Johansen Residence
Sunnydale, California
26 November 1998
"NO!!!" Shaw screamed as she snapped into the waking world, sitting straight up in bed. Her covers fell forward, and she quickly grabbed them back up, squeezing them while tears began to fall down her face.
She shivered as she tried to remember what nightmare she had gone through, but like the others she'd had since the Quickening had been removed, the more she tried to recall the dreams, the faster the bits and pieces scattered to the proverbial winds.
She was dripping with perspiration, rivulets running down her face and the rest of her body was beaded in sweat. She slowly regained control of her breathing and trembling, but jumped when Ulric knocked at the door.
Tears flowing lightly, she got out of bed and padded over to the door, walking on the balls of her feet. She cracked the door open and said, "Yes, Ulric?"
"Are you all right?" the priest asked with concern.
"Yes, I am," the woman answered quietly. "I did not wake you again, did I?"
"Child, talking through this door is unsettling. May I come in?" Ulric asked.
Shaw sighed, and said, "No, I must dress first. May I have a few moments?"
"Oh, yes. Of course," Ulric consented quickly, and Shaw could just see him blushing in embarrassment, and it brought a smile to the tired half-elf. "I will be waiting in the living room."
"Thank you, Ulric," Shaw said with a great deal of gratitude. She quietly closed the door and walked over to her dresser.
She opened the top drawer, and pulled out a pair of socks, as well as fresh undergarments. Throwing them on the bed, she quickly worked her way down, picking out some jeans and a cotton shirt. Quickly dressing, she went over to the mirror.
When she looked at her reflection, she was that her eyes were still slightly bloodshot, but she also saw that the color was returning to her cheeks and face.
<If only I were recovering quickly in spirit, as well,> she thought, a burst of anger flowing through her. Letting out a sad sigh, she pulled her hair into a ponytail and walked out to talk to Ulric.
She came into the living room, and saw Ulric sitting on one end of the couch. Walking over, she sat at the other end.
"Good morning, Ulric," Shaw said, not putting much emotion into the words.
"Shaw," he began, trying to be delicate, "How are you doing? Truthfully?"
Shaw seriously considered the question, and finally said, "Physically, I am recovering. I pushed myself too far last weekend, and I am certainly paying for it. Much of the problem comes from not sleeping or eating, but I will recover, Ulric."
"And emotionally?" the Father asked patiently.
"That will be much harder to recover from," the ranger said honestly. "I have snapped out at my friends a couple of times, and I am trying to watch myself. But, I have so much anger and confusion inside of myself right now, and I am still trying to sort through the conflicting emotions."
"And the nightmares?"
Shaw shook as if a chill had run through the room, and said, "I cannot remember what I dream about, Ulric. They are not another's memories, like those I dreamt of while the spirit was inside of me. Goddess be blessed I do not remember those."
Ulric caught the slight catch in her voice. "Losing memories frightens you."
Shaw nodded, and choked a bit. "I know my friends survived the attack upon them. I will see them in three days. But my memories say otherwise." After a pause, she lamented, "No, more accurately, they do not say anything. Ulric, I am not fooling myself. I am not in good condition, to say the very least. And, I am taking things one day at a time."
"I understand," Ulric said, folding his hands together. Waiting a few seconds, he said, "Do you plan to return to school on Monday?"
"Absolutely," the half-elf said, some fire in her eyes. "I have classes to make up, and my schooling is one thing that I will not allow this attack to effect."
Ulric smiled at her answer, and told her, "I am pleased with your answer, Shaw." When she tilted her head a bit, he said, "If you had said that your classes would distract you from your nightmares, then I would have suggested you stay home for another week, to have you deal with what happened, rather than distract yourself."
Shaw felt a light bit of anger that Ulric would make such a demand, but caught herself before she lashed out. <He is worried about you. Accept his caring for what it is.>
Ulric saw the flash in her eyes, and nodded to her.
"And you still have your fire," he said. He stood up and said, "I had worried that you might have been hurt so badly that you would give up the path you have chosen for your life."
"I have the same fear, Ulric," Shaw said softly. She looked into his eyes beseechingly. "I fear that when the time comes, I will not want to take up the fight again."
Ulric placed his palms together, and brought them up to his face. "Your friends said they are going to allow you to aid them. You are still in the fight itself, you are simply allowing others to handle a greater share of the responsibility. Your mind and heart have simply said, 'No more.'"
Shaw blushed heavily, and muttered, "Actually, Ulric, that was my foot."
Ulric blinked a couple times, and asked, "Could you explain, child?"
"I met the person that my group's leader serves," Shaw said, closing her eyes and bowing her head. "He tried to intimidate me into giving him information about myself in my time here on Earth. I reacted badly."
"What did you do?" Ulric asked, sitting down next to Shaw to offer some comfort to her.
"I. . ." the half-elf sighed, before quietly saying, "I kicked him in the groin. It would not have happened if Merlin had bothered to introduce himself in the first place."
"Did you say, 'Merlin?'" the dumbfounded priest asked.
"Yes. He was not very impressive upon first sight, but my teachers confirmed his identity," the tired ranger said. She looked back at Ulric, and said, "We met again yesterday, after I slept some more, and we reached an understanding as to my plans for the future."
"A nonviolent understanding, I hope?" Ulric asked her, only half joking.
"Yes, Ulric, a nonviolent one," Shaw replied with a small grin. She leaned back against the couch, and said, "He is alive and well."
The Catholic returned her grin, and asked, "So, what are your plans for the day?"
Shaw cocked her head in confusion. "We were to share dinner before you left to have your special service this evening," she reminded him.
"Yes, but we will not be eating until three or so," Ulric said to the young woman sitting next to him. "You have seven hours or so until then, and you should go out and enjoy it. Somehow, I don't see you watching American football all day."
Shaw grimaced, and the old man laughed. "Shaw, go out and allow yourself to live a little. The Mall is closed, but the Cineplex is open. There might be a movie you would enjoy. Or walk through the park and enjoy the quiet. The choice is yours, child."
Shaw thought for a few seconds, and decided with a firm nod. She got up and said, "You are right, Ulric. I have this chance, and as you said, I should not waste it."
"Very good. I shall see you later, for dinner?"
"I will be back before then, to wash before we dine," Shaw said with a simple shrug of her shoulders. "Tonight, I can rest. I shall see you in a while."
Shaw went into her room, and quickly threw on a pair of running shoes. She picked up the duster she'd gotten from Whistler, and donned it. She started to leave, but stopped when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She stared at her reflection for a few moments, and then walked over to the dresser. She removed the clip that kept her hair bound and picked up her brush. She ran the brush through her hair for nearly ten minutes and looked at herself again. She moved her hair away from her left ear, and her eyes narrowed.
Shifting her perceptions to focus on the nexus in Los Angeles, she felt the connection from the source of magical energy, and concentrated again. After a few moments, her ears took on a human appearance.
With a very small grin of satisfaction, the half-elf walked over to her closet. She reached for one of her daggers to take it with her, but stopped short. Frozen for a few seconds, she came to a decision.
"No."
She moved her hand about two feet to the left and selected a small felt pouch, and then shut the closet door so that she could leave.
Weatherly Park
Sunnydale, California
26 November 1998
Shaw followed the path through the trees, enjoying the abnormally quiet atmosphere in the town's only park. She had entered the park through the main entrance, and had walked along the concrete sidewalk until she found the area she wished to enter.
As she picked her way through the woods, her senses suddenly went on alert. Her hearing picked up something, something large, following her. She tuned into her empathic ability, and detected fear and caution in several birds and ground-dwelling animals to her rear.
Shaw sighed in frustration and thought, <Can nothing *ever* be simple when I wish to do this?!?>
Shaw quickly decided on a course of action. She uttered a prayer, casting a spell that would allow her to move without leaving any trail whatsoever, and walked until she estimated that the person following her was less than fifty yards away. She then took off running at full speed, letting out a laugh when she heard a gasp of surprise.
She ran through the woods, knowing that her larger target would be slowed by his larger bulk and lesser knowledge of the terrain. Seeing something ahead of her, she jumped, a new idea forming inside of her head.
The half-elven ranger swung herself upward into a large elm tree, and quickly hid herself in the branches. Arranging herself on a perch, she waited for her pursuer to make his appearance.
A few minutes later, the man came into view. He was clad in gray sweats, a hood covering his face. His breath came out in small breaths, the air visible in the cool morning air, and Shaw nodded in respect.
<Whoever he is, he is certainly fit,> she admitted. <But now. . .>
Shaw sat down on he branch, and rolled backwards, letting out a scream at the top of her lungs. As the figure jumped about eight feet in the air (figuratively, not literally), Shaw reached out and grabbed the branch she'd originally used to hoist herself into the tree.
The hooded figure heard the impact of Shaw grasping the branch, and on instinct, he turned around. When he did so, Shaw clamped her legs around his neck.
Releasing her grip on the branch, Shaw used the momentum of her swing to throw her body around. The large one, with her legs around his neck, was spun around ninety degrees and then unceremoniously somersaulted onto his back.
Shaw was now sitting on the man's chest, straddling him, and she brought a hand back to throw a palm strike when the figure yelled out.
"I give up!!" Larry hollered.
Shaw stopped when he surrendered, and grabbed the hood around his head. Yanking it back, she revealed his face. The woman moaned in disgust, and backed up, offering a hand to the prone athlete.
She helped him up, and asked, "Are you injured, Larry?"
"Only my ego," he said dryly as he brushed himself off. "What kind of move was that?"
"You Americans call it a hurancurana," Shaw said, placing her hands on her hips as he looked at her in shock as he recognized the name. "Are you certain that you are not hurt?"
When Larry nodded, Shaw dipped, spinning and executing a sweeping kick that sent Larry onto his back. As he landed with a loud thud, Shaw could hear several birds taking off in the distance, spooked into flight.
As Larry regained his senses, he yelled, "What was THAT for?!?"
"For scaring the Nine Hells out of me, when my nerves are all but destroyed after what I went through last weekend!" Shaw snapped angrily. She uttered a few choice phrases in Spanish, and held out her hand once again.
Larry just looked at it, and asked, "Is there anything else you're mad at me for?"
"Let us start with your following me," she stated icily, with the glare to match. "Next, the delay in saying my morning prayers. Finally, the lack of privacy, once again, for practicing my music."
"Uh, I saw 'Big Jake,'" Larry said worriedly. At the confused look on her face, he added, "Where John Wayne keeps knocking out his sons for pissing him off."
Shaw sighed out loud, and said, "Larry, I am assuming that I made my point already. Now, would you like a hand?"
Larry nodded, and took Shaw's hand, and she pulled him up again. He let go, just waiting for her to do something, but she just folded her arms.
"Now, why were you following me?" she asked. Before he could answer, she said, "Let me guess; you were hoping I had your answer from my leader?"
"Uh, yeah. But," Larry said quickly, growing nervous, "I was really out for my morning jog when I saw you. I was going to call you, but you zipped into these woods."
"Very well," Shaw said softly, relaxing immensely. "As it so happens, I do have an answer for you. My leader is willing to offer you a 'reservist' role, in which you would train with us two or three days a week, patrol occasionally with others to learn our way of doing things, and when some of us are called away from Sunnydale, you would go onto active duty while the others are gone. Is that satisfactory for you?"
"Reservist, huh?" Larry asked, seemingly calm. "Can I ask why?"
"Yes. The rest of the people in my group have special abilities, as well as experience, that allow us to survive," Shaw explained to the jock. "In time, we would likely offer you a full-time position. I work with the group here, but I have not accompanied them on missions outside of Sunnydale."
Larry thought about it, and finally nodded. "Good reasons," he agreed. He smiled at the half-elf, and asked, "See you on Monday?"
"Meet me at the front door of the school," Shaw told him. "Someone will pick us up and drive us to where we train. I would dress appropriately."
"Got it," Larry smiled. "See you then, Shaw. And thanks."
"You are welcome," Shaw nodded, and the big man took off back the way he had come.
The ranger waited until she was sure she was alone, and went in her intended direction.
Ten minutes later, Shaw walked into the small clearing that she normally came to. She shrugged off her duster, and laid it on the ground. She sat down, crossing her legs. She closed her eyes, and began to pray, her lips moving but not emitting any sound. After saying general prayers, including for Mielikki to watch over the spirits of her Grandparents, as well as her living friends, Shaw began to pray for spells. The divine energy that Shaw drew her spells from began to replenish itself, as energy used in the prior twenty-four hours was restored. But, this time, unlike any other day, something was different. Shaw concentrated harder, and shock rippled through her entire awareness when she realized that her magical energy had increased.
It had *been* increased.
Her eyes snapped open as she realized what that meant. Mielikki had decided that she was worthy of greater ability.
<And greater responsibility.> she added mentally. She reached back into the essence that she felt inside of her, and asked, <Mother, do you truly think me worthy of this?>
She felt a touch, that she interpreted as a smile of approval, although she couldn't understand why she felt a sense of wry humor as well.
Shaw's eyes slowly came open, tears of happiness forming.
<Thank you, Lady,> Shaw beamed to the Goddess. <I will do my best to honor your trust in me.>
Tears still falling, Shaw reached into her pouch and took out her songhorn. As she brought the instrument to her lips, she felt at peace for the first time since her episode with Ares.
Johansen Residence
Sunnydale, California
26 November 1998
Shaw walked into the house, a glow on her face that had long been absent from the young woman. She walked into her bedroom and placed her songhorn on the dresser, intending to practice again later.
"Shaw?" Ulric called from the kitchen, and she went to see if he needed help.
She walked into the kitchen, and said, "Yes, Ulric?"
"Did you enjoy yourself?" the priest asked, checking a pan with some mashed potatoes cooking in it.
"Yes, Ulric," she admitted, but with a sigh of resignation, she added, "at least most of the time."
Ulric looked at her, a touch of worry on his face. "What happened, child?"
"After praying and practicing with my songhorn," Shaw said, a smile on her face at the knowledge of her increased blessing, "I took your advice, and decided to see a movie. However, the only movie not sold out was called, 'Insurrection.' Seeing no other alternative, I decided it was better than nothing. That plainly shows what I know."
"Violent?" Johansen asked with sorrow.
"Worse," Shaw groaned, a bit of humor dancing in her eyes. "Star Trek."
Despite knowing that she hated that subject because of Mark's original comments to her so many months ago, Ulric let out a short bark of laughter. He began shaking his head in amusement, until Shaw let out a barb of her own.
"If you do not silence your humor, I will help prepare this dinner," she warned him.
Ulric sobered immediately, and said, "After what happened the last time, I would think that you would be afraid to enter the kitchen by yourself."
"Perhaps if you had explained the difference between two cups in measurements," Shaw began, a smile tugging at her face as well as Ulric's, "and two cups as glasses for drinking, I would not have ended up looking like what you call a mime when that flour dust exploded into my face."
"You did volunteer to help," the man reminded the half-elf. "And it was a good thing that you did. I shudder to think what would have happened if you had taken it upon yourself to cook Thanksgiving dinner for me, instead of the other way around."
"One possibility," Shaw said mischievously, "would have been my cooking every dish on the counter by casting several Heat Metal spells. The pans would heat the food without using the stove or oven."
"And ruin my pans in the process," Ulric "scolded" her.
"And the counters beneath," Shaw added before leaving the kitchen so that Ulric couldn't get the last word in.
As Ulric finished putting the food on the stove, he set the turkey onto a serving tray, and began to look over the other items. He lowered the heat under the corn to a simmer, and turned his attention to the turkey. He began removing the stuffing, putting it into a large bowl. When he finished, he took out a knife and two-pronged fork, so that he could begin carving the meat.
"A sword would work just as well, Ulric," Shaw said from the doorway, impish humor in her voice.
"That is quite all right, child," Ulric said dryly. "You need not hone your skills on our dinner."
When he had carved several slices and placed them onto a separate plate, he said, "Would you get two plates, please? I will set your plate up for you."
Shaw walked to the cupboard, and took out two plates. When she set them on the counter next to Ulric, he saw that she had changed her clothing.
Shaw was wearing her white dress, and her pendant, rather than being hidden, was in plain view, resting directly over her heart. Also, she had combed her hair out once again, leaving it unbound and Ulric saw the curls that were the natural state of her black tresses.
Ulric just watched her go and take out some silverware from the drawer, and she caught his look when she came back over.
"Is something wrong, Ulric?" she asked.
"No, Shaw," the cleric assured her. "I am simply surprised you donned a dress."
"Oh," Shaw whispered. She shrugged, but Ulric could see her starting to blush. "This holiday would seem to be more formal than many of your other holidays. This is the closest thing I have to formal wear, and. . . I thought it would be appropriate."
"Yes, perhaps you're right," Ulric said with a warm, fatherly smile. "You look very nice."
Shaw's blush deepened, and she simply said, "Thank you."
She set the silverware down and went to get some glasses from one of the upper cupboards. When she reached up, Ulric turned his attention to the plates. He quietly set equal portions of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn on the plates, and set the silverware on the plates as well. He turned around, and carried the plates over to the table in Ulric's small dining room. Shaw carried over the glasses, filled with water, and the two sat down. Ulric bowed his head and quietly said grace, while Shaw did the same, only in accordance with her faith.
Once they finished, they began to eat, and Ulric decided to strike up a conversation.
"Shaw, you seem to be in a brighter mood this afternoon," he observed. When her look brightened a bit, he asked, "May I ask what happened?"
Shaw waited a few seconds, and said, "I have told you how my magic is given to me by the Lady, and how the power and quantity of spells is based upon my level of power and experience."
"Yes, child. And the Lady of the Forest decides when Her gifts to you are increased," he said, as she had explained her faith before.
"The Lady has deemed me worthy of such an increase," Shaw said in a quiet voice, looking at her holy symbol. Fingering it, she looked back at Ulric. "It would seem that She has given me something else to be thankful for, Ulric."
Seeing that it was the gift, and not the power, that mattered to her, Ulric smiled. "Yes, it would seem that way. I am glad that you are happy, Shaw."
Shaw nodded, and took a bite of stuffing. She swallowed, and said, "I am glad, Ulric. Happiness. . .I think that is something that I am still working at."
Ulric's smile faded, and he asked, "What is it, Shaw?"
"Duty, Ulric," the ranger sighed. She looked towards the window, and said, "I enjoyed myself today, but I still feel the obligations to do what I can for others."
Ulric nodded with sympathy, and offered her a bit of advice. "Well, child, perhaps you could find solace that by allowing yourself to finally experience what you have given to others through your efforts, you might come to appreciate them all the more. And, having come to know you in your time here, I think it will only increase your desire to help others when the time comes to take up the sword once again."
Shaw continued to stare out the window as she listened to Ulric's speech, and nodded absently. She took a couple of deep breaths, and a smile touched her face once again.
"Thank you, Ulric," she said gratefully. She turned back to face him, and asked, "May I ask some further wisdom of you?"
"I don't know if my advice qualifies as wisdom, Shaw," Ulric told the ranger, wiping the corners of his mouth with his napkin. He set the napkin down, and said, "But I thank you for the comparison. Please, go ahead."
Shaw hesitated, looking at her fork moving around her plate, and said, "I realized, earlier this week, that I have let go of my Grandparents. My mourning is done. Yesterday, I saw an item that was a reminder of my Grandfather, but rather than allow a friend with an interest in the item to keep it. . . I demanded to keep it myself. It. . it is only an object, Ulric, but one that brings up good memories. But do I truly need it to remind me of better times, or. . was it an instinctive reaction?"
Ulric pondered her question, and finally rested his chin on his folded hands.
"It would seem your decision was instinctive," he offered her. "And sometimes, simple objects can remind one of the better times of one's life. But no, you do not need it to remind you of those times. As I said, it seems instinctive."
"I see," she muttered, deep in thought. "Then would it be acceptable for me to give this item to my friend? I have considered the matter, and I can see no legitimate reason not to let him have it."
"Did you explain your reasoning to him?"
Shaw nodded, and with a glance at the priest, she said, "While I know he was disappointed, he understood. But now. . . I feel that it was selfish of me."
"It is not selfish to want reminders of loved ones, child," Ulric assured her. "And it shows that you have come to care for this person, if you would willingly give up this item."
Shaw tensed a bit, and slowly said, "Ulric, I am not interested in him in the way that it sounds that you are suggesting. He is quite happy with Cordelia, and I would never be interested in him in that fashion in any case."
"I did not mean to insinuate that you were romantically interested in this man," Ulric chuckled in understanding. "I meant that you have taken him as a friend, or perhaps a brother."
"No, not a brother," Shaw said, with a touch of sadness. She then added, "Not yet."
"And that saddens you," Ulric noted with a sorrowed look.
Shaw nodded, and let out a long, slow sigh of tiredness. "Yes, Ulric, it saddens me. I know it will take time to feel that way about them, but it hurts to think that I cannot simply give them that level of devotion."
"I think you are confusing love with loyalty, child," Ulric said, pausing to take a drink of water. Setting his glass down, he continued. "You are completely loyal to them, I can see that. And you are slowly forming the bonds with your friends that you wish to have. So, do not feel sorrow that you do not feel now, what you will feel in the future. Just let it happen in its own time."
Shaw pondered his advice, and a smile began reemerge. "Thank you, Ulric," she said quietly. "My own thinking is clouded by recent events."
"As is normal in such situations," Ulric said tenderly. "I have seen it before, and unlike some people, you are not refusing to deal with the events that hurt you. You have opened up and talked to others, such as Amy or myself."
"Unlike twenty-five years ago," Shaw said as she scooped up some potatoes. Before she ingested it, she said, "Ulric, did Amy or Robin tell you what my 'cover story' will be, to explain my absence from school?"
"No, they didn't," Ulric said, wondering why she had brought up this topic. "I assume it will be about being ill."
"Yes, but. . ." she stumbled over the answer, but told him, "it will say that I had an allergic reaction. To what you call caffeine."
"I see," Ulric said, impressed by such a simple "explanation" for her not being in school. "I have never heard of someone being allergic to that."
Shaw's head snapped up, as she realized he didn't know.
"Ulric," she said, shaking her head at this misunderstanding, "elves, or half-elves like myself, ARE allergic to caffeine. As Cordelia said to Connor, 'it is an elven thing.'"
Ulric's eyes widened a bit, and he asked, "Have you always known this?"
"No, not until just over a week ago," she admitted with a tinge of pink in her face. "Imagine my surprise when Tobabaird confirmed it. It does not matter that I am half human, I cannot ingest it."
"Then might I make a suggestion?" he asked. When Shaw nodded, he said, "Drug stores, or pharmacies, to be more exact, have items that will alert people of your allergy. They can be put onto necklaces or bracelets, telling medical personnel what you are allergic to, or if you have certain medical conditions. I know the chances of your needing such medical attention are slight, given your magical abilities, but I do think it would be prudent."
Shaw eyes became narrowed as she considered the matter, and she smiled. "Thank you, Ulric. I will look into that matter."
"You are quite welcome, child," the Catholic said, before changing subjects. "Shaw, there is one thing I would like to discuss with you, about your schooling."
"Yes, what is it?" she asked with genuine interest.
"As I am supposed to be your guardian," he said, a touch of dry humor in his voice, "I think that you should have shown me your report card, don't you?"
Shaw stared at him, and she said, "You wish to know what my grades are."
Ulric smiled, and he chuckled, "Yes, I saw how disappointed you looked when you came home that day. Was it that bad?"
"According to. . two of my teachers, I am doing very well," she said neutrally. "Especially for someone who has only lived here for less than seven months. My. . . grade point average?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"It said. . . two point eight," Shaw said, looking at him to get his opinion on that level of grading.
Ulric's smile increased, and he looked impressed. "They are right, you are doing very well. If you ever need help, I can give you aid if you wish."
Shaw smiled at his approval, and said, "Thank you."
She went back to her dinner, and she and Ulric spent the rest of their dinner in peaceful quiet.
Two hours later, after Ulric had left for the church, Shaw was sitting on her bed practicing her flute, when the phone started ringing.
With a sour look at her instrument, she considered ignoring the phone, but decide that the call might be important. Getting off the bed, she went to answer it.
She picked it up, and said, "Johansen residence."
"Hey, cuz," Amy's voice rang out. "Just callin' to see how you're holding up."
Shaw's irritation dissipated, and she said, "All things considered, Amy, I would say that I am doing as well as could be expected."
"Uh huh," the witch said, sounding unconvinced. "No blowups? Snaps at others? Bad dreams?"
Shaw hesitated, and answered, "I think you know what my dreams are like right now. As for the rest, I have been careful."
A few seconds later, Amy said, "Okay. I was just worried about you. I called earlier, but Ulric said he'd chased you out of the house so your turkey wouldn't be blown up."
A burst of laughter erupted from the half-elf, and she said, "He said I should enjoy myself, and I did with the exception of the movie. The less said about that, the better."
"Okay," Amy laughed in response. She paused, and said, "Xander told me what happened over that sword. And I know you, you're kicking yourself about it, aren't you?"
"Ulric took care of that," Shaw said, a twinge of guilt still in her heart. "In fact, I would like your opinion on something concerning that."
"Okay, shoot."
Shaw outlined her idea over the course of a few minutes, and then asked for Amy's opinion.
After several seconds, she said, "Sounds good. I can add some stuff to yours, but it'll take a couple days to finish it."
"I can start with the easier parts tonight, and be finished in only a few minutes," Shaw said simply.
"Are you really up to that? You can't push yourself too fast," Amy said, the worry in her tone easy to hear. "Shaw, take your time on this. It doesn't need to be rushed."
"Amy, I am only talking about two spells," Shaw assured her. A fractional smile came to her, and she added, "Thank you for calling, Amy."
"You're welcome," Amy said, in a way that Shaw could imagine that she had a smile on her own face. "I'll talk to you again tomorrow in the library."
"The library?" Shaw asked blankly.
"Uh, you were supposed to do some stuff for Randi and Brian," Amy said uncertainly. "To try to show up us witches?"
"I remember," Shaw said, the memory coming back. "Could you ask Randi to meet me at the library around noon? It will give me some time to do some research."
"Got it," the Amazon said. A split second later, she blurted, "Uh, Shaw, what's your favorite animal?"
"Unicorn," Shaw replied, wondering why she'd been asked that.
"I mean normal animals," Amy sighed over the phone. "You know, non-legend Earth type animals."
Shaw's brow furrowed, but she answered the confusing question. "I have always admired felines, Amy. They have an impressive combination of power, speed and grace. Why do you ask?"
"Uh, well," Amy said, hesitating, "Xander and Cordelia. . ."
"Were arguing," the ranger finished, starting to laugh under her breath. "Will my answer end their arguing?"
"Goddess, I hope so," Amy laughed. With warm feeling that Shaw could hear, Amy said, "Take care, Shaw."
"And you as well," Shaw said, before adding with a grin, "cuz."
She quickly hung up the phone before Amy could respond, and laughing to herself, walked back to her room. When she got to the doorway, she found that her room was already occupied.
By Artemis.
Slightly confused by Her appearance, Shaw nevertheless nodded to Her, and gave the Goddess a warm greeting.
"Good evening, Lady Artemis," the half-elf said with a smile.
"Hello, Shaw," the Huntress said, waving a hand for Shaw to come in. "I wanted to speak with you briefly, if you don't mind."
"Of course," Shaw said, walking over to her bed and picking up her songhorn. She put the instrument away, and turned back to Artemis. "What did you wish to discuss?" she asked.
Artemis laughed, and said, "You are much like Mielikki, Shaw. You dispense with pleasantries and go straight to the subject at hand."
The Olympian sat down on the edge of Shaw's bed, and said, "Please sit down, Shaw. There are a couple of things that I need to tell you, but it will not take long."
Shaw sat down, and Artemis smiled at her, stroking the half-elf's hair.
"You know that I aided you and the others against Ares," She began, looking straight into Shaw's eyes. "The reason *I* did this was because Mielikki was unable to intervene on your behalf directly."
Shaw started to speak, but Artemis put a finger over Shaw's lips.
"Please, let me finish," she requested. "In recent months, Mielikki ordered a radical reorganization of Her church. The result of this restructuring was an elevation of Her power, and She now resides on the plane known to your people as the Beastlands. She came directly to me as soon as Her duties permitted, but unable to interfere directly, I did it for Her. She came to Sunnydale Herself to secretly help your friends, including Duncan, fight vampires to keep your friends from harm."
Shaw absorbed this shocking information, and asked, "She was here?"
"Yes, and as much as She wished to see you, and to aid you, Her duties to Toril kept Her from doing so," Artemis told the half-elf. "But She personally asked me to give you two messages."
Shaw's eyes went blank with wonder, and Artemis smiled approvingly. "The first, there are other servants of the Lady of the Forest here on Earth. Not worshippers, but spiritual servants, who can and will act as your guides here in your new home."
"Who. ."
"I cannot tell you that, little one," Artemis said softly, but with a touch of a smile. "Discovering who they are is part of that quest. But if I might make a suggestion, do not immediately begin this search. Allow yourself to heal, and allow yourself to finally be a young woman, rather than a warrior, a hunter, or even a priestess. I am not saying to stop doing what you wish to do with your life, but allow yourself to simply be a person."
Shaw looked into the Olympian's eyes, and she finally nodded. "That seems to be everyone's advice to me. It is not easy for me, but I am trying to follow it."
"I know," Artemis grinned. She reached over and stroked the back of one hand down Shaw's cheek, and said, "Her second message is much simpler."
"Yes?" Shaw asked, looking to Artemis like a child wanting to open a Christmas present.
With a tender look, she said, "She is very proud of you."
Shaw's eyes went wide, and after nearly a minute of stunned silence, she asked, "She said this?"
"Yes, child, She did," the Goddess of the Hunt promised, and with a grin, added, "And she asked me to give you something."
Artemis looked over to Shaw's dresser, and two items appeared in a flash of light. Shaw's eyes followed the Patron of the Amazons’ gaze, and her jaw dropped when she saw one of the items.
Shaw stood up, and as if in a dream, slowly walked over to it. The ranger stood there, her eyes unable to break the locking gaze that she had put onto the small ivory carving of a female warrior standing about one foot tall.
"Artemis, this looks like. ." Shaw breathed quietly.
"It is," Artemis corrected, standing up and walking over. Putting her hands of Shaw's shoulders from behind, she said, "You thought it lost, didn't you?"
Shaw nodded, tears starting to flow out of her eyes. "I never went back for it after. . ."
"I know, Shaw," She said. With a squeeze of support, she continued with, "Millie told me that it stayed there, and your shrine became known to Her rangers, who would pray there when they passed through Mistledale. But, now, She thought that you needed it more, so that you know that She is still watching over you."
Her lips opening a bit, Shaw looked over at the other item sitting on her dresser. It was a ring, carved from ivory identical to the statuette, set with a diamond. A bit of confusion entered into Shaw's mind, and she asked, "What?"
"It's a ring, Shaw," the Goddess said with an affectionate smile. "Nothing more. It is simply a gift from Her to you, as a token of Her love for you."
Shaw didn't move, but Artemis didn't need to look at Shaw's reflection to know that the priestess of Her Sister was crying. After a few moments of silence, Shaw turned around to face Her.
"Lady Artemis," she choked, "would you give Her something for me?"
"Shaw, She can already hear how you feel," Artemis pointed out.
"Yes, but. ."
Shaw didn't finish, but simply embraced the Goddess, holding on for all she was worth with a hug that Artemis knew was really intended for someone else. However, She didn't mind in the least.
"Would you?" she asked in a small voice.
Artemis returned the show of affection, and said, "Gladly."
Sunnydale High Library
Sunnydale, California
27 November 1998
Amy, Randi and Brian walked into the school, heading for their noon meeting with Shaw, talking about the events of their mission to San Francisco. In particular, they were discussing what they had learned about the younger Jessup's destiny during a raging spell battle between Section Seven and a number of Black Mages.
"What do you think, Randi?" Amy asked with a grin directed towards Brian. "You think she can pull this off?"
"I dunno," the newbie Immortal said with a grin of her own. "I wonder how many zaps she'll take before she makes any headway. You and Willow have been 'bit' enough times."
"How 'bout you, Bri?" the witch asked the young man between her and Randi. "Think Shaw can top the witches?"
Brian shrugged, and said, "I'm more worried about her."
Amy and Randi shared glances, and Randi said, "You still wondering what we talked about Tuesday?"
"Yeah, Randi," the twelve-year-old boy said anxiously. "Robin said Shaw should tell me. I asked Steve, and he said the same thing. Is it a sex thing?"
Amy stopped, her jaw dropping while Randi started blushing. Brian looked between the two of them, looking confused. Finally, Randi answered her little brother.
"No, Brian," she said as Amy started to close her mouth. "I. . ."
Amy took over by kneeling in front of Brian, and said, "Brian, I won't lie to you. Right now, Shaw's in rough shape. That's why she's sort of on vacation right now. As for what we talked about, it sorta has to do with her, and when her Grandma and Grandpa died. You and Randi were out when Shaw showed us something, something that hurt her, and I don't know if she'd want to tell you, 'cause she might think you'll be afraid of her. That'd hurt her."
"I wouldn't be afraid of her," Brian huffed, looking quite confident of himself. "She could show me. I can handle it."
Randi and Amy looked at each other, and Randi cleared her throat. When Brian looked at her, she said, "Brian, this is something scary. And it would make her sad if you got nightmares from it."
Before Brian could protest, Amy said, "Brian, this was something that gave Shaw nightmares. Think about that; something that made *her* have bad dreams. Really bad ones."
Brian thought about it for a minute, looking at the toes of his shoes. After that, he looked to Amy.
"Would she tell me what happened?" he asked softly. "If she didn't show me?"
Amy nodded once. "Yeah, she would," the Amazon agreed reluctantly. "But I hope she gives you the 'PG' version. But I want you to promise me something; wait 'til we're done with what we came for, and then you can ask her. Okay?"
"Okay," Brian agreed, seeing that they weren't saying "no" outright.
"Cool. Come on," Amy said, standing up and heading for the library.
The trio walked into the library, and Shaw whipped her head around from her seat at the computer. A small smile came to her lips, and she quickly logged off of the computer. Shaw stood up and walked over to one of the larger tables in the library, where Amy could see a notebook with notes scribbled on it. However, Amy couldn't read the language.
"Hello, Randi," Shaw said warmly, before looking to Brian. "Brian, it is good to see you again."
"Hi, Shaw," he said with a smile. "How you doing?"
"Right now, I am all right," the ranger said, although the smile in her eyes faded. "Overall, it has been a very hard time."
"Oh," Brian said quietly. He looked at the notes she'd written, and asked, "What's that? It looks funny."
"Arabic," Shaw said, getting looks from the other three. She blushed a bit, and told them, "Since I have these languages, I felt it prudent to practice."
"True," Amy grinned. She took one of the chairs at the table and asked, "So, you gonna pull this off?"
Shaw sighed at her humor, and said, "I will tell you that this was not as easy as I thought it would be."
"Uh oh," Randi and Amy said with growing grins.
Shaw gave them a hard look, and said, "I will make this as short a version as possible. The first thing I did was to look through Giles' library, to get a starting point. That yielded very little. Thus, I took the other avenue available to me."
"You went online," Amy said, trying to poke fun at the half-elf.
If failed.
"Exactly," Shaw agreed. She walked back to the computer and pulled out a CD from the hard drive. Holding it up, she said, "This has all of the information I could find on Marcus the Valiant and Tara, as well as legends surrounding them. I have already e-mailed copies of the files to Steven and Willow, to have more than one source of this information available."
Amy looked impressed, while Randi asked, "Anything on the shield?"
Now, Shaw looked slightly hesitant. "Yes and no," she admitted. She held up a hand, and said, "It seems that the shield was reputed to be magical. However, Marcus had a matching set of full plate armor, as well as a sword whose power, while not in a class of a Sword of Destiny, would likely be nearly equal to your own sword, Randi."
Amy let out a low whistle, while Randi and Brian both looked shocked. "I hear a 'but' coming," Amy remarked.
"Yes, Amy." Shaw sat down and said, "The items I read said nothing about the armor or sword's powers. I am plainly theorizing here, and I exhausted the sources from Earth legends."
"Earth legends?" Amy asked as she did a doubletake.
"This once, my origins provided some benefits," Shaw said with a smile. She stood up, and went to the side of the table. "Brian, come here, please."
Brian got up and walked over to her, and asked, "What now?"
"I want you to call the shield," Shaw instructed. "Imagine it appearing on your arms, with the buckles in place."
Amy frowned at that, muttering, "Showoff."
Shaw looked at the giggling Randi, who said, "It took Amy and Jenny four 'clangs' before they thought of that."
Brian had closed his eyes, and held his left arm in a guard position. Within seconds, the golden shield bearing the coat of arms of Sir Marcus the Valiant appeared on his arm.
He opened his eyes, and smiled at the half-elf nodding in approval. She crouched down, bending at the knees as she looked the shield over, peering at it. After several seconds, she stood back up.
"Yes, it is very powerful," Shaw said, looking to Amy for confirmation.
"No kidding," Amy said. "That part was obvious."
"Yes, indeed," the ranger said. She suddenly reached out as if to grab the shield, which promptly shocked her with a burst of electricity.
Without any sound, Shaw jerked her hand back, shaking it to get rid of the numbness that Amy and Randi knew she was feeling.
"Oops," Randi said, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "I thought I told you about that part."
Shaw ignored her, and this time, slowly reached out with a single finger, to rub it along the coat of arms. When she did, the smallest arc of energy repelled her finger. Shaw nodded, seemingly satisfied with that turn of events.
Amy realized what Shaw was testing for. "Wait a minute!" she blurted.
"You did not know about this?" she asked with a smirk directed at her cousin.
"Uh, no," the witch growled at the elder Slayerette.
"Know what?" Randi and Brian asked, looking between the two spell casters.
"Amy?" Shaw asked, offering the Amazon a chance to explain what they'd just figured out.
"Seems that the shock you get from the shield," Amy said with a frown at Shaw, "goes up or down. It depends on how hard you try to touch the shield."
Brian's eyes lit up, and he said, "So if someone tries to grab it, they get a big bite."
"Or a small one if they simply try to touch it," Shaw finished with a smile at the boy. "Now I want to try my other theory, with your permission?"
Brian nodded with a grin, and said, "Go for it."
"Very well," she agreed, her smile now matching Brian's. "Brian, may I see your shield?"
"Uh oh," Amy and Randi muttered with worry.
Brian started to unbuckle the shield, but Shaw stopped him by placing her hand on his left arm.
"Brian, I am asking for your permission," the priestess stated with a smile. "May I see it?"
"Sure," he answered with a simple shrug.
He unbuckled the shield, and with Amy and Randi tensing, thinking that Shaw was about to begin cursing from the shock, handed the shield to Shaw. She took the shield in her hands, and examined it for nearly ten seconds before it dawned on the others.
"Hey!" Amy sputtered out. "You're holding it!"
"You have a gift for stating the obvious," Shaw said dryly, trying not to smile at Amy's surprise.
Randi took a few more seconds to overcome her shock, and asked, "How'd you do that?"
"It is really quite simple," Shaw said to the Immortal. "You see. ."
"Short version," Amy pleaded in frustration.
"Very well," the half-elf said with a shrug. "I had his permission."
Amy, Brian and Randi all just stared at the Mielikkian in stunned quiet for several moments, before Amy recovered.
"You had his permission?" Amy asked, thinking that Shaw was pulling their legs.
"Yes, Amy. The first two times I tried to touch the shield, it was on my own initiative. However, when Brian consented for me to hold it, nothing happened. Because Brian allowed me to hold the shield."
"I'm not believing this," Amy moaned. "Two weeks of getting zapped over and over again, and you figure that out in five minutes!"
"As I said, there are legends on Toril about such magics," Shaw answered. "Look at Soulreaver, for example. The sword can be used by anyone, as long as they are not evil."
Brian was smiling, and asked, "What else?"
"There is one more thing that I do want to try," Shaw said.
She laid the shield against her arm, and made to buckle the straps. As soon as the buckle touched the strap, a large shock rippled through Shaw's arm. Holding the shield in her right arm, she winced in pain as her left arm hung uselessly to the side.
"Shaw!" Randi exclaimed, jumping out of her seat.
Shaw shook her head, and said, "It is all right, Randi. My arm is, to use your terms, 'asleep.' But this just proves my theory regarding the shield, and I would assume, the armor and sword.
"What?" Brian asked with wonder.
"The shield is keyed to you, Brian," Shaw explained to the wide-eyed Brian. She handed the shield back to him, and said, "You are the only one who can use it. Others may handle it with your permission, but only you can actually use it in battle. There are similar magical items on my homeworld, which can only be used by one specific person at a time, on a hereditary basis. Being the reincarnation of Marcus, I would surmise that this is a similar situation, if not completely the same."
Amy looked to Randi, and said, "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
"What? That Shaw figured out more in ten minutes then you did in two weeks?" she replied with a spreading laugh.
"Yeah, that," the witch sourly answered, burying her head in her hands. "Shaw, you realize what the others are gonna say when they find out what you just pulled?"
"That I made your jobs easier?" Shaw guessed. When Amy shot her a nasty look, she added, "Amy, there is still much to be done, regarding the armor and sword that were mentioned in the legends."
Shaw tapped the CD, and said, "Having three copies available, Steven can call Merlin for advice on the matter, you, Jenny and Willow can come up with your own theories, and a final copy that I could give to Jenny for safekeeping. I do not know how to have Brian call the armor into existence, it may be a natural progression as he matures, or he will simply need to manifest it by thinking about it. I simply do not know."
"So you've already told us everything you know," Amy said, not believing that Shaw wasn't about to pull another rabbit out of the proverbial hat. "That's it?"
"Yes, Amy. As I said, I have exhausted the sources I could find here," she said, waving her hand around the library. "There may be other sources of knowledge, perhaps among the Knights of the Grail, or other groups. This is where your experience will come to the fore."
Brian looked at the three women, and asked, "We done?"
Shaw smiled at the disappointed tone in his voice, and said, "Yes, Brian. For now, we are finished. You may send the shield back to wherever it goes."
He nodded, and buckled the shield back onto his arm. In seconds, it disappeared. He and Shaw took their seats, and looked at Amy and Randi.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Shaw asked Randi, who shook her head. "I am sorry I could not come up with more, but as I said, it would be better to ask those with greater knowledge of the events in question, or perhaps those who were around at the time. Merlin, Cassandra, or Methos, for example."
"Frank said he'd ask Cassandra," Amy said quickly. "So that's one person we got taken care of."
Shaw nodded, and shrugged. "I can translate the notes into English for you, Randi, and return them to you by the end of next week, if that is all right with you. That way, you at least have a copy for you and Brian that will not be dependent on your ability with computers."
With a grin, she nodded. "Thanks, girlfriend. I guess we'll see you later, huh?"
"Of course," Shaw agreed with a smile.
As Randi started to get up, Brian gave her a hurt look.
"Uh, Randi? You said?" he asked sadly.
Randi stopped, and started looking between Shaw and Brian. With a sigh, she nodded and sat down. Shaw looked to Randi again, and waited for Randi to speak.
"Shaw, Amy told us what happened to you twenty-five years ago," the Immortal said quietly, not looking Shaw in the eyes. "But, Brian didn't hear the story, 'cause Steve and I thought it would be too bad for him to hear. Robin told Bri that it was for you to tell him, and Steve said the same thing."
"I see," Shaw said, now looking at the expectant Brian. "Brian, I agree with Steven and your sister on this. You should not have to hear what happened on that mission. The things that I. . ."
Shaw stopped talking, looking at the table and trying to gather herself. Amy and Randi refrained from saying anything, knowing that the decision on the matter was Shaw's alone to make. Finally, Shaw looked to Brian again, extreme sadness in her eyes.
She said, "Brian, would you consent to my telling you the basic facts, and saving the details until a later time?"
Brian still looked disappointed, but nodded his head. "Okay, Shaw."
Shaw looked to Randi, to get her opinion on this, and she nodded as well.
"That's cool," Randi said, mentally relieved that she and Shaw agreed on the matter.
"Very well," Shaw said, folding her arms and leaning forward on them. "Brian, you know that I was in a group much like Section Seven on my homeworld. When I was twenty-eight, I volunteered for a mission to infiltrate a slave caravan, in order to stop his trading in human lives."
When Brian looked confused, Amy raised her hand. When he glanced at her, the witch said, "She was undercover, Brian."
Brian nodded in understanding, and looked back to Shaw, waiting for her to continue.
"I separated from the group that I was part of, and went to the village where we knew the slaver would take prisoners," Shaw said, her eyes taking on a distant look that Amy knew all too well. "I was taken prisoner, as my mission dictated. The problems began two days later, when the wizard suddenly stopped the caravan, and began torturing one of the villagers."
"What happened?" Brian asked in fear at the events from so long ago.
"He ended up killing three people, and I did what my heart said must be done. I tried to kill the wizard to stop the slaughter," the half-elf said. With tears flowing from her eyes now, she finished by saying, "I failed. And in the process, a lightning bolt meant for me killed a very special little girl. She lost her life trying to save mine. The wizard offered me a choice; I could undergo one of his tortures, or he would kill the thirty-seven people left in the caravan."
"He tortured you, Shaw?" Brian asked, not really having to ask the question.
"For twenty-one hours, before my friends attacked," she responded in a choked voice. "The problem was that the wizard was insane, and no one knew this at the time. In the end, I went insane myself. . .and I killed him. I killed someone not in control of himself."
"It wasn't your fault," Brian said to the crying half-elf. "You didn't know."
"I know, Brian," Shaw said, not bothering to wipe her tears. "But afterwards, I went into what you would call a catatonic state for four days, where I would not talk, eat or drink. I did not even sleep. One villager commented that it was as if my spirit had fled my body. It was during those four days, hundreds of miles away, that a vampire killed my Grandparents. I was supposed to be with them for a holiday, but took the mission I was on, and before our meeting date, they were killed."
Brian was softly crying by this point, and he said, "You blame yourself, don't you?"
"Somewhat," Shaw admitted, looking at Brian through tear-blurred eyes. "There was no possible way for me to alter their fate. More likely, I would have died with them. But knowing something does not always stop you from feeling something."
"I know," Brian said softly. He got up and walked over to Shaw, and they hugged each other. "I'm sorry, Shaw."
Shaw ended the embrace, and said, "Do not be sorry, Brian. When you are old enough, I will tell you everything, if you want to know when the time comes."
"Okay," Brian said with a brave attempt at a grin. "Can you tell me what you did to Ares now?"
Shaw looked at Randi and Amy, and asked, "He is referring to the fight, I hope?"
"Yep," Amy said with a smile. "I just hope you give equal credit to your teammates, cuz."
Shaw gave her a tired smile, and looked back at Brian, who was waiting anxiously for the story.
"Brian, I must warn you," Shaw began with a soft tone, "this is not going to be a classic tale of heroism and magic."
"It's not?" the boy asked, looking let down.
"No, it is about Xander, Cordelia, Kylie, a young woman from New York, Amy and myself kicking Ares'. . ."
"Shaw. . ." Randi warned.
Shaw and Brian both looked at Randi, then back to each other.
"Steven must be rubbing off on Randi," Shaw told Brian in a whisper that everyone could hear. "He tries to keep us from having fun, as well. Or it may be Jehanne's influence, but I cannot be certain."
"Yeah, I know," Brian said in the same "whisper."
Randi started frowning, but Amy was giggling under her breath.
"You walked into that one, Randi," the witch said gaily.
"Ha ha. Come on, Shaw, I haven't heard it either," the Immortal complained. "All Steve and Xander tell us is that you guys ripped Ares a new asshole."
Shaw and Brian just stared at her while Amy lost control, and began laughing her head off. Randi was confused at first, but her face went red when her words caught up with her.
She let out a groan and pounded her forehead with the palm of her hand, muttering, "I'm gonna get even with you for that, Hunter."
"I remember Cordelia and Amy saying that once," Shaw warned the Immortal. "Do you recall what happened then?"
"Come on, Shaw," Brian begged.
"Very well," Shaw conceded with a smile.
She began telling the tale of how Ares had tried to kidnap her, and how Amy's quick teleportation spell had prevented that. She gave the details of the battle, with Randi breaking out into laughs when the ranger mentioned what Ares had called Xander due to the latter's broken nose, and Brian was smiling widely at the end of the story, when Shaw told him how she and Amy had injured the God of War. She edited out what she'd forced Ares into, but instead told Brian that Ares could never gain revenge on any of them for what had happened.
As she became quiet, Brian's eyes were shining with admiration for Shaw and Amy, which Amy could tell made Shaw feel uncomfortable.
"Wow," Brian said with a smile. "I wish I'd been there to help."
Shaw shook her head, crashing his smile against the proverbial rocks. "Brian, if you had been there, and something happened to you, I would not forgive myself."
Brian watched her looking at the table, and said, "I just wanted to help you."
"I know, Brian," Shaw said quietly, sighing as she looked at him. "Brian, I am not questioning your desire or ability. I merely do not like the thought of someone being hurt because of my actions."
"Shaw, you know it wasn't your fault," Amy said, not liking the turn this conversation was taking.
Shaw nodded, and told Amy, "I know that, Amy. I merely try to remind myself of it."
"Good for you," Amy said firmly.
"Shaw?" Brian asked, getting her to look at him, "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just, you get to fight with the others 'cause you're old enough. I just want to be able to help like you do."
"I understand your desire, Brian," Shaw said, gathering her notebooks and piling them one on top of another. "I still desire to help, but I am not fighting for the time being. I simply must let others do this."
"I know, but. ."
"Brian," Shaw interrupted, surprising not only him, but Amy and Randi was well, "your time will come. Right now, you know that you have a destiny, a glorious tradition that you are heir to. I have a destiny here, that I will eventually learn. I also had a destiny that I did know, and as
someone who has seen both, I can tell you that I prefer the former."
"How come?" Brian asked curiously.
"Because until then, I can live my life as I choose, and when the time comes to embrace my destiny, I will be ready for it," Shaw answered. Looking into Brian's eyes, she told the young man, "Brian, you know your destiny. But, the thing about destinies is that they will still be there in time. Do not try to make it happen too soon, and live your life while you can."
Brian looked a bit upset, and asked, "Are you saying I should be a kid?"
Shaw, to their surprise, shook her head. "Brian, you may be a child physically, and legally, but in the ways that truly matter, in your mind and heart, you are quite likely the finest young man that I have ever known. But, you are exactly that; a young man. You still have some maturing to do, but in my opinion, it will not take that long. And when the day comes for you to take up your role in our fight, I have no doubt your sister will be there with you. And know this; when that day comes, I would be proud to stand at your side."
Amy and Randi were both silent during this time, although Randi's eyes held a fair amount of happiness. They both waited for Brian to respond, to see what he'd think about it.
"You're telling me to take my time?" he asked Shaw, who nodded with a smile of approval. "I get it. I'm just jealous 'cause they let you fight."
"Because of my experience and training," Shaw said, placing her palms down on the table. "And, in fact, I am envious of you, Brian."
Three sets of eyes went wide, and Brian asked, "Why?"
"Because," she answered softly, "the others are more than friends to you, Brian. They are your family. I hope to feel that way someday, and to be a part of it."
Randi blinked, and looked at Amy, who had a sad look in her eyes.
<She wants to be more than friends to us?> Randi thought to herself. <Damn. She told us she was here for the foreseeable future two months ago, but she's really here for the long haul, isn't she?>
Any further musings were cut off by Brian's answer to Shaw's words.
"I think you're family," Brian said, complete honesty in his reply.
Amy and Randi, both startled by his proclamation, looked to the half-elf for her reaction, and were confronted with something neither woman would have ever expected to see.
Shaw Hunter, literally speechless.
It took nearly thirty seconds for Shaw, with wide eyes, to quietly ask, "You think of me that way?"
"Yeah," Brian said with a shrug. "I like you like a big sister."
"A sister?" Shaw repeated in a dull voice. Regaining some of her composure, she said, "Brian, I am old enough to be your grandmother."
"So?" the twelve-year-old said. "You're more like Cordy than my grandma."
"How's that?" Amy asked with a grin.
"She doesn't treat me like a kid," he said, glowering at Randi when she started to laugh. "She tells me the truth, and she's straight with me, like she is with all of us."
"Even if it's not everything you want to hear?" Randi asked as that dawned on her.
"Yeah, Randi," he said, before turning back to the stunned ranger. "I mean, you don't try to hide anything or be nice to me. You just say what you think, and you even tell me why you think that way. You treat me like everyone else."
"That is how I try to treat everyone, Brian," Shaw said, still off balance. She lowered her eyes, and told Brian, "You are no different, simply because you are younger."
"That's his point, Shaw," Amy said, smiling at her cousin.
"Oh," Shaw muttered before looking at Brian, a strange look in her eyes. "Thank you, Brian."
"For what?" he asked with a furrowed brow.
"For showing that you are as special as I told Randi you were," she told him with a touch of pride in her voice. "You and your sister are very special."
"Me?" Randi asked in astonishment. "You can't be serious."
"I am completely serious," the priestess said to the shocked Immortal. "Randi, we know that Brian is heir to the legacy of a legendary hero."
"Yeah," she said uncertainly. "And me?"
"The sword you carry," Shaw said, pointing at Randi's new duster. "Only one other person has ever carried that sword, Randi. And knowing who she is, I would say that fact puts you into very exclusive company."
Randi looked uncomfortable with such a comparison, and asked, "So what do you think *I'm* supposed to do?"
"Your destiny is your own, Randi," Shaw said. With a small grin, she added, "But for now, I think helping to raise your brother is challenging enough."
Amy and Brian both started to snicker, and Randi couldn't help but join in. After a few seconds, Shaw went on.
"Randi, Brian," she said, taking on the air of making a vow of some sort, "the offer I made before still stands. If you wish to talk, about your parents, I would be glad to do so."
Randi smiled, and said, "Same goes for you, Hunter. You need to talk to someone, give us a ring, okay?"
"I will," the elder Slayerette said with a grin, getting up to give Randi a quick hug. "Will I see you on Sunday?"
"Or sooner," the Immortal said in a way that, for some reason, made Shaw suspicious. "We'll talk to you later. Come on, Brian."
Brian got up and said, "Bye, Shaw. See you later."
"Of course," she agreed.
Randi and Brian walked out of the library, and Amy just watched Shaw, who continued to stare at the door without comment. After nearly three or four minutes, Amy tried to get her attention.
"Come on, cuz," the Amazon said, waving her hand up and down. "What's on your mind?"
Shaw took a few seconds to answer, saying in a wooden voice, "He thinks of me as family, Amy."
"I heard," the blonde teenager said, with a grin on her face. It faded when she realized that. . .
"It really got to you, didn't it?" she asked in wonder.
Shaw nodded, just looking at the table. Amy got up and moved over next to the elven warrior, lightly gripping her shoulder.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked with true concern.
"Things are happening so fast," the half-elf mumbled. She now looked at the Amazon, and said, "Amy, use your ability to read the level of magical power in someone, and look at the power that I draw my spells from."
Amy stared at her, and blinked after a few seconds. Knowing what the source of Shaw's magic was, she let out a low whistle.
"You've been promoted," Amy said, a smile appearing on her face since she was sincerely happy for Shaw. "That's great. Goddess knows you deserve it."
"I hope so," Shaw said, a ghost of a smile appearing. "I received a visit from Lady Artemis last night."
When Amy's eyes narrowed in interest, Shaw related what the Goddess had shared with her, and told her of the items Mielikki had asked Artemis to give Shaw in her stead. Amy's smile deepened at the story, and she patted Shaw's hand.
"Can I see it?" the Amazon asked.
Shaw said, "The statue is in my room, Amy. I can show it to you when you pick me up tomorrow, if you wish."
With a humored roll of her eyes, Amy said, "I meant the ring, silly. It's not every day. . . Hell, it's not *any* day someone gets a birthday present from their Goddess."
Shaw held her left hand out, her face the slightest tinge of pink. Amy looked at the ring and let out a low whistle.
"Nice rock, Shaw," the witch said with her smile.
Shaw started to look puzzled. "Amy, this is not rock. It is ivory."
"I meant the diamond," the witch told her in good-natured exasperation. "We sometimes call diamonds 'rocks.' It's an Earth thing."
"I should have known," Shaw muttered dryly, though a smile touched her lips. "You think it is nice?"
"Yeah, cuz," Amy agreed fully. She let her grin become mischievous, and said, "So, you got a promotion and a birthday present, huh? Millie must really like you."
"Millie?" the half-elf asked in confusion.
"Uh oh," Amy said as she realized that she'd have to come clean on that matter. "Uh, that's what Robin calls Her. Like he calls Artemis, well, you know."
Shaw did know. "As long as you use some restraint in calling Her that, we shall get along fine."
Amy's head jerked back, but she saw the corners of Shaw's mouth lifting, and she rolled her eyes.
"Shaw, you gotta stop hanging with Xander and Robin," she mumbled before getting back to the subject she wanted to discuss. Her confidence plummeted, Shaw picked up on it.
"Amy, what is wrong?" the older cousin asked as she leaned forward.
Amy let out a short, sharp breath, and said, "What I'm gonna tell you, well. . . I've known that you'd want to know about this, but with our situation, plus what Ares did to you, and. . ."
Amy looked at her hands for a second, and told Shaw, "I hope you'll forgive me for not sharing this with you before. You have a right to know."
"To know what?" Shaw asked.
"Well. ." Amy said, and then, with a tone of complete sorrow, said, "I'm not the only family you've got here on Earth, Shaw. Hell, I'm not the only family you've got in California, even."
Shaw's eyes went wide at Amy's words, and her mouth opened to speak, but no words would come forth.
Amy took the shock as her chance to finish what she wanted to say. "I've got my Grandma, that's my Mom's mom. I have two aunts, Allie and Joan, and Joan's got my cousins, they're twelve. Twins."
Amy looked at Shaw, regret etched on her face, and said, "Shaw, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I was scared, I didn't know. . ."
"I have other family here?" Shaw asked dully, completely derailing the Amazon's apology. She looked Amy straight in the eyes, and asked, "I truly have other blood kin here?"
Amy nodded. "I haven't told them yet. I'm sorry, Shaw."
"I understand, Amy," Shaw said, tears glistening in her almond-shaped eyes. "I know how hard it was for you, as well as myself, to discover the connection between us. It was not easy for either of us to deal with this knowledge, I can understand you hesitancy. In fact, I prefer it."
"Don't you want them to know?" Amy blurted out.
"Of course I do," the half-elf replied. She got up, and started to pace, trying to explain her reasoning. "But this is exactly why I wished for the choices in our relationship to be yours. Amy, my family began and ended with my Grandparents. I lack any type of experience in these situations, so I need your help, and your experience, to guide me."
Amy was stumped, and stood up, walking over to Shaw.
"You're not mad that I didn't tell you?" she asked.
Shaw turned to the witch, and said, "No, Amy, I am not. But this. . . this is so shocking, I. ."
"Where'd you ever get the idea I was the only cousin you had here?" Amy asked, not understanding.
"Jehanne only showed me your face, when she told me. She did tell me I had kin here, but. . I made assumptions, so I cannot blame her."
"Well, guess what? You're gonna meet 'em," Amy said, getting Shaw to look at her with wide eyes. "I talked with my Dad last night, and right after Christmas day, I'm borrowing the car, and we're heading over to my Grandma's so you can meet her, Allie, Joan and the twins."
"Amy, you do not have to. ."
"Oh, be quiet," Amy said jokingly, but with a touch of finality. "Shaw, they're your family, just like I am. And they'll want to know the solution to the mystery. It's not every day you get a brand new family member like that, and I know they'd want to meet you. In fact, it's already set up."
Amy walked up to Shaw, and asked, "Shaw, do you really want to pass up this chance to meet the people that you're connected to here? The part of your roots that are the same as ours?"
Shaw nodded, looking at Amy through the tears that were starting to form, and hissed, "No, Amy, I do not."
"Good," the witch said, grinning again. "Not that I was gonna give you much of a choice in it, but what the hey?"
She turned and walked over to her purse, and rummaged through it before pulling out a CD inside of a clear plastic case. She walked back over to Shaw, and said, "Well, I have to tell you I'm a bit miffed that your Goddess got to you first, but here. Happy birthday, Shaw."
Shaw looked at the compact disc that Amy was holding out to her, and said, "Amy, you have done enough for me. You did not. . ."
Amy sighed, and told her, "Shaw, this isn't for the team, or to help you get over what happened, this is for YOU, for YOUR birthday, because you're my cousin and friend. It's because I want to do this, not to pay you back or to do anything but give you a present, because I care about you."
Shaw breathed in and out a couple of times, and said, "Thank you, Amy."
She took the CD, and Amy said, "Now slip it into the computer, and take a look at what's on it."
Shaw looked at Amy strangely, but complied when she saw the look of determination on the Amazon's face. The two women walked over to the computer and Shaw sat down, with Amy standing behind her. The half-elf slipped the disc into the computer, and watched as a picture of a tree popped up on the screen, with a bunch of small squares on the tree.
Shaw looked at Amy, who said, "Go to this one, riiiiight. . .here."
She pointed at the right one, and Shaw clicked the appropriate square with the cursor, and the square enlarged, showing the name Lydia Madison. Shaw read the information that was included with the name, including birthdate, date of death, and a short yet concise biography of the woman named.
Shaw was impressed with the amount of information, and asked, "Who is she, Amy?"
"Look at her sister, right here," Amy said, pointing at another square, "and you'll see soon enough."
Shaw fought down a touch of frustration, and touched the cursor to the square. She started to read the information, but didn't get past the name.
"Alison Madison?" the half-elf asked quietly.
"Yep," Amy said, a grin forming on her face. Not allowing Shaw to get any further questions out, she pointed to a word at the top of both windows. "Now, see that word, 'parents?' Touch it."
Shaw obeyed her order, and two more boxes came up, with the names George Taylor, and Adeline Madison. Shaw read the information, including that George Taylor had fought in the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War before leaving due to wounds suffered at the second Battle of Bull Run. She stopped and looked at Amy, hoping for an explanation.
"Shaw," Amy said, realizing that Shaw hadn't made the connection, "Who's Alison Madison?"
"My great-grandmother," Shaw answered off the bat.
"And George and Adeline?" the witch asked.
"Her parents."
"Your great-grandma's mom and dad, which would make them. . ."
"My twice-great grandparents," Shaw replied, looking confused as to the line of questioning before her eyes widened, and she turned back to the screen, and just stared at the two names before her. In a low, quiet voice, she asked, "My twice-great grandparents?"
"From *Earth,*" Amy stressed, "and my triple-great grandparents. The grandparents that connect us. Lydia was MY great-great Grandma. Alison's sister, and your great-grandaunt. This is the Madison family tree, the line of Madisons going back over 600 years."
Shaw just kept staring at the screen, before asking, "These are Alison's ancestors? My. . .MY ancestors?"
"The Madison ones, and from Earth, but yeah," Amy replied, putting her hands on Shaw's shoulders. "Going as far back as we could find, about 1350 or so, our time."
"I. . . I never knew," Shaw said, shaking her head slowly as if in daze. With a voice filled with awe, she said, "There are so many, Amy."
"Yeah, I know." Amy smiled, and whispered, "Shows you've got a bigger connection to Earth than you thought, doesn't it?"
Shaw just nodded her head silently as she tried to assimilate the idea that Amy had just handed her over five hundred years worth of family history. Tears started to form in her eyes, and began to fall unbidden down her cheeks.
"Shaw?" Amy asked quietly, trying to penetrate the haze that the half-elf seemed to be locked into.
"This is my lineage," Shaw said as the true vastness of her ties to Earth began to fully register in her mind.
Amy nodded, and bent over, looking at the screen. "Yep. Your ancestors, your roots, your family history. Or at least the Earth part of it."
"I never imagined it could be so large," the ranger said in a cracked voice. She turned to the Amazon and asked, "Amy, do you have any idea how much this means to me?"
Amy smiled at the crying Shaw, and kindly said, "Yeah, cuz. Yeah, I think I do."
Shaw tried to say something, but she couldn't seem to find the words. She said, "Amy, I... I do not know what to say. I. . ."
"'Thank you' usually covers it," the grinning Slayerette told her.
Shaw just shook her head in denial. "Not this time, Amy. Not here. That is nowhere near adequate. . ."
Shaw just broke off, unable to continue. Amy came in and took Shaw in her arms, and for the second time in a week, let her cry into her shoulder. This time, however, Amy was smiling because she knew the tears were from more positive emotions. After a few moments, the half-elven priestess stopped crying, and Amy smiled at her.
"You okay?" she asked, already expecting a positive answer.
Shaw nodded, a small smile on her face as she wiped her tears away.
"Yes, Amy. I. ." she paused, the words catching in her throat. She then said, very softly, "Thank you, Amy. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome," Amy said just as softly. She gave Shaw's hand a gentle squeeze, and added, "Happy birthday."
Amy turned back to the computer screen and said, "Just promise me you won't try to read this all at once. Take your time and enjoy it."
"I promise," Shaw answered, her tears lessening.
Shaw moved to turn the program off, sliding the disc out of the compartment and putting it back into the case. After shutting the computer down, she got up, and put the CD in her purse, before turning back to the witch.
"Thank you, Amy," she said once again. She averted her eyes, and said, "This means a great deal to me."
"I know, Shaw," she said, grabbing a chair and sitting down next to Shaw. "Shaw, you need to know that you'd better cancel any plans you had for tonight."
"Why?" she asked in confusion, her eyes hooded. "Not that I had any plans for tonight. . ."
"Even better," the blonde girl said, with a sly smile coming to her face, "because we girls got together to throw you a birthday party at the Bronze tonight."
Shaw's mouth dropped, and she babbled, "But. . .but Amy, you did not have to. . ."
"Yeah we did," Amy said triumphantly, since Shaw had no excuse not to go. "You'd join in for a party for Wil or Cordy, right?"
"Yes, but. ."
"So you're no different," Amy finished, folding her arms as she leaned back in the chair. "This is for your birthday, and we are keeping it simple, 'cause you prefer it that way. But here are the ground rules; no guilt, no angst, no saying 'you did not have to do this.' And you let yourself have some fun. We're not gonna force you onto the dance floor, 'cause you can't dance..."
"I do know how to dance, Amy," Shaw said petulantly, "I simply cannot dance the way you do."
"Oh really," Amy said, thinking Shaw was trying to distract her, "how can you dance, then?"
"In Irish or Scottish styles," she answered without hesitation. "Like your show that you call 'Riverdance.' I am nowhere near as good as those dancers, but I am competent. My talents are in playing music."
Amy's eyes were round, as she realized there was still a great deal she didn't know about her cousin, but this revelation began to form the seeds of an idea in the back of her head.
<Oooooh yeah, cuz,> Amy thought evilly. <Come Christmas vacation, I've got the perfect setup for you.>
Quickly keeping herself from becoming more distracted, the Amazon witch turned her attention back to the ranger, who looked rightly skeptical about the gleam in Amy's eyes.
"What are you thinking, Amy?" Shaw asked with deep concern.
"About Christmas, but it can wait," Amy declared, getting back on track. "Shaw, we want to do this for you. You're one of us, and like Brian said, you're becoming more than a friend to us. And you said you've let us in, here's a chance to keep it up, becoming part of our 'family.' Do you really want to let the progress you've made end here?"
"Have I made progress?" the half-elf asked softly.
"Of course you have," Amy said. She smirked and told Shaw, "In fact, you got your official Slayerette nickname a few days ago."
Shaw looked at her with equal amounts of doubt and trepidation, and asked, "I did?"
"Yep. Remember that Cordelia's 'Queen C,' or that Willow's 'Net Girl?'" the witch asked, but without waiting for an answer, she told Shaw, "Well, you're 'Religion Girl.' You can blame Xander for that one."
Shaw's eyes narrowed a bit as the thought about it, and to Amy's surprise, she said, "It is appropriate, at least."
"Yeah, is it ever," Amy said with a grin at Shaw's light discomfort. "But like I said, do you want to lose the ground you've gained in getting closer to us?"
"No, Amy, I do not," Shaw said quietly. "I just wish to give back to all of you for your help."
"And you will, some day," the younger woman grinned. She took Shaw's hand in her own, and said, "Shaw, we made a start on Monday. And I think it was a pretty good one. We're gonna keep working at it, and there'll be a little trial and error, but we can pull it off. Trust me."
Shaw sat there for some time, as she weighed Amy's words. When she looked at Amy again, she asked, "Could we stop at my house briefly? I would like to change into fresh clothing. I. . " Shaw sighed, and confessed, "I wore my dress last night for Thanksgiving dinner with Ulric, as I thought it was appropriate. What would be appropriate for this?"
Amy smiled, and said, "Tight jeans, tight shirt, and no weapons. Jewelry's optional."
Shaw sighed again, and muttered, "I do need lessons from Cordelia, if only to learn when not to say a single word as not to leave you openings like that."
Amy started laughing, and a few seconds later Shaw joined her. After a couple minutes, they got up and closed the library, heading out into the afternoon sun.
The Bronze
Sunnydale, California
27 November 1998
As Amy and Shaw approached the front door to the Bronze, the witch looked the ranger over and smiled approvingly at the wardrobe the half-elf had "selected" to wear to her short notice birthday party.
Shaw was wearing a dark blue shirt made of silk which, when combined with her thick black hair, brought out the pale white skin of her face and blue-tinged cheekbones. Added to this were a dark gray (bordering on light black) pair of tight jeans that left little for any man who looked at her to imagine what her figure might look like underneath. A pair of black tennis shoes completed her ensemble, save for the ring she wore on each hand.
"Are you absolutely sure about that?" Amy asked, looking at Shaw's tight braid. "If someone sees those ears. . ."
"I have taken precautions, Amy," the half-elf assured her. Reaching for her neck, she whispered, "But I feel naked without my pendant."
"Hey, it's safe," the Amazon promised with a smile, crossing her finger over her heart in an "x." "I even put an 'ignore me' spell on it to keep thieves away from my purse. It's safe."
"I just hope you do not forget to take it home because of that spell," Shaw muttered.
Amy looked at Shaw, and upon seeing the corner of her mouth rising, Amy gave her a soft, good-natured slap on the arm with the back of her hand.
"Smartass," she said.
Shaw nodded in agreement, and looked to her cousin, who'd opted for a sleeveless red top, with a black skirt that fell to mid thigh, which was modest by California standards. A pair of knee-high boots was her choice of footwear for the evening, and the witch wore a gold chain with a small cross charm dangling from it.
"So, you ready to go in?" Amy asked.
"What do you think?" the elder cousin asked in return.
Amy sighed, and said, "Shaw, you look good. I'll tell you this; if you ever let go and start dressing like Cordelia, every boy in the joint won't be able to take their eyes off you."
"I thought you were trying to convince me to 'loosen up,'" Shaw observed dryly. "Not to become to scared to do it."
Amy looked to the heavens in supplication, and said, "Shaw. ."
"Got you," she replied, heading inside.
Amy stared at the door for a second, and said, "Oooooo. I'm gonna kill Xander and Robin for messing with her."
The witch quickly headed indoors, to join Shaw and the others waiting inside.
"There's the birthday girl," Cordelia said at the female Slayerette's table. "Well, two good things right off the bat."
"I'm afraid to ask," Randi laughed, not turning to watch the cousins approach, "but tell us."
"One, Amy's not dragging her in by the heels," Buffy said, being the other woman with a view of the entrance. "Two, she actually dressed for the occasion."
Now Randi, as well as Willow, did turn to see Amy and Shaw's outfits. They also saw the reactions that some of the teenage males in the Bronze were having as the pair walked by. Randi let out a low whistle, and looked back at Cordelia.
"You know, 'Queen C,'" the older Immortal whispered, "if you do get her into miniskirts, you might have some actual competition in the 'Prom Queen' department."
"Better one of you," Cordy answered with a shrug, "the one of the sheep. Shaw still needs to let her hair down, though. I mean that literally."
"Cordy, the ears," Willow reminded her. "Remember?"
"More than I want to," the brunette mumbled. She stood up and gave Amy a quick hug. "Got the birthday girl to come, huh?"
"Well, I just hijacked her holy symbol," Amy said with a smile. Looking at the irritated Shaw, she added, "She'll get it back if she actually has fun tonight."
"That is not funny, Amy," the Mielikkian muttered, not putting any venom into the words because she realized that Amy was simply getting her goat.
"Hey, it's a joke," Cordelia scolded her. "We're here to have fun. Happy time."
"Perhaps, until whatever band is playing tonight begins torturing me with your brand of music," Shaw countered with a thin smile.
"Hey!" Willow blurted out. When Shaw looked at the redhead, she said, "Shaw, it's Dingoes Ate My Baby."
Shaw's eyebrows rose, and she nodded.
"I have heard Oz play his guitar," the half-elf said, her smile growing a bit. "For them, I will make an exception. But, what about the others?"
"Zip, zero, nada," Buffy said with a smile. "Steve's got Xander, Kenny, Robin and Joe patrolling. Kendra joined them 'cause she's even more scared to go out than you are. Jenny and Giles are having dinner at their place, and Duncan and Amanda headed down to L. A. for a romantic night on the town. It's just us girls."
Shaw nodded as she and Amy sat down at the table, and the Slayerettes looked over at the stage, where Oz's band was prepping for their first act. Cordy stood up in her one-piece blue sleeveless miniskirt, and looked at Shaw.
"You wanna try it?" the Amazon asked, enjoying the truly sour look that came over Shaw's face. "I know, I know. I was just kidding. Try to relax, Hunter."
Cordelia headed for the dance floor, while Buffy and Amy joined her. Shaw watched the trio separate and claim spots on the dance floor, but turned back to Willow and Randi as the Dingoes started their first song. As expected, Willow and Randi watched Shaw wince as the band started a fast, loud rock song.
Willow reached over and touched Shaw's hand, and the priestess looked at her best friend. "Yes, Willow?"
"Are you okay, Shaw?" the auburn-haired witch asked with a smile.
Shaw returned it and nodded, grateful for Willow's concern. "Yes, Willow, I am doing much better, even with problems sleeping. Things happened yesterday. . . Willow, the Lady increased my magical abilities and gave me a gift as well."
As the looks of interest from Randi and Willow, Shaw placed her left hand on the table so that they could see the ring given to her by Mielikki by way of Artemis.
"Nice," Randi said with admiration. "Even if it does clash with the other one."
"Yeah, they don't match," the witch added, giggling as Shaw blushed at their teasing. "Is it magical?"
Shaw shook her head, and her voice caught as she said, "It was Mielikki who was hunting vampires to protect the rest of you while I was gone."
"Yeah, we know," Willow told her. The witch brushed her hair back, and said, "You do realize that Buffy and the others were really going to get the cake and stuff, right?"
Shaw looked quickly, and sure enough, there was no trace of the trio on the dance floor.
"I shudder to think of what Cordelia might bring in," Shaw said, a slight grin on her face. "Randi, did you tell Willow what we learned about the shield?"
Willow gave a fake pout. "Quit bragging, Shaw," she said before cracking a grin of her own.
"Besides," the Immortal pitched in, "we're not here to talk shop. So focus on having fun, girlfriend."
Before Shaw could comment, Willow waved at Oz as the band finished their song. He smiled and whispered to Devon, the lead singer, who nodded. They began to play a slower, quieter piece, and the couples who'd stayed on the floor began a slow dance.
"A nice try, Willow, but not very subtle," Shaw said, leaning back in the chair and folding her arms, a knowing smirk on her lips.
The Amazon blinked, and sighed. "Uh, we're trying to keep your hearing in one piece," she feebly offered.
Shaw and Randi chuckled, and Randi said, "I'm going to grab us some drinks. What do you guys want?"
"Pepsi," Willow piped in.
"Fruit juice," Shaw answered. Off the strange look from the Immortal, she added, "Caffeine, Randi."
"Got it," Randi whispered. "Sorry, I forgot. Fruit juice, you got it."
As Randi took off, Shaw turned to Willow, looking to the witch to suddenly be very nervous.
"Willow, I need to ask you something," Shaw said, gulping softly. "Before I lose my courage. Randi said that you know what happened on the mission years ago."
Willow's face fell as she brought up the topic. <Why now?> "Yeah, Amy told us everything."
"Would it be selfish of me to ask what the reactions were?" Shaw asked, having equal parts interest and worry on her features.
<Goddess, she wants to know. And we haven't seen her to tell her. .> Willow touched Shaw's hand, and said, "It was a clean sweep. Everyone was on your side, Shaw."
Shaw blinked in surprise, and asked, "You were?"
"Yeah," the petite redhead told her, giving her a reassuring smile. "Shaw, Cordy and Oz actually cried."
Shaw's eyes widened, and she licked her lips, before settling down as her shoulders sank a bit, but it looked to Willow that she was letting out a bit of tension and relaxing, rather than being upset.
Shaw quickly wiped away a couple of nascent tears, and she looked at Willow again.
"Thank you, Willow," the ranger whispered. "I do have a favor to ask of you."
"Sure. What is it?"
"Do not let Cordelia and Amy embarrass me too much tonight," the half-elf said, with a bit of pleading in her voice picked up by Willow.
Willow grinned, and said, "Oh, sure. Play divide and conquer. But between you and me, you should learn to dance, Shaw. It's fun."
Shaw cocked an eyebrow at her, and said, "When I see you, Amy and Cordelia dancing like the dancers from 'Riverdance,' which is how *I* dance, then you may give me lessons on how *you* dance. For now, I will, as you say, 'stick' with the styles from that show, as well as playing the music."
Willow's eyes went wide as Shaw revealed this to her. "Wow. Uh, we thought. ."
"I know. Your reaction is somewhat more subdued than Amy's, however," the half-elf said. Her eyes flicked to the table, and then back to Willow. "Willow, I know that I have not been the most open of people, but I am trying to change that."
Willow smiled, and told her, "Just be careful, though. You never know what people will want you to talk about."
"Such as?" she asked in bafflement.
"Boys," Cordelia's voice sang out from behind her.
Shaw stiffened, and upon seeing the unusual smirk on Willow's face, she turned to see Cordelia, Buffy and Amy standing right behind her chair. Amy was holding a cake with yellowish frosting, and laughing under her breath at the ranger's surprised reaction. Buffy, in her pink halter-top and white knee-length skirt, looked speechless, while Cordelia had an evil glint in her eye.
<By the Lady, I may as well ask,> Shaw thought dismally, and asked, "How much did you hear?"
"Everything after you asking her to take your side tonight," Buffy muttered in a dull tone.
Shaw looked at Cordelia's gaze, and said, "What are you planning, Cordelia?"
"To arrange for teen-style dancing lessons, girl," the brunette Amazon said, her grin now as evil as the gleam in her eyes. "Definitely, dancing lessons."
Shaw moaned and let her head fall to the table, and the Scoobies got their laughs in at her reaction.
"Hey, we'll start you slow," Willow offered supportively.
"I'm glad you think so," Amy grinned.
Shaw raised her head, and muttered, "Willow, I will have retribution over this."
"What are you guys talking about?" Randi asked as she brought the glasses to the table.
"Shaw admitted she can dance," Amy told her, just grinning even more as Shaw glared at her.
Randi looked at her, and said, "What kind of dancing can you do?"
"Irish and Scottish styles," she said, seeing that the secret was out. "Those types of dancing are not exactly what you call 'in' with American teenagers."
Randi looked at Buffy, who said, "She does the 'Riverdance' bit. But she's better with the music."
The four standing Slayerettes sat down, and Amy mused, "So, where do we start?"
"With boys, of course," Cordelia answered cheerfully.
What followed was an hour-long gossip session where Buffy, Willow, Cordelia and Amy all "dished the dirt" on their respective significant others. Randi was quickly laughing her head off at most of the comments, but Shaw seemed to hold back until Cordelia started talking about Xander. By putting a humorous spin on Xander's fight with Blade, she made Shaw enjoy the story for itself, rather than for the stakes that had been involved.
Randi talked about Frank Boyle, the Immortal from the Legacy house in San Francisco, and the possible relationship developing between them. Shaw was, by now, thoroughly enjoying herself, and completely relaxed for the first time in a very long time, when everyone suddenly looked at her.
"Okay, Hunter. Your turn," Cordelia said with a grin shared by the other Slayerettes. "Let's hear what you've got to say."
"Me?" the newest Slayerette asked, looking like a deer caught in a pair of headlights. "What am I supposed to tell you?"
Cordy looked up, and seemed to be thinking about it. "Hmmm. Oh, I know; tell us about. . . . . Toby."
Shaw's eyes went round, and her jaw just dropped at the name, before she recovered her equilibrium, and shook her head in frustration.
"I see that Kendra has been talking," she said in a low voice.
Seeing that she was admitting that they'd caught her, Buffy smiled. "Consider it getting even with you for messing with her and Joe while we were gone."
"I only did what Cordelia requested for me to do while you were in San Francisco," the half-elf said, knowing she wouldn't get out of talking about the elven fighter-mage.
"You were supposed to be subtle about it," Cordelia reminded her.
"I tried. But Joseph and Kendra's stubbornness rivals mine at times," Shaw countered. "And you know that is saying a great deal."
The other women looked at each other, and had to concede that point to the Hunter.
"Enough stalling, girl," Randi said, getting in on the fun at Shaw's expense. "We heard this rumor that Toby was actually in your bedroom."
"Kendra talks far too much," Shaw sighed miserably, jumping when five other Slayerettes gasped in surprise. She looked around and asked, "What?"
It was Willow who voiced their thoughts. "Shaw, he *was* in your bedroom?!?"
Seemingly resigned to the inevitable, she said, "Yes, Willow. But you must understand, that in the entire time Toby was here, I never had the chance to truly or effectively analyze his techniques."
Now, all five human Slayerettes were positively shocked.
"Techniques?" Buffy managed to croak out.
"Yes," Shaw responded. With a visible shudder, she then said, "And he wears all that disgusting metal."
Jaw flapping, Willow squeaked out, "Metal?"
"Yes." Shaw let out a gigantic sigh, and remarked, "How anyone can properly wield a sword while encased in eighty pounds of plate mail armor is completely beyond my comprehension."
It took virtually a full minute before the last comments registered in the minds of Buffy and company, and Cordelia started waving her arms around.
"Wait a second here, Hunter. You're talking about combat?" Cordelia asked.
"Of course I am," Shaw said, a "puzzled" look on her face. "What did you think I was talking about?"
"Uh, well. . ." Cordy said before realizing that she and the others had been had. "You know exactly what we were thinking!"
With a victorious smirk, Shaw corrected her by saying, "No, not exactly. But I did have the general idea."
Willow and Amy started giggling at Cordelia's failed trap, and the Amazon warrior glared at them before looking at Buffy.
"I told you," she told the Slayer.
"What did she tell you, Buffy?" Shaw asked.
Cordelia sighed, and said, "I was tempted to hire a stripper, but Buffy vetoed it."
"No kidding," Buffy agreed. When the others looked at her, she said, "Like Shaw's ready for a stripper."
"What is a stripper?" the priestess asked, looking confused for real this time.
"Okay," Cordelia said, taking over the role of translator for the Earth-term challenged. "A stripper is a guy, a great-looking one, that dances in front of you while he takes his clothes off. Well, except for his skivvies."
Shaw thought about it, and looked even more puzzled when she looked at Cordelia again.
"I thought that was why you had Xander."
The table exploded into laughter as Randi, Amy, Willow and Buffy lost any trace of self-control. Cordelia's jaw was hanging all the way open after Shaw's words, while Shaw just looked around continuously, totally lost. Eventually, she looked back at the fashion queen, realizing that she might have said something better left unsaid.
"Cordelia, did I say something wrong?" she asked.
Glaring at her four comrades-in-arms lost in hilarity, she groaned, "No. But you missed the point on the stripper. Shaw, the stripper would have been for *you.*"
Shaw stared at her, and slowly said, "Xander warned me about this."
As the four laughing women tried to come back into the discussion between Cordelia and Shaw, Cordelia was now the puzzled one.
"Xander warned you about what?" she asked.
"That you and the others would try to set me up," Shaw grumbled, sounding less than happy about it.
"Shaw, this wouldn't be a joke," Amy assured her cousin, still having a case of the giggles. "There are people who do that for a living."
"I was not referring to pranks," Shaw said, a small sharp edge to her voice. "I meant setting me up as you tried to do to Randi and Kendra."
Buffy's jaw opened at she realized what was being said, and she quickly smiled.
"Shaw, hiring a stripper is for *entertainment,*" the Slayer stressed to the confused birthday girl. "You know, for parties and stuff."
Shaw nodded, thinking it better to keep silent rather than dig herself deeper into the metaphorical hole with Cordelia. Cordelia must have realized that, because she said, "Okay, moving on. Let's eat."
Randi and Willow rose from their seats, and Shaw started to do the same, but was stopped by Amy's grip on her wrist.
"Uh uh, cuz," the witch admonished. "Birthday girl does not do any of the work."
With a roll of her hazel eyes, Shaw sat back down with a "thump." Randi and Willow set the plates and plastic forks out, and brought the cake over and put it on the middle of the table.
Cordy broke out candle shaped like a question mark, and whispered, "For people sixteen going on fifty-four."
As the others, Shaw included, shared a laugh, Cordelia lit the candle. The five senior Sunnydale residents stood up, and before she could ask what they were doing, began singing "Happy Birthday." Shaw quickly decided that the Dingoes suddenly changing from their fast-paced song to a musical accompaniment of the Slayerette's singing was most definitely NOT a coincidence. As the girls finished, Amy smiled.
"Well, blow out the candle, cuz."
Looking at Amy strangely, the ranger nevertheless did as instructed. The Slayerettes clapped their hands, much to Shaw's confusion, and sat back down, except for Cordelia, who began slicing the cake.
"Do I even ask why?" Shaw asked Amy, looking to her for an answer.
"Earth thing," the blonde said, her eyes shining with humor. "Later."
As Cordelia set the pieces in front of her friends, she said, "Okay, Shaw. Since you're chocolate-challenged 'cause of the caffeine thing, we got something almost as good, so see if you like this."
"What is that?" she asked in genuine interest, not letting disappointment about her allergy make her spirits fall.
"Butterscotch frosting," Buffy replied for the Amazon warrior. "Take a bite, tell us what you think."
Shaw just stared at the cake in front of her, and said, "Please tell me you do not mean 'Scotch' as in alcohol. I am only 'seventeen,' after all."
The others giggled, and Amy grinned. "No, it's a flavor, Shaw. No alcohol, I promise."
Sighing in relief, Shaw took a small piece and tasted it. Her eyes lit up, and she swallowed it quickly, and a bright smile came to her face.
"This is very good, Cordelia," she said. She looked at Cordy, and asked, "This was your idea?"
"Well, Buffy's too," she said, her grin matching Shaw's. "You like it, huh?"
"Absolutely," the ranger replied, digging into another bite.
<Damn, this might be easier than we thought,> Cordelia thought to herself. <She's actually smiling.>
As the Slayerettes began eating, Shaw paused and looked at Cordelia.
"Cordelia, about Toby," Shaw began, causing the other Slayerettes to stop their chewing, "what did Kendra tell you about him?"
"He's an elf, and a wizard," the Amazon said with a shrug. "That's it."
"Very well. First of all, we met at McClarity's pub in Paris, when Connor took me there."
Buffy, her face lit up with a full smile, asked, "What happened?"
"Essentially, two things happened. One was dancing all night to Scottish music," Shaw replied. With a chuckle at herself, she added, "And, I got myself completely intoxicated by consuming an entire bottle of Scotch over the course of the evening. I barely stayed awake long enough to tell him 'good night.'"
Every single on of Shaw's friends was dumbfounded at the idea of Shaw being in such a state, much less the idea that she could so completely let herself go. They slowly regained themselves, and Randi was the first to talk.
"Did anything else happen?" the Immortal asked.
"We talked," Shaw answered, shrugging her shoulders.
"Yeah, but what's he like?" Amy asked. "What does he do?"
"He is a good man, Amy. His sense of humor is a rival for Connor's, however," the elven woman began. "He is sensitive, but he does not pry for details. As for an occupation, he works as a computer analyst for SERRA. That is a group of Earth elves and humans working together, in the production of motors and engines for racing vehicles, based in Savannah, Georgia."
"What's his accent like?" Buffy asked.
Shaw stared at the Slayer, and asked, "What accent?"
"Well, you've got that elven accent, doesn't he?"
"No, Buffy," she replied. "His 'accent,' if you wish to call it that, is an American one."
"An American elf? Cool. Were there any sparks?" Cordelia asked. Sensing confusion on Shaw's part, she converted the phrase. "Is there a relationship there?"
Shaw hesitated, but came out with the truth. "We are friends as this stage, having only seen each other twice. Tobabaird expressed some interest in moving towards something further, but. . . I am not ready for romance. In the future. . there may be some possibilities, for something deeper than friendship. I will have to see if anything develops over time."
"Is he cute?" Buffy grinned.
Shaw stared at her for her reaction. "Imagine Steven's body, three inches shorter, with long brown, curly hair, and add elven features." With a slight blush, she added, "He is handsome, yes."
"Ooooooooooo...." the other five said together, breaking into giggles soon afterwards.
Shaw joined in their laughter, despite the teasing. The Slayerettes finished their cake, and had seconds before Cordelia called for their attention.
"Okay, Hunter," she announced. "You know what time it is?"
"You are wearing a watch, Cordelia," Shaw said, looking at her strangely.
Cordy's next words froze in her throat, and she said (through laughter from the others), "It's time to open your presents, Shaw."
"Oh," Shaw said, fidgeting a bit.
<Oh no, you don't,> Amy thought quickly. <No guilt trips, Hunter.>
"Actually," Amy said, making sure Shaw couldn't protest, "Millie and I gave Shaw presents already. Show 'em the rock."
"Is there anyone you do *not* plan on having me show this ring to?" the ranger asked.
"Not yet," Amy answered sweetly.
Shaw started to go red, but the Slayerettes called for her to produce the goods, so with an exasperated sigh, she showed them the ring, which drew good comments from those who hadn't seen it yet.
"More ivory?" Cordy asked. "Is that some kind of Millie thing?"
"It would seem that way," Shaw admitted.
"Okay, enough. First up," Cordelia said, grabbing the smaller of two boxes from the empty table next to them. She handed it to Shaw, and said, "This one's from Duncan and Amanda."
Shaw took the box, and opened it after gently removing the wrapping paper. Her breath caught a bit, and she reached in and pulled out a silver clasp of Celtic design with filigree on the outside of it.
"What is that?" Buffy asked, wrinkling her nose in confusion.
"A hair clasp," Shaw answered, turning it over in her hands. "Seventeenth century, it is used to pin your hair into a tail. It is like the one that Duncan wears."
"That's over three hundred years old?" Randi asked. Looking at it, she said, "Do you keep it put away or do you actually use it?"
"I will wear it, of course," Shaw answered. "That is what it is for, Randi."
"Okay, Hunter," Cordelia said with a grin. With a flourish, she placed the second box on the table. "This one's from us."
The dark-haired Amazon set the large, low box in front of Shaw, who looked at Amy.
"Amy, would you happen to have any shielding spells at hand?" the half-elf asked, half serious.
"Sorry," the witch grinned. "I'm tapped out. Stop stalling."
She untied the red ribbon that tied the box shut, and lifted the top off of the box. Inside was a white wool sweater, which had small green stripes at the neck, bottom, and on the cuffs of the sleeves. She lifted the sweater out, revealing more clothing underneath. Shaw saw a silk blouse, ivory white in color, and also saw a pair of white jeans underneath the blouse.
Shaking her head in amusement, Shaw laughed. "More tight clothing. I should have known."
"Well," Cordelia said, smiling since Shaw seemed actually seemed to like the outfit, "I picked out the outfit, but Will and Buffy suggested the colors. They said you'd like the outfit for some Mexican thing. The winter salsa, or something like that."
Shaw tried to decipher that phrase, and turned to Willow. "Translation?"
"Winter solstice," the redhead said, a strange grin on her face.
The half-elf looked confused at first, but then her eyes widened, and she looked at the outfit again, her grip tightening on the sweater. She just continued to look off into space, and tears began to form.
"Uh, Shaw?" Cordelia asked in confusion that was shared by Amy and Randi. "Earth to Hunter."
"How did you know?" Shaw asked, so quietly that the others almost didn't hear the question.
Gently, Willow said, "We have our ways."
Cordelia was looking at Willow, who along with Buffy, had smiles on their faces that screamed, "I know something you don't know."
She then looked back at the silent ranger, and said, "Uh, you do like it, don't you?"
Shaw just jumped up and grabbed Cordelia into a hug, saying "Thank you" over and over again, much to the Amazon's dismay, not to mention Randi and Amy's as well. Amy looked at Willow, who mouthed "later." Amy nodded, with a look that said she'd hold her fellow witch to that promise.
As Amy turned her attention back to the ecstatic priestess profusely thanking the shell shocked Amazon, Buffy and Willow silently exchanged high-fives.
An hour or so later, the Slayerettes exited the Bronze, walking out into the cool autumn night. They faced each other, and Cordelia smiled.
"Have a good time, Hunter?" Cordy asked.
"Yes, I did," she said, a bright smile on her face. "Thank you."
"No prob," Cordelia shrugged. With a look at Amy, she said, "You're her ride?"
"Yep," Amy said, pulling her car keys out of her purse. She also pulled out Shaw's pendant, and held it out to her. "Before we forget."
Shaw took it, but rather than put it on, she placed it in her own purse, much to the shock of the other women.
With a sheepish look on her face, she said, "Duty can wait until tomorrow."
"You go, girl," Buffy said with a pat on Shaw's back. "See you Sunday, okay?"
Shaw nodded with a smile, and the Slayerettes exchanged hugs before Shaw and Amy headed off for the car. Once they were out of sight (and Shaw's earshot), Cordelia turned to Willow, Randi and Buffy.
"Okay, you guys want to tell me who the Hell that was we just threw a birthday party for?" the Amazon demanded.
"Uh, it was Shaw," Randi guessed.
"Randi, that wasn't the Hunter we know. She smiled! She laughed! Hell, she had fun!!!"
Willow was laughing, and Cordelia snapped, "You got an answer, laughing girl?"
Willow's laugh died out, and she said, looking sympathetic, "You want the honest answer?"
"Yeah, it'd be nice," the brunette said.
"I think that was Shaw Hunter," the Wiccan answered with a sigh directed, along with a gaze in the direction Amy and Shaw had walked. "The Shaw Hunter from twenty-five years ago. The Shaw Hunter that still had Grandparents, that had people there for her, and who was happy."
At the boundless silence that followed that observation, Willow topped it.
"It's the person she was all those years ago, before all the stuff that happened," Willow told her friends. "And we just saw that the person's still in there, even after all the crap that's been done to her. She might have a long way to go before it comes out for good, but at least there's a chance."
After a few moments of silence, Cordelia said, "Okay. But what was with all the hugging and mushy stuff over the outfit?"
Buffy and Willow exchanged grins, and Willow nodded to the Slayer.
"Okay," Buffy started. "Priests of Mielikki wear different colors for different seasons. In summer, the colors are yellow with red accents."
"So?" Randi asked, not seeing the point to this.
Willow said, "So, winter's coming up, and according to Artemis, the colors for winter are white and with green accents. If Shaw was on Toril, she'd be wearing white and green. Sorta like Ulric wearing black, because he's a priest."
"This isn't Toril," Cordelia pointed out.
"Artemis said to consider it the Earth version," Buffy said with a laugh.
Cordelia's eyes went wide, as she realized exactly why Buffy and Willow had insisted on those particular colors. Randi did to, and began laughing along with the Slayer and Amazon witch.
"Wait a minute," Cordelia ordered, one hand on her hip and the other on her forehead. "Are you telling me that what I picked out for Shaw was basically church clothes?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Buffy answered.
"We gave Shaw church clothes for her birthday?!?" the woman known as Queen C shrieked.
"Look how happy she was," Willow reminded her.
"CHURCH CLOTHES?!?"
"But they're *good looking* church clothes," Buffy said.
Johansen Residence
Sunnydale, California
27 November 1998
A Ford Taurus pulled up to the curb in front of Ulric's house, settling into park, and shutting off. Inside the vehicle, Amy turned to Shaw.
"Hey, what're you thinking about?" the witch asked.
Shaw had been in something of a daze the entire trip home, but when Amy asked her question, she looked at her cousin, a smile on her lips.
"That I cannot think of how I can deserve such friends," the half-elf answered softly.
"Because you do," Amy answered with a smile. "You had a good time tonight."
It wasn't a question, but Shaw answered nonetheless. "I had a very good time, Amy. I have not been so. . ."
When she trailed off, Amy said, "Come on, out with it."
Shaw gulped, and whispered, "I have not been this happy since before my Grandparents passed away."
Amy's face fell, but she perked up again when she thought of something. "Well, you've earned it, wouldn't you say? And I'm glad we could make you happy, Shaw."
"I just wish it could last, Amy," she said, and before Amy could counter that statement, she added, "But there is a long road ahead of me, isn't there? A great deal of recovering to do."
Amy thought of it from Shaw's point of view, and agreed. "Yeah, you do. You're not letting yourself be fooled. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the good stuff while you heal."
"I know," she replied. She looked out the window at the night sky, and said, "Amy, thank you for talking me into doing this."
"You're welcome," the witch grinned, her eyes shining. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Eleven o'clock, right?"
"Yes, Amy."
Looking at the thoughtful look on Shaw's face, Amy reached over and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.
"You do wanna do this, don't you?" she asked.
"Of course I do, but. ." Shaw said, before breaking off and reaching into her purse. She pulled out a small jewelry box, and held it out to Amy. "This is for you."
Amy cocked an eyebrow, and pointed out, "Uh, Shaw, you realize that the birthday girl is supposed to *get* the gifts, not give them, right?"
"Yes, but," she said, pausing to collect herself, "I was going to give this to you next month, but I wanted you to have it now."
Amy's eyes lit up as she now understood. "This is my Christmas present?" she asked. When Shaw nodded emphatically, she took the box with a small smile touching her face. She opened the box, and took on a considering look. "Uh, what is it? It looks old."
"It is," Shaw answered, now more confident of herself. "It is at least a century old. The silver is just that, the black stone is onyx."
"An antique?" Amy asked, more to herself than to Shaw. "What is it?"
"What do you see?" Shaw asked in return, looking at Amy intently.
"Well," the Amazon witch began, "I see stars, what I'm assuming is a moon, and a harp. . ."
She broke off at the last word, and looked back to the person sitting in the passenger seat.
"Shaw, is this about what I think this is about?"
Shaw nodded, now switching her gaze to the Harper pin in Amy's hands. "I inherited it from my Grandmother, who set it aside for the day that I became a full ranking member of the Harpers."
Amy started to hand the box back, and protested, "Shaw, I can't accept this. It has to be all you have left of her. ."
"I have my music," Shaw countered, stopping Amy's protest in the starting blocks. With a quiet voice, she said, "There is more, Amy, that I have never told anyone. Grandmother did not only give the pin to me, but it was given to her as a gift, when she was inducted into the Harpers. She received it from the person for whom the pin was originally crafted, over a century ago."
"Who was that?" Amy asked.
"Her mother-in-law," the half-elf answered softly.
Amy made the connection quickly, and she looked back at the old pin, the item now having both occupants of the car with their gazes locked onto it.
"This belonged to Alison Madison?" the teenager breathed out.
"Yes," Shaw said, taking her eyes from the box to look at Amy's profile. "Amy, it was passed from Alison to my Grandmother, and then down to me. Grandmother gave to someone to hold for me, if she had not survived her final mission. Sometimes, it makes me think she somehow knew. . ."
She paused, not wanting to ruin the gift or the moment, and simply said, "Amy, this is the closest thing I have to a family heirloom."
She paused again, and softly wept, "I can think of no one who deserves it more than you."
Amy just stared at the pin for several seconds, until she finally closed the box and put it into her purse. She looked at Shaw, who was obviously anxious about the situation, and smiled, although Shaw could see tears in the Amazon's eyes.
"Thanks, cuz," she said.
Shaw reached over and embraced Amy, the two hugging as best they could in the confines of the Taurus, simply enjoying the moment of one cousin giving a meaningful present to another.
Johansen Residence
Sunnydale, California
28 November 1998
Amy pulled her dad's Ford Taurus up to the curb in front of Shaw's home, a smile on her face as she thought of the success of the party the previous night. She put the Taurus in park, and shut off the car, throwing the keys in her coat pocket.
The blonde witch got out, and walked up the sidewalk towards the front door. She paused just short of the porch, and decided to confirm something that she'd felt on Tuesday morning. Shifting her perceptions, the house in front became a cascade of magic, lit all over with various defensive, protective and blessing spells. Amy shook her head at the level of the defenses that Shaw had laid on her home in her time here.
<Not to say she's paranoid, but damn!> the Amazon thought as she shifted back to "normal" sight. <But, living on a Hellmouth, I can't blame her.>
Still giggling softly, she walked up and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, Ulric answered the door, and a thin smile came to his lips.
"Hello, Amy," the Finnish priest said cordially. "How are you doing this morning?"
"I'm fine," Amy grinned. "Is Shaw ready?"
"I believe so, but I think she may have lost track of the time," Ulric told her as he stood aside so she could enter the house. "Listen."
Amy's face furrowed until she walked into the house, and heard the musical notes coming from Shaw's room. She nodded knowingly, and thought, <I bet she's zoned out.>
She looked to Ulric, who was nodding in approval.
"She is accomplished, despite her protests about being 'out of practice,'" Ulric said to her. "Go ahead, Amy. I doubt she will mind the interruption."
"Thanks, Ulric," Amy said with a smile to the priest.
Amy walked to Shaw's room, and she lightly knocked on the door. The music did not even pause, so with a sigh she opened the door and walked in. She closed the door, and leaned back against it, folding her arms as she watched Shaw play her songhorn, completely oblivious to her unexpected audience. Shaw was wearing a black cotton shirt with a collar, blue jeans, and had her hair put in a ponytail using the clasp given to her the night before. Sitting crosslegged on her bed, Shaw's eyes were closed, as she was completely absorbed in her practice.
<Ulric was right. She is good,> Amy thought. <Not my taste, but still. . .>
The witch just sat there for nearly five minutes, just listening to Shaw's piece, until the half-elf finished.
"Not bad," Amy said with a smile.
Shaw's eyes snapped open, and she just froze, watching at Amy smiling at her from the door.
"That was a compliment," Amy offered, trying to get Shaw to say something.
Shaw blinked, and said, "I thought one was supposed to knock before entering a room?"
"I did knock."
Shaw looked at the songhorn, and asked, "Was I, what did you call it? Zoned out?"
Amy started laughing, and Shaw muttered, "I shall take that as a yes."
Shaw opened the pouch that she kept the flute in, and put the instrument inside. She climbed off the bed, walked over to the closet, and placed the pouch on the shelf. She closed the closet and turned to Amy, a smile now on her lips.
"I am ready, Amy," the ranger said. She picked up a pair of tennis shoes, and asked, "Is there anything we need to discuss before we leave?"
Amy thought about it, and said, "Well, one thing. That sword we're gonna 'zap' for Xander. Can I see it, so I know why he likes it so much?"
Shaw nodded, and got up to open the closet. She reached in and pulled out the flamberge Duncan had found on the Humvee once driven by Gib Cain. Amy took one look at the wavy blade of the sword and started to look sick.
"That is SO gross," Amy groaned. "No wonder he likes it."
Shaw shrugged, and put the sword back in the closet.
"Okay, so let's head out," Amy said, handing Shaw her purse. "Let Ulric know we're leaving, and we'll be on our way."
"All right, Amy," the half-elf said, throwing her purse on her shoulder. "I will be out as soon as I can."
Amy nodded with a smile as they left the bedroom.
Shaw walked out of the house, where Amy was waiting for her. As Shaw and Amy started walking, Amy gave Shaw a sidelong look.
"Hey, where are we headed, anyway?" the witch asked.
"The Mall," the half-elf responded promptly.
Amy stopped walking, completely stunned by Shaw's simple answer. "Did you say, 'the Mall?'" she asked.
Shaw turned to look at Amy, and said, "Yes, Amy. I made appointments at the hair stylist."
"Hair stylist?" Amy repeated in a low voice.
"Yes." Shaw looked at the witch's strange posture, and asked, "Is something wrong, Amy?"
Amy folded her arms, and said, "Okay. Who are you, and what have you done with the half-elf?"
Shaw's eyes rose a fraction of an inch, and asked, "What in the name of Mielikki are you talking about?"
Amy relaxed a bit, but said, "Shaw, you just said we were going to get your hair done."
"Yes, I know," she answered. "What is wrong with that?"
"Uh, hello? The ears?" Amy pointed out, figuratively and literally, by pointing at Shaw's head.
"Oh," Shaw muttered, her eyes going wide. She smiled, and told Amy, "Watch very closely."
Shaw moved her hair from over her right ear, and she got a great deal of amusement out of Amy's jaw starting to open and close at the sight of Shaw's ears. It took about forty-five seconds to catch herself, and form a coherent sentence.
"Wait a minute!" she spurted out in shock. "I've seen your ears in practice! What the Hell..."
"Glamour," Shaw answered, her smile settling into a small grin. "Toby helped to activate this ability; it would seem that my clerical magic is not the only thing adapting to Earth."
Amy sat there with an open mouth for another few seconds, before her jaw snapped shut. She stared at Shaw for a few more seconds, and her eyes flashed.
"Would that be the 'precautions' you took last night?" Amy asked irritably. When the ranger nodded in amusement, she asked, "And just how long have you been able to do this?"
"Less than two weeks," Shaw answered. She then lost some of her mirth when she said, "It will make things much easier for me at school, Amy."
Amy smiled, and nodded. "Okay, you're right," she said, despite her irritation. "But now you've got no excuse to avoid getting your hair done. And the eyes. ."
"That will not work," she countered. "To cover my infravision would leave me blinded. As for other things, I will eventually work on hair and skin colors if needed. It was also how I forced Angelus to run from the airport."
"By making your ears round?" the witch asked, somewhat confused.
"No, like this," Shaw said, concentrating. In a few seconds, her face twisted into a demonic appearance, and Amy's eyes bulged out as she staggered back in shock and fell on her butt on Ulric's sidewalk.
Shaw's eyes went round, and the illusion disappeared as she lost her concentration because she was now laughing at the sight of her cousin sitting on the sidewalk.
Amy sat there, silenced, until the got the idea that the game face was only an illusion. And her temper flared as she digested what Shaw was laughing at.
<Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.> she mentally growled. <I know; the big, bad Amazon witch sprawled on her ass from an illusion.>
Amy stood up and brushed herself off, glaring at the Mielikkian for a few seconds before saying, "Okay, you got me. Now, are we really going to the Mall or what?"
Shaw tried to settle herself down, and finally said, "Yes, Amy. I was truthful about that