JodithDecember19

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or this show. They are the property
of the WB and Joss Whedon. I am merely toying with them for my own amusement.
This story is dedicated to the members of the Buffy Cross and Stake Spoiler
board.

Archive- Please email request.

Feedback- Absolutely.

*******************

"Would you like fries with that?" Liz looked down at the table of giggling
teenagers, blowing straw wrappers at each other. God, had she ever been that
young? She looked up past the tacky Christmas garland on the wall to the
clock, noting with relief that it was almost quitting time. As she went into
the kitchen of the Copperpot to place the order, she could remember sitting
here with her friends, laughing here, dancing here, and even fighting
here..but that was another lifetime. In the kitchen she piled a tray high
with burgers and fries, and lifted it effortlessly. Another waitress,
watching her, sighed and said, "I wish I could do that."

Liz laughed..the kid was new. "Oh you'll get stronger in time, it does get
easier."

Of course it would never get as easy as it was for Liz, but no point in
depressing the poor girl on her first day. Here it was at the end of a 6-hour
shift, and Liz felt as fresh as a daisy, just a little emotionally tired of
dealing with the customers all day. Most of them knew her though, from when
she used to work here full time..now she was just filling in.

Liz quickly pulled on her jacket, if she hurried she could get to the Magic
Shoppe before it closed for the day. The Jukebox was playing horrible
Christmas music as she left and the din was deafening. Outside, on the
street, the quiet was a jolt on Liz's ears. Christmas decorations shone in
the early dusk, though being southern California, the effect wasn't quite as
Christmassy as it could have been. Liz smiled grimly..no White Christmas's
here... excepting of course, that once..long ago.

The Magic Shoppe was decorated with lights, and Liz hurried into its
comforting warmth. Anna was there hanging tinsel around the display cases.
She looked wonderful, even after having 5 children. Rumor had it that she had
tried to trade her first child to a Mercedes dealer for a new car. Her
husband Xavier denied it emphatically, though he did sell his successful
construction business to become a full time dad shortly thereafter. No one
could say that Anna was the maternal type, but she had come a long way over
the past 10 years, and got along with her children quite well in a somewhat
detached way. Her oldest daughter, Dehoffrin, was helping her now, by holding
the tinsel in place while Anna stapled it to the case. Anna was the manager
of the Magic Shoppe, and was an excellent businesswoman, who had turned the
place into an amazing success. "Hi Anna, is Winnie here?"

Winnie had been Liz's best friend since she had moved to Fardale fifteen
years ago. She, Winnie and Xavier had been through a lot together over the
years. A lot. "She's in the back. She and Tori are checking out the new
warehouse space."

Winnie and Tori were had been living together since college. They were a
striking pair, Winnie tiny and red-haired, Tori tall and black. They were a
contrast in style also..Winnie whimsical and funny, Tori no nonsense and
somewhat stern. But they laughed easily together as they wandered around the
huge new space. Winnie was hugely pregnant with her first child. Liz
wondered, for the millionth time, what alchemy Winnie had performed to
achieve that miracle. She was coy though, only saying that no actual magic
was involved.

"Wow," Liz said, "this new warehouse space is huge! "

Winnie came over and hugged her, as much as it was possible with her belly.
"Well, we need it for the Internet business; orders are coming in almost
faster than we can fill them. I can't wait for Miles to come home so that we
can show him. Bye the way, have you heard from the Honeymooners?"

Liz laughed, "Yes we got a postcard from Mom this morning. London is rainy
and cold, the airline lost their luggage..they haven't left their room for
days..in short they are having a great time."

Just the thought of her mother so happy and healthy brought a smile to Liz's
face. And the thought of Roger Miles as her stepfather was also a blessing.
He had been more of a father to her these last 15 years than her own had
been.

Her own dad had lived the cliche and died it too..suddenly on the golf
course, a year ago. But no time for sad thoughts today. She touched Winnie's
belly. "So have you come up with a name for him?" They had just found out
that the baby would be a boy.

Tori frowned, "Winnie wants to name him Xander."

Liz laughed, "Oh, no not really? Would you do that to a child?"

"Well, he is my favorite.."

"It's an awful name, " interrupted Tori.."I want something dignified."

"Well, here's a thought..Why not name him Alexander, and CALL him Alexander?
That way you'll have Xander, but in a subtle, not silly way."

"Silly? Xander, silly? This from a person who named her dog Buffy?"

"Hey, Bill named the puppy..not me..though I did veto his first choice." Her
husband, Bill had actually wanted to name their new puppy after an old
girlfriend who had once given him a dog like that. Fat chance.

"I don't suppose you need to be reminded that it's Tuesday." Tori's tone was
ironic.

Liz and Winnie laughed,"No, we know."

Liz looked at Wimmie "So, are you spoiled for this episode? I know you spend
all your time at that Spoiler board. You probably have the whole transcript
by now."

Winnie looked abashed, "Not the transcript, just the early review by Loey."

"Don't tell me a thing!" Liz commanded. "I want to be surprised! Gotta go!"

Winnie called out as Liz left, "Hey, when is Joss coming? I must be there!"

"Not until February..He says he has a big surprise for us, and wants to watch
with us. Call me after the show, Okay? Bye Anna, Dehoffrin!"

Liz hurried out. She still had to stop at the butcher shop on the way home,
and it was almost 6:00. As she briskly walked down the familiar street, it
seemed alive with memories. She passed the street corner where she and Ron
had shared their first kiss, on the awful night of silence. Good old Ron
Sawyer. Colonel Ron now, of course. He had gone back to the army, which had
betrayed him, and they had welcomed him into their embrace again. He was
quite a celebrity these days, since the introduction of the microchip that
was rehabilitating even the most violent criminals. There had even been talk
of a Nobel Prize.

Buffy sighed. If she had played her cards right, she could have been Mrs.
Colonel Ron Sawyer. Well, the first Mrs. Colonel Ron, that is, for there had
been several. All short, blonde and helpless. Helpless, that is, until they
got to the divorce courts. After the first disaster, Ron had gotten a certain
law firm in LA to draw up ironclad pre-nuptials. They also covered up his
occasional trips to rehab. Poor Ron. He had been so naive when he came here
from Idaho all those years ago..and he had barely escaped with his soul. No,
all in all, Liz was pleased with her choice in that matter.

Now Andreas was a different story. Even the butcher shop held memories of
him, of the days when he was helpless and she had nursed him back to health.
Everywhere she looked there were memories of Andreas. But he was doing great
out there in LA. He had even forgiven her for marrying Bill, an old rival. He
had left her, after all, though her life with Bill was not what he had
pictured when he did it. He had his problems, poor Andreas, but his mission
helped. There would always be a soft spot in Liz's heart for him, though most
of her memories of him were far from happy ones.

Buffy hurried towards the pretty little house where she and Bill lived.
Lights were on inside and Christmas lights twinkled on the windows. She heard
Buffy barking as she came up the stairs. She opened the door and the little
dog jumped into her arms. She gave her a big hug and put her down and went
into the kitchen.

The smell of roast chicken filled the air. Thank goodness, Bill had started
dinner. Even though he never ate it himself, he had become a rather good cook
over the years....out of boredom mostly. It was so unfair, really. In order
to please his new bride, Bill had gone to night school and become a Nurse's
aide. He had been so good at it too. He loved the hospital ambience..the
sickness and death didn't depress him at all . And staff and patients alike
had loved his sardonic sense of humor, not to mention his sexy good looks. In
fact, Liz had been worried about all the nurses throwing themselves at him,
but there was no need; Bill had been loyal to her.

Then came the article in the National Enquirer. God knows where they gotten
their information, but it was good. Suddenly it was public knowledge that
she, Elizabeth Anne Winters was a Vampire Slayer. They had exposed Bill too,
given names, dates, and places. Only Andreas had escaped since he was long
out of Fardale by then.

Of course the rational public dismissed the article, along with the ones
about Alien invasions and cloud formations in the shape of the devil; but the
lunatic fringe came out in force. Liz had had to change her phone number and
she and Bill moved to a small trailer with blackened windows on the outskirts
of town. Suddenly, the hospital patients started complaining about Bill's
cold hands and saying that they were afraid to let him take their blood. The
hospital had finally let him go; though they were sorry to do it. That was
when Liz had been forced to quit school yet again, and work at the Copperpot
full time.

It was a terrible time for them. Bill started drinking heavily, and he and
Liz fought bitterly. Sometimes it seemed like only Bill's prototype
government chip, and Liz's pride kept their bouts from turning fatal.

Luckily she still had her friends, though she could never let on to Winnie
and Xavier how bad things were. Xavier would have staked her husband in a
heartbeat. Her mother and Miles would have helped her financially, but Liz
was too proud to let them. She fought her own battles, and always had.

It was then that Liz had done something that no other slayer in history had
ever done..She retired. It caused a major controversy in the Watcher's
Council, of course, as Hope, the other existing slayer was in a convent and
couldn't be re-activated.

Finally, in an unprecedented move, a new slayer was called..A young kid from
New Jersey. She had to move here to Fardale of course, since this was where
the Hellmouth was located, but she seemed like a nice enough
fourteen-year-old. Liz wished her luck, but refused to help train her or have
much to do with her. The girl had a watcher, some typically fusty
Englishwoman. Liz had been so lucky in having Miles as her Watcher..he was by
no means typical, but this new kid had to do it on her own the way she, Liz,
had..

Liz walked into the living room, and saw Bill, ensconced in his recliner,
watching their big screen TV. A football game, no doubt. Their satellite dish
brought in unlimited sporting events, which was good since Bill was stuck
indoors all day. He was also a soap opera devotee, though his all time
favorite program would be starting shortly.

"Evenin' sugah," Bill drawled his charming southern accent still as thick as
when she had met him. "How was the ol' Copperpot?"

Liz kissed him hello. She never got tired of looking at those blue eyes, so
startling with that raven black hair and pale skin. It was unfair that he
hadn't changed one bit in the 15 years since they had met. She herself had
put on several pounds and her blonde hair had faded, and a few tiny lines
were showing up in the mirror lately. But after all she would be 30 years old
shortly, and Bill wasn't even 300 yet!

"Did Joss call?" Liz asked, handing him a mug of blood fresh from the
microwave.

"Yep, he said we'd get a kick out of tonight's episode. Do ya think we'll
find out what Riley is up to with those vamp chicks?"

"Oh, you just love seeing him like this, don't you. Haven't you got any
compassion?"

"Nope... vampire here, sugah. I don't do compassion, remember? "

"Winnie already knows everything..but I wouldn't let her tell me."

It was Joss Whedon who had saved them, just when things were looking their
blackest. He had read the Enquirer article, and had come to Fardale to
investigate for himself. Liz and Bill and their story had fascinated him, and
once they had decided to trust him, they talked to him for days on end, with
him camping out on their beat-up sofa. He had talked to Winnie, Xavier, and
at length with Miles and even gone to LA to talk to Andreas. Liz thought that
he was writing a book, but instead the movie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
appeared.

Buffy had been Liz's childhood nickname, one she hadn't heard since she was
ten. Joss had changed all of their names, of course, and the name of the town
and taken quite a few liberties with the facts. His production company had
paid Liz handsomely for the rights to her story, but the best was yet to
come. When Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, the television series premiered 5 years
ago, it had finally spelled the end of Liz and Bill's financial problems.
Officially hired as consultants, it was their stories that became the
backbone of the series.

Bill particularly loved the character of Spike, loosely based on himself.
Ironically, James Marsters had read for the part with a southern accent much
like Bill's own, but Joss had liked him better as a British punk. Still, the
attitude was pure Bill. Liz privately thought that Buffy was a little too
immature and self-involved..But still, what had Liz really been like at
sixteen? Could she really judge?

The only one who really felt put out by the series was Tori, who was not so
much annoyed at Tara's whiteness as she was at her total flakiness! Astrology
was serious business. The Big Pineapple, indeed!

Liz brought her dinner in to sit by the television. The show was about to
begin. She sat on Bill's lap and Buffy jumped up and curled up in her lap. It
was a little difficult to eat dinner this way, but Liz wouldn't have traded
it for anything. As the theme music began, Liz thought to herself that Buffy
fans the world over might love the show, but nobody could appreciate it like
they could, the people who had lived it.

The end

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