembered wondering at that time where Faith's honey-coated tinge came from. She'd thought that maybe somewhere in her gene pool was an Indian or Italian heritage. She also recalled the slight tingle of excitement that had filled her as she'd stood completely naked before the dark slayer, knowing that she was being assessed by those chestnut brown eyes. And now the longer Cordelia stared, the more she felt the urge to reach out and check if that glowing skin was as warm and soft as it looked.
"I know what you're doing in there," Anya yelled, as she helped Giles rouse the troops.
Cordelia's eyes shot open and had anyone seen her face, they would have seen blushing guilt and embarrassment. 'Oh my God!'
"You will not get out of making your bed," she yelled. "It doesn't work for Xander and it certainly won't work for you."
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Faith stood on the balcony staring out at Sunnydale, recalling waking up next to Cordelia. It had taken her longer than she'd expected to fall asleep. The sound of Cordelia's gentle breathing so close to her had stirred feelings of affection and excitement that she hadn't been expecting. How could someone she had only really gotten to know so recently come to mean so much to her?
The connection between them, which was at first so comfortable, so familiar and safe, had changed. She didn't know what their relationship was changing into, but whatever it was it filled her with a heady excitement, anticipation and eagerness. She hadn't felt so alive in longer than she cared to admit. But she knew that all of this, whatever this was, could crumble away if she didn't help to fix the mess around her.
Her mind awash with hopes, plans and worries. And she mentally yelled at the moon. 'I'm gonna rip those guys a whole new world of pain,' she promised herself. Maybe then she could let out the anger and guilt she had been keeping at bay. Glancing at her wrists, she recalled the helplessness she had felt when they had taken B ... the pain she had seen in Willow's eyes. She would fix this. She had to. The sound of the door opening broke her train of thought and drew her attention as she turned.
"Hi," Willow offered warily as she moved slowly out onto the balcony, her head and heart both full of conflicting emotions as she approached the one person she truly blamed for all that had happened ... both good and bad.
"Red?" Faith responded in acknowledgement and surprise, as her muscles involuntarily tightened in anticipation of a verbal attack. "You feeling any better?"
Nodding, Willow said "A little. I heard you kept it from being any worse."
Faith shrugged "Got plenty of experience with Cordy."
There was an uncomfortable pause.
"Look, we both know where we stand," Willow stated, unable to meet Faith's gaze.
"So I won't wait for the Christmas card," Faith replied, desperate to inject some light humor and avoid any serious discussion on the subject of Willow's opinion of her.
"But Giles is right. We're going to have to work together to rescue Buffy," Willow added, raising her eyes to meet Faith's. "So I guess we need to talk."
Faith stared at the face before her, reminding herself that although she was seeing Buffy - this was Willow. "Okay."
"I've been working on a way of using the Magic residual within the slayer line to help us when we try to get Buffy back," Willow explained, rushing on to a topic she could control, her fear that Faith would have a go at her as she had with Buffy, pushing her to find safe ground. "Giles believes that any spell would have a much better chance of succeeding with the magic of two slayers. I'll need to draw the magic from you."
"So you need my blood or what?" Faith asked without hesitation.
"No, no. It's not connected to blood. At least I don't think so," Willow rushed on, "I mean blood is vital and a powerful force for both good and bad. But no, I hadn't considered blood. That's not what I need. Although it would be interesting to try to determine if it is the slayer blood that is responsible for traits such as increased slayer strength and healing. In which case, a study of Buffy and your blood would be really interesting. Maybe another time; right now that's not what I need. At least I don't think so. When I cast the spell we will need to be touching so that I can draw from you," she finished without taking a breath.
"Kinda like a transfusion?" Faith asked, desperately trying to cut through Willow's babble to understand what exactly Willow was asking of her. 'How does Buffy deal with Red's babble all the time? She doesn't even seem to need to breathe' the brunette wondered somewhat amazed.
"Yes, like a transfusion but without the needles. And since we don't know if it could leave you weakened or dizzy for a while, Giles felt we should have a run-through," Willow explained, not sure why the thought of linking herself, or rather Buffy's body to Faith's was setting off so many different alarm bells.
"Sure, whatever it takes ... whatever you need," Faith said rolling up her sleeve and presenting her arm to Willow.
"That won't be necessary," Willow said, smiling slightly at Faith's eagerness. "All we need to do it is just hold ... umm ... hold hands," she blushed.
Encouraged by Willow's slight relaxation and embarrassment, Faith winked. "Trust me, I won't tell ... if you don't."
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As Xander watched Willow (still in Buffy's body, of course) and Faith, he was a little unnerved by the fact that they were holding hands. It was an image he was having more than a little difficulty processing and he therefore missed Giles calling to him.
"Xander?" Giles called again in frustration. 'How can he spend so much waking time daydreaming and still have survived this long in Sunnydale?' he wondered, standing and walking over to place a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Whaaa?" Xander exclaimed almost jumping out of his skin.
"Nice of you to join us," Giles commented, before stepping back. "I need you to transport me to the magic shop. We're going to need supplies. Then when Willow and Faith have finished, I want you to take her to the warehouse."
"What?" Xander exclaimed. "Are you nuts? She'll get killed."
"Faith. Not Willow," Giles explained, only to be met by a completely different look of disbelief. "She is not going to try and rescue Buffy by herself. We simply need an idea of numbers and the general layout."
"Can't Will get that from the city plans? You know Willow and her back-door on-line thingy?" Xander asked, surprised that Giles was apparently going to trust information provided by Faith - Information that could prove to be vital in rescuing Buffy.
"We've already got those. But they don't tell us where the men are positioned or how many there are," Giles explained, a little exasperated at Xander's overly questioning attitude. "I'm sending you because Faith appears to me to be taking this all rather personally and I'm concerned that she may forsake her present logical position if she finds herself faced with an opportunity to rescue Buffy."
"So with babysitter - me - in tow, it's 'Hey Faith, you can look, but no punchy on the bad guys'. Man, I don't know if even I could do that," Xander honestly replied.
"You'll have to. We'll only get one opportunity at this and if an impromptu attempt fails, someone may get injured reducing our numbers or they may move Buffy or we may lose them ... or ... they could kill her. I can't risk any of that happening," Giles explained, feeling that all-too-familiar parental urge to strangle or shout at his brood 'Can't you just do as you're told.'
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"Okay. Now I'm going to try and create a blinding flash of light followed by complete loss of light," Willow explained, nervously glancing at an extremely intent and attentive Faith. 'Why is she looking at me as if she's taking me seriously? She never takes me seriously. Well she never has before. I mean, she said some nice things at the mansion but that was just to get to Buffy, wasn't it? Let's face it - Faith's just being nice to make sure she's in on the fight. I'd be a fool to trust her. Nope, not falling for the 'trust me' thing,' Willow mentally babbled, more than a little concerned by Faith's apparent complete acceptance of her plan. "Don't be upset if it doesn't work at first."
"Got it. Kinda like our own flash bang," Faith commented.
"Yeah, you could say that," Willow replied unable to hold back a smile. "I'm just not too sure how much magic we have to work with. So scale may be an issue. I mean, I'm aiming for the block but we could end up with just a few street lights," Willow replied, a little nervous at attempting magic with a woman she didn't like let alone trust. 'This is for Buffy. What does it matter how I get her back?' she reminded herself.
"So do I have to concentrate or say anything ... you know ... latinish or something?" Faith asked, feeling completely out of her depth.
"Nope. Just stand there ... quietly," Willow explained.
"Got it. Translation — shut up Faith," the dark Slayer grinned.
Willow stared at her, unable to believe she had just heard Faith make herself the butt of a joke. "Well ... ummm ... It's just ... a little hard to concen ... concentrate when someone's tal ... talking, that's all," Willow finally replied
"Red, whatever you need, whatever it takes. Honestly, all I wanted to do was to help you two. I never meant for this all to go so ... freakin' wrong," Faith explained apologetically. "So whatever I gotta do to get you two back together and so you can maybe take up where you left off," she smirked. "Trust me - it's gonna get done."
Willow went from embarrassment to anger to disbelief. "You're asking me to trust you?" Willow asked incredulously before reverting to sarcasm. "I'm supposed to ... what? Believe that this is just Faith on an uncharacteristic, altruistic quest and nothing more - so I can completely trust you? You have to know that's not going to happen," she stated. "You probably thought Buffy would freak at the idea of ... that you'd break up ... our friendship," Willow accused.
Faith smiled sadly at her, realizing that Willow was still full of unchanneled anger. So she changed tack and lowering her head slightly as she almost whispered "This isn't about what you think of me. This is about what you know in your heart to be true. And you do know it, Red. I can tell. And unless I've missed my guess, you've just about given up on running away from it," Faith stated, tilting her head slightly.
"Wha ... thi ... how can you ... Okay there was ... concern ... But there has been no running. Certain considerations, well thought out consequences ... there was thought, a decision making process, the feelings of others ... ," Willow babbled, flabbergasted by Faith's apparent insight into her life.
"Oh yeah, sure. Others. They so have nothing to do with finding a future, with finding a way to make up for all those lost years," Faith replied. "Look Red, let's just drop it ... at least for now. Okay? We gotta work together to get her back and then deal with this whole apocalypse thing. Whatever you two think I've got coming after that — I'll deal. I won't run."
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Xander stared anxiously at the array of weapons they had gathered; the collection before him somehow seemed disappointingly non-menacing. After a moment of thought, he realized why they looked so ineffectual. A slayer's armory was designed for fighting demons, not a fully armed bunch of Rambo wannabe's. They were blunt and savage, designed for wounding, maiming or a guaranteed close-up kill. When placed up against an AK47, they might as well have been clubs and rocks. "We'll need to get in close," he commented.
Giles picked up a crossbow and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He'd used most of this weaponry more times than he could recall but it had never been against living humans. When had the lines blurred? When had everything shifted? Glancing at Xander, he saw a pensiveness and concern that mirrored his own. "This could prove problematic," he muttered.
"What we'll really need is a diversion. Something to allow us to penetrate deep into their defenses before they can react," Xander said thinking out loud. "That's what Willow's fixing to give us. Right?"
"Yes, that's exactly what she's trying to do. But I'd be happier if we had a back-up plan, just in case," Giles stated, knowing that to rely on magic alone would be far too dangerous.
Glancing out into the night, Xander asked quietly "How do you think its going?"
Giles found himself also drawn to look out into the darkness, "I'll just be happy if we return to find they're both still in one piece."
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Willow sat down with a thud. The light had been so bright and the darkness that followed had swallowed almost eighteen city blocks. She was both exhausted and elated.
"That was wicked fun!" Faith exclaimed as she leaned against the rail, catching her breath. She hadn't felt this tired and drained in a long time. It was kind of peaceful to have so much nervous energy taken away.
"So much ... there was so much. I can hardly believe how much ... oh ... Oh my!" Willow muttered as the residual static energy of the spell caught her, sending goosebumps up and down her skin. "I don't understand how Giles didn't know ... I mean, the Watchers would have tested ... I mean, they had to know," the witch paused to breathe. "What a waste!"
"Hey!" Faith retorted.
"Sorry," Willow responded to her protest. "I didn't mean to say that it was wasted on a slayer. I just meant with all that ... why didn't they arm you with magic too?"
Faith recalled her training, and the many fights and disagreements she'd had with her Watcher. She remembered all the times she'd thrown a fit or just plain run out on her Watcher, knowing that there was nothing she could do to stop her. "Guess they figured playing with fire was bad enough, why add dynamite? Let's face it; a bunch of book types — no offense - dealing with a teenage hormonal girl who can kick major ass and take numbers; and you think they're gonna show these girls how to throw fireballs from their eye sockets too? Yeah, right."
"But it would have made them so powerful ... Oh, I see what you mean. They might be able to manage a teenage super strong girl. But how could they hope to control a super strong teenage witch?" Willow spat.
"Kinda stinks doesn't it," Faith commented, managing to push herself back from the railing to sit down by Willow.
"Yes, it really does," Willow agreed, wondering at the years she had missed. Years where she and Buffy could have had something in common, something only they could share, something where they were on equal terms. But she would certainly explore it further when she got her Buffy back.
As if reading her mind, Faith asked "Is this the way it always feels whenever you do your mojo thing?"
Considering the question, Willow replied "Sometimes, depending on the spell. Usually ... not so much. There have been nosebleeds. Must've been tapping into the slayer magic along with remaining witch magic."
Grinning, the brunette Slayer said "B is gonna love doing the magics with you when she gets back."
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Leaning against the wall of her new steal cage, Buffy shut her eyes in shock as the blindfold was ripped from her. She didn't know how many hours of blindfolded existence she'd endured, but the sudden jolt of neon light was blinding. The sound of a bolt being shut and a lock being turned let her know that she had simply exchanged one cell for another. She couldn't understand why they would bother to lock her up again if they were just going to kill her. In fact, she didn't quite understand why they hadn't killed her already. It didn't make sense!
She'd been terrified when her cell door was opened to then have multiple hands grabbing at her, dragging her out, pulling at the ropes that bound her, shouting orders at each other. She'd thought that it was the end; that the inevitable end of her life had arrived. It just hadn't been as she had expected. She had always pictured it happening in the darkness and shadows, in the heat of battle; a warrior's death. Not bound and gagged like lump of meat being taken to slaughter.
Buffy had looked back on her life; something about that damned 'flashing before your eyes' thing. But all she had found was mostly regret and disappointment. There was so much she should have done by now. She had told herself certain things could wait or that they really didn't matter all that much. What a fool she'd been! Over the last few years she had done what she had always said she would never do --- she 'd let slaying take over her life.
Her mind flew to earlier days and she found herself smiling at how she'd needed to fight tooth and nail for a life, desperate not to let this damned slayer gig take her over completely. Even Giles had eventually agreed that there had to be more for her, that a slayer needed a connection to the world, a reason to fight for it. Without that connection she would have been killed by now like many a slayer before her and she knew it.
She'd seen the wonder in Kendra's eyes at the life she'd seen Buffy leading and at what was missing from her own strict regiment. But Faith had pushed in the opposite direction, living for only the moment, treating slaying like part of the fun. Buffy had always thought of herself as balanced but the more she looked back the less she saw herself having a life that didn't involve slaying. Her social group had narrowed, her outside activities tailored to the bare essentials of attending college.
And she had managed to drag her loved ones with her. Sure, Giles was her Watcher and her mom was ... well ... her mom and she tried to keep her out of slayer stuff. But Xander and Willow ... Her young male best friend was like the brother she'd never had. He was always there when she needed him; ready to face anything by her side. He had saved her life ... no ... he had brought her back. He spent so much of his time helping her in her fight. And it was probably her fault that he had ended up with an ex-demon for a girlfriend.
And Willow. She was so smart, so kind, so beautiful. She could be doing anything, anywhere. She could be somewhere safe. But she had stayed in Sunnydale always helping her whether it was with research, surfing her computer, magic, fighting by her side or treating her wounds. Or just talking, being together. 'I don't know where I'd be without her ...'
Where the hell was her fun? Where the hell was her life going? That is, if she would have a life after all this was over.
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"Okay, so let me get this straight. A Barder ball thingy freezes time ... unless you're wearing one of those stinky things. No offense," Xander stated smiling at Willow apologetically.
"I didn't have any rosemary. The sulfur can be very overpowering without ...," Willow began with a shy smile.
Giles interrupted Willow. "A Bardus Ball slows time for all unless you happen to be wearing a Munimen abusque veneficium talisman," the Watcher explained, his tone tinged with boredom and irritation since he had already explained this twice now.
"So why don't we have ... M ... talismans," Anya stated, unable to pronounce its Latin name and not much liking the idea of having time slow down around her.
Willow sighed before adding "I need time to create an entrance and then follow our search pattern."
"The Bardus Ball will only slow them down for about half an hour. We only had the ingredients for two. Plus the more you divert the Bardus Ball, the weaker it becomes," Giles explained. "We've been over this."
"Yeah well, I'm just a little nervous about all this magic. Why did we go and get all those weapons if we're not going to use them?" Xander complained, feeling somewhat troubled that they would be relying on magic as much as it appeared they would. "No offense Will, but it doesn't feel that long ago I had to buy you an ice cream to calm you down because your floating pencil ... floated completely away."
"That was four years ago," Willow stated, annoyed and unable to believe he still remembered that.
"Look toy boy, I've seen what Red can do. She's up for this and personally I'd rather take on a truck loada armed mercs with Willow's magic than that pile of highlander leftovers. They won't go far against a semi automatic," Faith stated, a little ticked that Xander was being such a downer.
Willow couldn't believe that Faith not only stood up for her but had actually used her name. She stared at her open-mouthed and mumbled "Thanks."
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Angel was pacing! Wesley found it unnerving and the longer it went on - the greater his desire to leave grew. He knew that the news had been bad in parts and a bit sketchy elsewhere, but he had delivered worse. Why was Angel in such a state?
Glancing back at his notes, he tried to recall what he had been saying when Angel had suddenly jumped to his feet and started in on his pacing. 'I explained about the Wolfram & Hart theory, Mr. Manners, Ramu and that slimy Maclay bloke. Damn it, Faith! How could you be so reckless? Then I went into the prophecy ... Oh, hell."
This time when he looked up at the living dead man before him, he saw it — the fear, the questions, the doubts, the hope. 'What on earth should I say to him? This is more than a 'good luck, old chap' thing. I mean he could ... there's every possibility ... but then again if we're wrong ...'
Angel suddenly stopped his pacing and, turning to Wesley, he stated, "I need to speak to Willow."
"Willow?" Wesley questioned. Angel always spoke to Giles or Buffy, if he spoke to anyone at all.
"I think I know what this is really all about," he stated.
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"Dear readers,
My sincere thanks for your support of my nomination as Best Beta in the SunnyD awards. I was thrilled to have been nominated and simply stunned that I won.
But my real prize is working with two wonderful writers like Alicorn and Dragonwriter17. And, of course, hoping that you all enjoy our efforts.
Although I like to stay in the background, I thank Alicorn for letting me thank you all.
Lilly [Lil]"