Edward felt a warm sensation wherever she touched his skin. A peace he hadn't known since he was a boy rushed through him. Her fingers clasped around his face, pulling him closer as they glowed a light green. Damian held Jean-Claude back when Buffy's back bowed and she screamed. Edward's heart rate increased and his breath came in large gasps. When Buffy released him from whatever hold she had on him, tears ran down her face . Jean-Claude broke away from Damian in time to catch her body as it started to crumple to the ground.
"Ma amour, speak to me, please chère," he pleaded.
Her eyelids fluttered open to look into his midnight blue eyes. "Jean, I'll be okay in a minute. Hope I get the hang of this green hornet stuff soon." He kissed her cheek, holding her close.
Edward cleared his throat as they turned to look at him. "What did you do to me?"
"The best I can tell is I kinda healed you."
"That doesn't make any sense, I wasn't hurt." Edward's voice held a strange note, even to his own ears.
"Not your outside, Eddy, I healed your insides. You had some deep scars but they're gone now. I'm sorry." She didn't apologize for what she did, but for what had been done to him.
"I don't need you pity." Edward growled, glaring at Buffy as if he wanted to kill her. In fact, that was exactly what he wanted to do.
"Didn't give it. It's called empathy, there's a difference. You should look it up. From what I see you're carrying around enough pity all by yourself."
"How dare you! You don't know anything about my life, don't ever presume to judge me."
"No one's judging you, Eddy. Just calm down."
Edward stood up and started to pace the room. "What are you? You aren't the normal run of the mill monster, so what's your story?"
"You sure have a way with words, Eddy. I don't think that there are any monsters in this room, including you, in case you're wondering. I'm not sure what I am or what my story is but I will someday." Her cryptic words confused Edward even more. Buffy stared back into icy blue eyes that had scared more than one preternatural creature. The boyish good looks and hayseed accent didn't fool her even just a little. The man that stood before her was a killer. She understood that and him better than anyone ever had, including his 'soul mate' Anita. Buffy put a hand on his shoulder and with a small shove pushed him back down into the waiting chair. "Are you going to tell us who sent you after Jean?"
"Don't know." Edward was back in the house. "Got the job and a partial payment by courier. I was supposed to take out the Master of the City and his new girlfriend. At first, I thought they meant Anita but their letter didn't describe her. You sure work fast Jean-Claude. I thought you were so 'in love' with your petite." He threw out at the dark-haired vampire. Jean-Claude never scared him before and it pissed him off now. Edward thought that he would always be the one that would take out Anita's honey, as a matter of respect. Looking into the twin blue flames that glared at him from across the room, he wasn't so sure that it would be up to him, who walked away and who didn't. Edward's eyes went back to the dainty but deadly blonde who stood beside her equally deadly lover. He better than anyone knew that looks were deceiving. It baffled him how she snuck on him. He felt like she stepped into his head and there was nowhere for him to hide.
"If you keep thinking that hard you're going to blow a circuit or something. Don't worry, I can't read your mind." Edward's stare, if possibly, became colder, harder than it was before. "If you want to leave, you can. No one will stop you. I'd appreciate it if you didn't, though. Somehow, the idea that someone's trying to kill me doesn't bother me. In fact, it feels like the norm. But, someone trying to kill someone that I care about, well that pisses me off. No one messes with my boyfriend!" The words echoed in her mind, touching a place deep in her memories. She knew that she had said the same exact thing in another time, place and about a different man. Unconsciously, her hand came up to rub her mate's mark. Buffy could feel Jean-Claude's contented purr through their bond. Her eyes closed momentarily as her lips framed into a Madonna-like smile.
Edward couldn't take his eyes off the blonde in front of him. This woman was dangerous, in more ways than one. He had an inexplicable urge to protect her, make her smile like that again. Shaking his head in an effort to clear out the fog. Pale blue eyes looked into ones of midnight blue in understanding and defeat.
Jean-Claude stepped behind Buffy and wrapped his arms around her small waist. Buffy happily leaned back against him, her fingers entwined with his to hold him closer. Her head leaned to the side, allowing her lover access to her neck. He leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on his mark.
"What do you say, Eddy? Don't you want to know who set you up?" Edward raised an eyebrow at her words. "Come on don't tell me you thought you were going to come into town take out the Master of the City and skip away home?" Buffy grinned at him, her bright green eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter.
"There wouldn't have been anyone who could've stopped me." Even as he said the words, Edward knew he lied. He always thought the ultimate thrill would be to hunt Anita. Looking at Buffy, he realized that as good as the famed 'Executioner' was, she wasn't a match for the woman with the bright sunny smile. He watched Buffy go still before breaking into a breathtaking smile.
"We're about to have company, my love." Jean-Claude was trying understand her words when the door flew open to reveal a spitting mad Anita.
Her hands hung lose as her sides ready to draw a weapon or fist. "Edward," she growled, looking at her 'friend' with coal black eyes that showed no emotion. "What, the hell, do you think that you're doing? You come into 'my' town and try to take out the Master and his girlfriend."
"MATE." Two voices said at the same time.
"Huh?" Anita looked at her ex-boyfriend holding Buffy tenderly in his arms.
"Mate, Anita. We're mated until one of us is no more." Jean-Claude patiently explained to his ex.
Anita looked at them closely, noticing for the first time the twin marks on their necks. She stepped forward her hand unconsciously came up to touch Jean-Claude's neck. She stopped mid-way when she heard Buffy growl. Turning to the tiny blonde, coal black eyes were caught by twin flames of green fire.
"Don't touch my mate." Buffy's voice was soft but the threat was clear to everyone in the room.
Anita stepped away, putting her hand down, palm up to show a non-aggressive stance to Buffy. Edward watched in wonder, he never thought to see the day that Anita Blake backed away from anything. Especially, a little blonde who looked like a teenybopper until you looked into her eyes. He couldn't help the snort of laughter that broke from his lips. Anita spun back around to give him her famous death stare. "What are you laughing at? You still haven't answered my question, now spill." Her hand went back to her side within inches of her gun.
Edward gave her his best Ted Forester smile. "Anita, you know I come and go as I please in this city, or any other."
"Not anymore. You won't be allowed in my city again, if you don't answer our questions. In fact, you may not ever leave." Jean-Claude's voice was a soft purr. His hand softly rubbing his mark on Buffy's neck, the jovial, polite vampire was gone and in his place was a man clearly willing to do whatever it took to protect his mate.
"You two stop it. Eddy, listen either tell us what we need to know or please leave."
All eyes turned to Buffy in shock and surprise. Edward tried to figure out her game, but her face didn't show anything except honesty. "What's the catch?"
"There isn't one. If you're going to tell us anything even halfway true, then you have to do it willingly. Sure, we could torture you until you tell us something, anything." She shrugged as if they were talking about the weather. "But, who's to say it would even be close to the truth. It's up to you, Eddy. Help or make tracks."
He had never confronted anyone like her before and wasn't quite sure what to do. "All I know is that it came from the Lunatic Café."
Jean-Claude growled deep in his throat, the sound reverberated throughout the office. "They wouldn't dare move against me. I'm their Master. I'll show them what it means to wage war against me."
Buffy pushed him down into a chair then crawled into his lap. "Jean, calm down baby. We have to play this carefully. If they find out that we know, then it'll only get innocents hurt. Raina will use the wolves to keep the focus off herself and her mate." She rose from her place to begin pacing the small room. One plan after another flew through her head. She stopped in her tracks and looked at Jean-Claude, her eyes filled with love and protectiveness. It was so strong that everyone could feel it, like a living breathing flame.
Edward closed his eyes, he hadn't felt anything like that since...; he shook his head to push the memories away. Memories he hadn't felt since he was a boy. "There were three sets of fingerprints on the letter. It said that you and Buffy were killing humans and Weres alike, regardless of the law."
"Do you really think that I'd hesitate to take them down if that were true? You know me, Edward; I'd never allow that to happen, not in my town."
"Anita, leave him alone. I'm sure that Edward has his own reasons for doing what he does. We need to focus here, people. How can we make sure the people behind it are the ones that get punished?" She paced across the floor, stopping with a snap of her fingers. "How stupid can I be? Eddy, you said that you that not many people know who the Master of the City is and that you only found out a few months ago, right?" He nodded, trying to see where she was going with this. "Then it's easy, don't you see? We just allow word to get out that you killed the Master. Only a few people know it's Jean. They won't know for sure until they come to see if it's true. When they do, we'll have the people responsible."
"That could work but where will you stay, so that it's believable?" Anita had a bad feeling about this. It could end up putting Richard smack in the middle of a power struggle she wasn't sure he was ready for. She unconsciously traced the mark on her neck.
Buffy smiled at the dark haired woman and took her other hand in hers. "It looks like someone else found their mate, too. I'm happy for you, Anita. You and Richard fit together. I'm sorry if anything we're doing puts him in danger. His beast's strong, but more importantly Richard's a good man. I think when it's all said and done, he'll make a good leader for the pack."
Anita smiled at Buffy. "Thanks, I just needed to be reminded that he can take care of himself. He's so gentle that I sometimes forget about his beast."
"But, his beast's as much a part of him as your necromancy is you. You can't pick the parts you like and ignore the rest."
"Do you love Jean-Claude that way? You love his vampiric side as much as the other?" Her eyes looked at her ex, not sure that she would have been capable of the same.
"They're one in the same and to answer your question, I do. Jean wouldn't be Jean any other way. Richard wouldn't be the man that you love if he wasn't a wolf. What if he cared for Anita the woman, but hated Anita the necromancer?" Buffy walked back over to Jean-Claude, who once more wrapped his arms around her small waist.
"You're giving Anita lessons on love, chère ami? She's a hard woman to understand."
"No, she's easy to understand if you step back and look at it. I imagine her family wasn't too understanding of her gift. She's starting to accept it, but she's afraid to lose everything if she just lets go. What she doesn't understand is that she won't be happy until she does. Now," she turned in his arms and held her face up for a kiss. "What can we do to occupy us while we hide out?"
Jean-Claude laughed, sending pleasurable shivers down everyone's spine. "Ah, mon chère, we'll just have to use our imaginations." He nipped her lips before pulling her up his body for a more intimate kiss.
Everyone felt their passion rise along with the lovers. Edward found his pants uncomfortably tight and Anita's nipples contracted into twin diamond points. Damian, who stood watch outside the door, pulled Cherry up against him to devour her mouth. The blonde wereleopard wrapped her legs around his waist. When they pulled apart, they were breathing heavily and twin smiles crossed their lips. Damian sat her down as if she were made from fine china.
"We'll continue this later, little one." Cherry nodded, unable to speak, turned to walk away on shaky legs.
Walking down the steps at the Circus, Richard felt his beast call to its mate in a wave of need. Only a blur could be seen as he rushed across the distance that separated them. He pushed Damian aside and practically ripped the office door off its hinges. Richard's eyes glowed amber in the dimly lit hallway. Everyone turned to see who was coming through the door. Surprisingly, Anita didn't reach for a weapon. A huge smile spread across her face as her body responded to its mate. Her nipples tightened until they ached while her body flooded with moisture. He rushed across the room, picking her up in his arms, nuzzling her neck and licking his mark. Richard pulled back to look at Anita's face. A soft sigh escaped his lips when he found her unharmed. "What happened in here? I felt it all the way up the stairs."
Jean-Claude and Buffy pulled apart when the door crashed open. The soft blush colored her cheeks. "I'm afraid that it was our fault, my wolf." Jean-Claude's voice held no apology just stating a fact.
Buffy smiled at Anita and Richard. "Congratulations, you two. I'm happy for you. Finding your mate makes you feel complete here." Her hand spread across her heart as if she could reach in and touch it.
She glanced over at Edward, even though his eyes showed no emotion; Buffy knew better. When she healed him, she adopted him for want of a better term. Unsure how the healing powers worked, or why, Buffy knew that when they felt a deep hurt that they sought out a way to mend it. She didn't have to see what the pain was to know that he had carried it for a long time, used it to give himself a reason for living. She wished there was a way to help him come to terms with his past, so that he could see himself with a future. She healed his heart, but he fought against it with his head, not willing to let go.
"Are we done with the side-show, or is there more to this performance?" Edward leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. The blankness in his sky blue showed that his emotions were carefully hidden. He wasn't sure that he could handle much more of this. Whatever Buffy did to him caused his emotions to be on the edge of breaking through his carefully created façade.
Buffy left Jean-Claude's arms to stand in front of Edward. Her hand came up to cup his cheek but he pulled away. She wasn't discouraged and simply stretched her hand out further to touch him. "Let it go, Edward. It's up to you, but if you hold onto the pain and hate, it'll eat you alive."
He reacted by throwing a punch at her head. She dodged the blow, preparing for the next, which didn't come. In a hard, cold voice, Edward said, "You don't know anything about me, lady. Just because you worked some magic mojo on me it doesn't give you the right to start preaching at me."
"You're wrong, Eddy. I don't understand how the glowy stuff works. Somehow, it has an auto switch when there's anybody near it that needs help. It chose you. Your injury wasn't physical, but mental. If you look inside, really look, you'll see that your reason isn't there anymore. That means that you're supposed to it let go. As far as the mojo goes, I'm as lost as you are. This is all new to me, everything's new to me and I'm winging it as I go. What my head and my heart tells me is right, is what I go with, maybe you should do the same. If you ever want to talk about it, I'll be here to listen."
Edward's stubborn nature and dedication to his lifestyle warred with the realization that his reason was gone. Hating every preternatural creature drove him, gave him a reason to keep going. Without that, what would he do with his life? "I'll help you find out who's trying to kill you." The words left his mouth before he even knew he said them.
A bright beautiful smile spread across Buffy's face and Edward knew that he was lost. There was no way that he could kill her now. "Thanks Eddy, friends?" She put her hand out for him to shake.
Hesitantly, he put his much larger hand in hers. "Friends." He reluctantly acknowledged her offer. "I think that we should change your plan, though. You and Jean-Claude should be seen more, not less. Anita should be able to come up with some bodies that roughly match your features. I'll send pictures and collect the rest of my bounty. When you two are seen around town, whoever's behind this will be forced to do their own dirty work. I don't like being used; I'll follow the money and the people. We'll set a trap for them and settle this in one fell swoop."
Jean-Claude hated the idea that Buffy would be in danger but acknowledged that Edward's plan had merit. He looked into the bright green eyes and she nodded in agreement. "We agree with your plan and thank you for helping. Anita, will you be able to get the bodies?" He looked at his prior love interest without even a hint of his former feelings.
"Yes, but the bodies will have to be in bad shape to be believable. You two aren't run of the mill in the looks department." Anita stood wrapped in Richard's arms, and had no desire to move. Buffy's words came back to her, helping her let the remaining doubts and fears go. She felt a sense of contentment and belonging that she never thought possible.
Richard felt the differences in Anita and his beast howled in delight. Whatever made her let go completely, he thanked with all his heart. "I can help too. You just need to explain what's going on."
Edward explained everything, even the embarrassing way that Buffy had snuck up on him. Anita looked at the small blonde with new respect. Anyone who could sneak up on Edward was someone you wanted on your team. The more that she learned about Buffy the more she liked her. It was odd to find someone that she would consider as a friend. The people that she normally met were either involved in a case or jerks. Either way they weren't friend material.
"My guess is that Raina, Marcus and Gabriel are behind this. You're right Raina won't hesitate to use the pack to take the spotlight off her. She's used to being the top bitch, and won't let what happened yesterday go without retaliating."
"Then I'll have to teach her who the top dog is." Buffy giggled, causing everyone to grin before joining her in laughter.
Anita showed up at the RPIT offices bright and early the next day. Well early, for her anyway, since it was almost eleven o'clock. She walked into Dolph's office without knocking. Dolph looked up from his computer and waved her inside. He noticed the worried look on Anita's face for the first time.
"We may have a major problem, Dolph."
"What is going on, Anita? I've never seen you like this before."
"I got a call about two bodies found in an abandoned warehouse. After checking it out this morning, I found out the information was good. Problem is that the caller said it's the Master of the City and his new girlfriend. They just brought the bodies into the morgue and they're in bad shape. Whoever did those two had a good time." Anita's dark eyes let her boss know she had barely hinted at how badly the bodies had been mutilated.
"Is it the Master of the City? How do we make a positive ID? As far as I know, there are only a few people who actually know what he looks like. If it's the Master, we could end up smack dab in the middle of a turf war." Dolph rubbed his head in frustration.
"I'll put some feelers out and see if I can't find someone that can make an ID." Anita got up to leave when Dolph called after her.
"Anita, be careful. If it's him, we could be caught up in the power struggle that's sure to follow."
She nodded as she left the office. A soft sigh escaped her lips. Part one was done, now they had to depend on Edward to do his part. Thinking about her 'friend', her mind wandered to last night at the Circus. Anita watched while Edward volunteered to help Buffy and Jean-Claude. To say that she was shocked was the understatement of the year. She knew that she was probably the only person Edward even considered as a friend. He would help her if someone endangered her life, but Anita knew that was because he wanted to be the one to kill her. In his strange Edward way, it was a compliment.
Anita never wondered why he was the way that he was, until last night. Her train of thought brought Buffy to mind. Why was she here? Did the tattoos on her back have a deeper, hidden meaning? Osiris and Hecate could be benevolent or vengeful. The real question was which one pertained to Buffy. Anita admitted that she liked the small blonde. Now, that she was with Richard, she was happy that Jean-Claude found someone who was right for him.
Sitting in a corner near the stage at the Circus of the Damned , a petite blonde watched the dancers. People couldn't help but notice her, she wasn't the type of woman that a person could easily forget. Buffy waited for Jason to bring his new friend to meet her. He asked Buffy to intervene with Jean-Claude to give the new Were a job. As soon as Buffy heard about Raina's treatment of Fred, Buffy whole-heartedly agreed to help.
A bright smile lit up Jason's face when he spotted Fred. He walked out to meet her and escort her to Buffy. Fred's quiet beauty stirred Jason's beast. Her dark hair hung in long soft curls down her back, and her large expressive eyes were a warm chocolate brown that sparkled when she smiled.
"I asked Jean-Claude's mate and she agreed to talk with you. Don't worry she's great, just wait till you meet her." He captured Fred's slender hand in his, pulling her into the club.
Buffy watched Nathaniel dance and couldn't help but notice how much he enjoyed himself. She thought it had to do with the fact that no one could touch him unless he wanted them to. They talked for several hours this morning about whether or not he wanted to continue dancing. Buffy wanted to make sure that the pard knew that she didn't expect them to continue working for Jean-Claude if they didn't want to. Nathaniel's face fell when she asked him. He begged her not to send him away that he would work harder. Buffy held him until he calmed down enough to understand what she was saying. She reassured him that she would never send him away. She wanted to make sure that everyone was happy with their jobs, nothing more.
Her back stiffened when she felt a new person coming near. Her senses were in a continual state of overload with all the preternatural people who worked and lived in the Circus. Buffy took a deep breath, closing her eyes she let it out slowly. She hoped that sometime soon her senses would adjust. Jason approached the table with a slender brunette with long hair and huge eyes. Buffy saw what Jason wouldn't admit, he cared for this girl. Although her slender body, long hair and doe eyes gave Fred a fragile grace, Buffy saw the hidden strength. This woman survived past tragedies and would do what she needed to do to survive until she found a better way. It was that backbone that tipped the scales for Buffy. Her protective instincts rushed forward. She wanted to help Fred, and be around when she took back control of her life.
Buffy waved them into the chairs that surrounded her. "Hello Jason. This must be Fred. I'm Buffy Summers." She put her hand out for Fred to shake.
Fred thought Buffy had to be the most beautiful woman that she had ever seen. She used to think Cordelia was and although the seer was good to her, Fred never felt at ease around her. She always felt that she was in the way. That was why she left when her parents showed up. Her eyes turned sad at the thought of her Mom and Dad. She still couldn't believe that they were gone.
"Are you okay, Fred?" Buffy kept the shy brunette's hand in her own. "There's nothing to be afraid. No one expects anything from you, except to do your job. No one will hurt you, I promise. If you think that you'd like to work here, I'll let Jean know. Have you been a waitress for long?"
"Nnn, I mean no. When I found out that I was infected from the vaccine I moved here. There aren't a lot of jobs for what I do, not if you're a Were anyways." Her shoulders slumped thinking about never being able to do the work she loved so much.
"What kind of work?" Fred reminded Buffy of someone, she didn't know who, except that the person felt important to her. She felt a bond to this shy, sweet woman, who had a strong will, but had lost her way. Buffy somehow knew that they would become close friends.
"I was almost through with my PhD in physics. Oh, I'm sure that this is boring to you. If you're sure about the job? I'd like to take it. What would my hours be and when do I start?" One word tumbled out on top of the other
Buffy didn't answer at first, then noticed the scared look on Fred's face. "Oh, I'm sorry Fred. Jean's awake now. Come on, I'll introduce you to him."
"I can't do that. Why would he want to meet someone like me? I mean, I'm not anyone special, and I'm sure that you have more important things to do." She looked away and ended up caught in a pair of lilac eyes. "Oh, you're pretty." Bright pink bloomed in her cheeks; Fred couldn't believe what she just said.
Nathaniel smiled at the pretty woman, with the long soft hair. He was used to people remarking on his looks, especially women. Fred's compliment was different. She said it without thinking it over, and wasn't trying to get anything from him. "Thanks, so are you. Buffy, aren't you going to introduce us?"
"Nat, be a good kitty, you're making Fred blush." Buffy teased Nathaniel, happy to see him so at ease with her newest flock member. Jason gave a low growl, which caused Buffy to raise an eyebrow at him. "Don't make me spank you, puppy. You two have to play nice, or you'll scare Fred off." Buffy wanted to keep Fred safe and happy here with them. She didn't ask herself why she felt so protective of Fred. It really didn't matter to her. She had instantly entered Fred into to her ever-growing 'family.'
"Come on Fred, my guy's getting antsy. He'll be stomping...." A smile as bright as the sun broke out across her face. She turned to the vampire that appeared behind her. Buffy raised her lips for a kiss, which her mate happily supplied. Green eyes stared into midnight blue ones as the world fell away, leaving only them.
Fred's breath caught when she saw Jean-Claude. She thought Angel was handsome, but he didn't compare to this man. He was the model for male beauty and sensuality. Fred's gift for languages and her enhanced hearing allowed her to understand their conversation. A soft sigh escaped her lips, as she listened on.
"Mon petit cadeau, you weren't there to greet me when I woke." He nuzzled his mark with soft kisses and tender nips of his fangs. Buffy moved her head to give him better access.
"Mmm, Jean, we were on our way to see you. I.." He captured her lips once more pouring his love and passion into the kiss.
Fred thought that she was going to pass out. She wasn't used to controlling the ultra-sensitive Were senses yet. Jean-Claude's voice wrapped around her in a warm caress. "WOW!" She squeaked, then her hand flew to her mouth. Fred's already warm cheeks flamed even hotter.
Jean-Claude broke the kiss, sweeping Buffy into his arms before heading back down the stairs. He called back over his shoulder. "Jason, bring our newest member downstairs where we can get to know her better."
They watched Buffy's fingers caress Jean-Claude's hair and cheek as she lay her head on his shoulder to cuddle closer. The club's low lighting caused cool blue and red lights to shine in Jean-Claude's hair. Buffy's hair showed just as bright with warm golds, yellows, oranges and reds. The two polar opposites complemented the others coloring.
Jason pulled Fred up from her seat. "You'll get used to them after a while. Didn't I tell you that Buffy's great? But, the best thing about working here is that I do too."
Fred looked at Jason's barely there clothes then out again at the crowd. Her forehead wrinkled with confusion. "Do you wait tables too?"
Nathaniel gave a soft cat snicker at the innocent question. He trailed behind Fred, admiring the view of her slender yet shapely backside. He liked the way that her hair fell softly down her back to her waist in soft curls and waves. The odd protective feeling that swept over Nathaniel shocked him. He was the one that everybody tried to protect.
Buffy quickly explained to Jean-Claude about Fred before the others arrived. She lay across his lap on the sofa. He hand moved slowly, caressing her from shoulder to ankle then back again. Watching his fingers slide over her body was mesmerizing. It was as if he was attempting to memorize each bone and sinew of muscle. A knock at the door kept them from taking this interlude further. The flame of their passion was ready to engulf each other and any others in the vicinity.
Jason stuck his head in the door, making a show of squinting his eyes closed. "Are you guys - decent?" His question held a hopeful note.
"Very funny, Jas. Let Fred in, then have someone bring us something to drink." Buffy waved them into the room. "Fred, this is my mate, Jean-Claude."
"Nice ta meet ya." Fred's soft Texas accent could be heard in the otherwise quiet office.
"Enchante, Mademoiselle Fred. Buffy tells me that you are our little family's newest member. She also said that you're a very intelligent woman. St. Louis has a wonderful university, which you should consider attending. I believe that we could accommodate your school schedule, quiet easily."
"Oh, I don't think that I can do that." She stammered out. How do you explain that you've been lost in another dimension for the last five years. "I've been away for a while, and don't think that they'll still have my transcripts. They probably aren't even valid anymore."
"Fred, it's obvious that you loved what you were doing. Why don't we see if we can cut through the red tape for you?"
"But, why would you do that? I mean what do you want from me? The first thing I learned here was that nothing's free. People always expect something no matter what they say." Her eyes went hard when she remembered the people who tried to get something from her.
"Good grades," Buffy quipped. "Relax Fred, we aren't like Raina. It'd be a shame for you to waste your smarts. Who knows someday you might invent time travel or something else really cool."
A heavy silence lay between them as the ex-scientist remembered her trip to and from Pylea. Fred remembered falling through the portal to end up in the hell that was Pylea. She also remembered meeting Angel and the way that his inner demon came out for all the world to see. She looked at Jean-Claude and couldn't help but compare the huge differences between California and the rest of the world. It was as if you stepped into a different universe when you were in LA. The things that she saw and did here were inconceivable to her pre-Pylea time. What else does this world have in store for me and what does Buffy Summers have to do with it?