Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel: The Full Story - Once More, With Feeling

It was a beautiful day, as Buffy rolled over in bed when the clock went off, hitting seven am. She glared at the clock. She reached over, picked it up, and looked at it.

Meanwhile, Willow walked across her bedroom and then turned and went back the way she had come. She grabbed a sweater from a chair and exited into the bathroom. As she went, Tara went to making the bed. She found the herb that Willow used to do the “forgot” spell.

She picked it up, sniffed it, and smiled.

Dawn ran out of her room and over to the bathroom door. She knocked on the door while jumping from foot to foot as if she had to pee. Willow came out of the bathroom brushing her hair. Dawn rushed into the bathroom.

Buffy continued to lay in bed, awake.

At the Magik Shoppe, Xander and Anya were looked at a bridal magazine, smiling and talking. A customer came over and Anya escorted her toward the cash register.

Dawn stood by the bookshelves looking at a book. Giles came over and took the book away. Dawn looked annoyed. Giles gestured with the book and walked off.

Willow and Tara were at the round table looking at a book together and taking notes. Buffy was sitting beside Tara, sketching on a pad.

Giles came over and held a large one in Buffy’s line of sight. Then he gestured with his hand toward the back and walked away.

Buffy put down her sketch pad, got up, and followed Giles toward the workout room taking off her sweater as she went.

That night, Buffy was patrolling in the graveyard. She walked along, looking around.

Suddenly, she began to sing.

“Every single night, the same arrangement

I go out and fight the fight

Still I always feel this strange estrangement

Nothing here is real, nothing here is right.”

A vampire appeared from behind a gravestone. It rushed Buffy.

She spun him around and continued to sing.

“I’ve been making shows of---“She punched the vamp. “trading blows, just hoping no one knows---“ she kicked and grabbed the vamp. She threw him behind her. “that I’ve been going through the motions

Walking through the part---“

Buffy pulled a stake from her jacket pocket. The vamp attacked her from behind and she staked him without looking back.

“Nothing seems to penetrate my heart

I was always brave, and kind of righteous

Now I find I’m wavering---“

Two vampires and a demon were gathering near a tree with a human tied to the tree. The vamp saw Buffy and attacked.

“Crawl out of you grave, you’ll find this fight just---“she punched a vamp.

“Doesn’t mean a thing---“she punched vamp two.

“She ain’t got that swing,” vamp one sang. It punched Buffy and she went down. A sword was stuck in the ground beside her.

She layed there on her back. Crickets started chirping.

“Thanks for noticing,” she sang at the vamp.

She continued laying there as the two vamps and the demon began to dance.

“She does pretty well with fiends from hell

But lately we can tell---“they sang. Buffy got up and grabbed the sword. “that she’s just going through the motions.”

“Going through the motions,” the demon sang.

Buffy pulled vamp one away, cut its head off with the sword.

“Faking it somehow,” vamp two sang before she pushed him aside and stabbed the demon.

“She's not even half the girl she---“the demon sang before looking down at his wound. “Ow,” it finished before falling over.

Buffy continued walking, holding the sword.

“Will I stay this way forever?

Sleepwalk through my life’s endeavor?” Buffy continued.

She used the sword to cut the ropes that were tied to the person to the tree. He came around the tree trunk. He was a very handsome man.

“How can I repay---“he sang.

“Whatever,” she sang back.

She turned away, tossed the sword aside and continued walking.

“I don’t want to beeeeee…”

She walked up onto a raised platform ringed by statues and stopped.

“Going through the motions

Losing all my drive

I can’t even see

If this is really me

And I just want to be---“

Vamp two attacked her and she staked him. He exploded into dust which formed an artful cloud, obscuring Buffy from view, then cleared as she sang the final word.

“Aliiiiiiive.”

“Alive” ended.

She now stood amidst the gravestones.

The next day at the Magik Shoppe, the bell rang as Buffy entered.

“Good morning, Buffy!” Giles greeted.

Willow and Tara stood by the counter, Giles in the background.

“Oh hey, did Dawn get off to school alright?” Willow asked.

“What?” Buffy said, distracted. “Oh, uh, yeah. I think so.”

Buffy walked farther into the store. Xander sat at the round table holding a donut in each hand.

“Respect the cruller. And tame the donut!” Xander announced.

Anya passed by the route to the counter.

“That’s still funny, sweetie.”

Anya went behind the counter. Giles looked in the box of donuts, took one out, and took a bite.

“So, uh, no research? Nothing going on? Monsters or whatnot?” Buffy asked.

Giles and Xander shook their heads “no” and continued eating donuts.

“Good! Good,” Buffy said awkwardly. “Uh, so, did anybody…uh…last night, you know, did anybody, um…burst into song?”

Giles stopped chewing and everybody stared at her for a moment.

“Merciful Zeus!” Xander blurted.

Willow, Tara, and Anya rushed over. Everyone started talking all at once.

“We thought it was just us!” Willow exclaimed.

“Well, I sang but I had my guitar at the hotel…” Giles said.

“It was bizarre. We were talking and then it was like---“Tara started.

“Like we were in a musical!” Buffy exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Tara agreed.

“That would explain the huge backing orchestra from the chaps,” Giles said.

“We did a whole duet about dish washing,” Willow said.

“And we were arguing and, and then everything rhymed and there were harmonies and the dance with coconuts,” Anya told them.

“There was an entire verse about the couscous,” Willow said.

“It was very disturbing,” Xander said.

They stopped talking all at once.

“What did you sing about?” Giles asked Buffy.

“I don’t remember. But I-It seemed perfectly normal,” she said after a pause.

“But disturbing. And not the natural order of things, and you think it’ll happen again?” Xander said.

“I don’t know. I should look into it,” Giles said.

“With the books,” Willow added.

“Do we have any books on this?” Tara asked.

“Well, we just got to break it down. Look at the factors before it happens again. Because I for one---“Xander said, but was interrupted when Giles started singing “I’ve Got a Theory.”

“I’ve got a theory

That’s it’s a demon

A dancing demon!

No, something isn’t right there.”

“I’ve got a theory

Some kid is dreamin’

And we’re all stuck inside his wacky Broadway nightmare,” Willow sang while Tara did “Jazzy Hands.”

“I’ve got a theory we should work this out,” Xander sang.

“It’s getting eerie, what’s this cheery singing all about?” Anya, Tara, Willow, and Xander sang all at once.

Xander jumped up.

“It could be witches!

Some evil witches!” he started, but then saw Willow and Tara’s expressions.

“Which is ridiculous, ‘cause witches they were persecuted,

Wicca good and love the earth and woman power

And I’ll be over here,” he finished and then sat back down.

“I’ve got a theory! It could be bunnies!” Anya sang.

There was silence.

The others stared at her and there was a sound of crickets chirping.

“I’ve got a---“Tara started, but then the tune changed to a frantic hard-rock beat with electric guitar and roving spotlight that waved crazily over Anya.

She shrieked a la Alanis Morissette.

“Bunnies aren’t just cute like everybody supposes!

They’ve got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses!

And what’s with all the carrots?

What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?”

She played air guitar.

“Bunnies!

Bunnies!

It must be bunnies!”

Fireworks went off all around her, then the smoke cleared away.

The others continued staring.

It went back to the original melody.

“Or maybe midgets,” she ended.

Willow quickly sat down beside Giles and opened a book.

“I’ve got a theory we should work this fast.”

Willow and Giles sang, “Because it clearly could get serious before it’s passed.”

Giles got up and started climbing the stairs to the loft.

“I’ve got a theory

It could be monks

Evil monks

But who cares?

We can face anything

If we try our best,” a new voice sang, which was Cordelia Chase.

“I’ve got a theory

It doesn’t matter,” Buffy sang.

Giles paused and turned back. Everyone looked at Buffy.

“What can’t we face if we’re together?

What’s in this place we can’t weather?

Apocalypse?

We’ve all been there

The same old tricks

Why should we care?”

Everyone sang except Giles.

“What can’t we do if we get in it?

We’ll work this through within a minute.”

Buffy looked at Giles throughout the verse. He watched her too and finally joined in.

“We have to try

We’ll pay the price

It’s do or die,” they all sang.

“Hey, I’ve died twice,” Buffy intervened.

Giles smiled and came down off the ladder.

“What can’t we face if we’re together?” they all sang.

“What can’t we face…” Giles sang, descant.

“What’s in this place that we can’t weather?” they sang.

“…if we’re together…” Giles sang, descant again.

“There’s nothing we can’t face,” they sang.

“Except for bunnies,” Anya ended, sitting.

The song ended.

“See, okay, that was disturbing,” Xander said, sitting.

“I thought it was neat,” Willow said, sitting.

“Very disturbing,” Cordelia said.

“So what is it? What’s causing it?” Buffy asked.

Cordelia started walking up to them.

“I thought it didn’t matter,” Giles said.

“Well, I’m not exactly quaking in my stylish yet affordable boots, but there’s definitely something unnatural going on here. And that doesn’t usually lead to hugs and puppies,” Buffy replied.

“Well, is it just us? I mean, is it only happening to us?” Anya asked.

Buffy turned away. “’Cause that would probably mean a spell or---“

Buffy went to the door and opened it. The bell jingled.

Buffy turned back into the store and closed the door.

“It’s not just us.”

“And nobody says a single ‘welcome home’?” Cordelia said.

“What are you doing here?” Anya asked in attitude.

“Anya,” Willow warned.

“Nice voice,” Xander commented.

“How long have you been here?” Buffy asked.

“Long enough to hear Xander seeing about witches.” She raised an eyebrow at Anya. “Bunnies? How could bunnies be involved? They’re just adorable, innocent animals.”

“Welcome. What can we do for you?” Xander asked his ex.

“Willow, did you tell them? Do they know?”

“They do, Cordelia.”

“Good. We’re on the same page. Not that I saw anything. But still…”

She walked up behind Xander and snagged a glazed donut.

She took a bite, chewed and then swallowed.

“Sugar. Goes straight to the source of the disappointment and pain.”

“Since when do you eat donuts?” Xander asked.

“Since I started fighting evil and making a run for it in LA.”

She sat down and sighed, eating the donut.

“You’re upset,” Tara said.

She looked at Willow.

“This is Tara?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled at Tara.

“Hey, Tara. I’m Cordelia Chase.”

“I’ve heard of you.”

“That figures.”

She looked at her ex.

“Congratulations. I’m glad someone actually has a life.”

She looked at the table.

“What does that mean? Or supposed to mean?” Anya said all attitude.

“An, don’t.”

“Don’t what, Xander?”

“Don’t do it to her. She has changed. I can see it. She’s not even striking out or being bitchy to you, even though you’re being bitchy to her,” Buffy said.

Anya and Buffy stood in front of each other.

Cordy rubbed her temples with her fingers, eyes closed. She wished the arguing would stop.

Willow and Tara both went behind the counter toward the back.

Xander stood up and walked around to stand behind his ex and bent down to massage her shoulders.

“What’s wrong? Do you have a headache?” he whispered by her ear.

“Yeah. They’re causing it,” she murmured to him.

“We can leave if you want.”

“I’d love that, but your fiancée would hate it.”

“Well, I think Willow and Tara went to get something for the pain.”

“I think that’s quite enough, girls,” Giles said, raising his voice at the Slayer and ex-demon.

“She started it,” Buffy said.

“Not my fault,” Anya said. “Seeing the bitch brings everything to the surface.”

Giles sighed and then left.

Buffy gave her a look.

“What?”

“Anya, go home before you make it worse,” Xander told her.

“I’m staying.”

“You’re going to hurt her with more of your bickering. Go home, Anya. I’ll see you tonight.”

Willow and Tara came back.

“We don’t have anything for the pain. We’ll have to get some from Buffy’s,” Willow said softly to the two exes.

“On your way out, take Anya home. The arguing is causing the headache,” Cordy said.

“Okay. We can do that,” Tara said.

Willow grabbed Anya’s arm.

“Let’s go.”

“I’ll go see if I can find anything out,” Buffy said.

Xander and Cordy were now the only ones left in the store.

“The console in the car outside. There should be Aspirin and Ibuprofen. Grab that and a water bottle.”

He went to the car, grabbed the stuff, and then came back.

He knelt by her.

“Two Ibuprofen pills for the headache. One for my aches and pains.”

He gave them to her and then set the bottle in front of her. She took the pills and then drank some water. She then finished her donut and looked at him.

“Thanks, Xan.”

“You’re welcome.”

They both stood up.

They looked at each other and then started to dance and sing.

“Do you remember?

How we used to laugh?

How we used to tease each other?

Do you remember?

How we loved to love each other?

How we loved to hate each other?

Do you remember?

Our fights

Breakups

And then our kisses and makeups?

We were in love

There was so much love to have

I remember it all

Even the broom closets

I haven’t forgotten

Especially when I still love you,” she sang to him with seriousness.

“She walks into the room

Every eye is on her

It doesn’t faze her

She smiles her number one smile

She keeps walking

They keep staring

She’s the most beautiful

She’s flawless

Everything she says

Goes

That’s how it’ll always go,” he sang.

“I once was Queen C of Sunnydale High

But

I had to confess

I couldn’t hold back

From you

I wasn’t all that tough

It was only an act

We both always knew that

But

I kept on

Like all my sheep

Until

I stood up to the plate

Against Harmony

And walked away

To show how much I loved you, “she sang.

“She’s incredible

I can’t deny

We’ll always be forever

Like we were meant to be,” he sang.

“I touch the fire

And it freezes me

I look into it

And it’s burning bright

Just like myself

I once was a nightmare

In Sunnydale High

But changed

In so many ways

I was once the Queen

Queen B

Queen C

Drama Queen

And putting it plainly

The Bitch of the year

I was feared

I was hated

Nobody liked me

Except you

This fire

This flame

Burns for love

Desire

Passion

And everything else

You ever made me feel

Even fear

Fear itself

Whenever you got hurt

Or I thought you would get hurt,” she sang.

Both finished the last part.

“My love is deeper than the river

Higher than the mountains

Shallower than the hollow

And always forever

Will be

My love is compassionate

My love is desirable

My love is strong

My love is exciting

May my love

Last forever and ever.”

They looked at each other.

“Okay. Very disturbing,” he announced.

“Very,” she agreed.

“One question, though. You still love me?”

“Yeah. Do you?”

“Yeah.”

“You think I’m still beautiful and incredible?”

“Of course.”

They smiled at each other.

Later that day, Dawn entered the store with a huge smile. “Oh my God. You will never believe what happened at school today.”

The gang was sitting around the table looking at books.

“Everybody started singing and dancing?” Buffy guessed.

Dawn looked disappointed.

“I gave birth to a pterodactyl.”

“Oh my God, did it sing?” Buffy asked.

Willow and Tara were whispering to each other.

“So you guys too, huh?” Dawn asked, walking closer.

“So what’d you guys sing about?” Xander asked.

“Math,” Dawn said, sighing.

Dawn put down her backpack and sat on a stool by the counter. Willow whispered in Tara’s ear.

“Tha-That’s right! The, the volume. The text,” Tara exclaimed loudly.

“What text?” Giles asked.

The volume-y text. You know? The, the,” Willow said and then mumbled the word “report.”

“The what now?” Xander asked.

“Oh, there’s just a few volumes back at the house that deal with mystical chants, bacchanals.

Dawn glanced at the counter, seeing a necklace there.

“It might be relevant,” Tara said.

“Yeah, we could, um---“Will started, but Giles intervened.

“Well, I’m a hair’s breadth from investigation bunnies at the moment, so I’m open to anything.”

Dawn furtively picked up the necklace and put it in her pocket.

“Great, well, uh, go check it out and uh, we’ll give you a call,” Willow said.

“Yeah, this could blow the whole thing wide open,” Tara said.

They then left.

“Dawn, put that back,” Cordy said.

“Put what back?” Dawn asked innocently.

“I’m a Seer, Dawn. I metaphorically have eyes in the back of my head. You know what I mean.”

Dawn sighed.

“Now,” Cordy said.

Dawn reluctantly put it back.

“Thank you,” she said, and then went back to drawing pictures of things.

Willow and Tara walked through a park. It was sunny and beautiful. Green grass, blue sky, etc.

“Do we have any books at all at home?” Tara asked.

“Well, who wants to be cooped up on a day like this? The sun is shining, there’s song going on…”

A couple of young men walked by and looked at Willow and Tara as they passed.

“…those guys are checking you out,” Willow said.

“What?” Tara said. She turned to look. “Wh-what are they looking at?”

“The hotness of you, doofus.”

“Those boys really thought I was hot?” She looked back at them again.

“Entirely.”

“Oh my God. I’m cured! I want the boys!”

Tara made like she was going to run after the guys. Willow grabbed her and pulled her back. Tara giggled.

“Do I have to fight to keep you? ‘Cause I’m not large with the butch.”

They stood underneath a tree, landing on a wooden railing.

“I’m just…not used to that. They-they were really looking at me?”

“And you can’t imagine what they see in you,” Will said fondly.

“I know exactly what they see in me. You.”

Tara sang “I’m Under Your Spell.”

“I lived my life in shadow

Never the sun on my face

It didn’t seem so sad, though

I figured that was my place

Now I’m bathed in light,” Tara started. She walked out from the shade, lifting her face to the sun. She then continued.

“Something just isn’t right

I’m under your spell

How else could it be

Anyone would notice me?

It’s magic, I can tell

How you set me free

Brought me out so easily.”

Willow and Tara walked onto a bridge that had a little stream under it. Tara took her hand and walked off the bridge onto a path, holding hands.

“I saw a world enchanted

Spirits and charms in the air.”

Tara made a gesture with her arm and sparkles appeared, following her hand with a little tinkling noise.

“I always took for granted

I was the only one there.”

Willow made some even more impressive sparkles with her hand, ending in a small shower of sparkles surrounding them both.

They smiled at each other.

“But your power shone

Brighter than any I’ve known.”

Tara spun away from Willow. Tara began to dance by a small pond at the edge of the grass.

“I’m under your spell

Nothing I can do

You just took my soul with you.”

A couple women that were sunbathing on the grass began dancing in sync with Tara.

“You worked your charms so well

Finally, I knew

Everything I dreamed was true

You made me believe.”

“Ahhh, Ahhh, Ahhh…” the sunbathers sang.

Willow and Tara spun around in each other's arms. They were suddenly in their bedroom and sat down on the bed. They looked lovingly at each other. The music and background continued.

“The moon to the tide

I can feel you inside

I’m under your spell.” She layed down on the bed.

“Surging with the sea.”

Willow leaned over her and smiled.

“Wanting you so helplessly

I break with every swell.”

Willow moved downward.

“Lost in ecstasy

Spread beneath my Willow tree

You make me complete!”

Tara’s body rose up and hovered over the bed.

“You make me complete

You make me complete

You make me…”

Back at the Magik Shoppe everyone was still looking at books.

“I bet they’re not even working,” Xander said.

“Who now?” Buffy questioned.

“Willow and Tara. You see the way they were with each other? The get-a-roominess to them? I bet they’re,” he stopped himself, glancing at Dawn. “Singing. They’re probably singing right now.”

“I’m sure Willow and Tara are making every effort,” Giles said.

“Oh, yeah,” Xander said.

“Xander,” Buffy said.

“I think she’s old enough. You can say it, you know,” Cordy said.

“Buffy, it’s okay. I do know about this stuff. Decides, it’s all kinda romantic,” Dawn said.

“See? Told you,” Cordy said.

“No it’s not!” Buffy and Xander exclaimed.

“Come on! Songs, dancing around. What’s going to be wrong with that?” Dawn said.

Next Day

“You want some breakfast, baby?” Xander asked.

They were still in bed.

“You don’t have to go to work?”

“Nah, I shut the crew down for the day. My guys start singing around me, I don’t know if I can deal. It’s a flab thing. So, waffles?”

“Will you still make me waffles when we’re married?”

“No, I’ll make them for myself but by California law, you will own half of them.” He kissed her. “Hey, how about omelets? I could do an omelet. I’ve almost got that---.”

Xander continued talking unintelligently as Anya sat up and began to sing “I’ll Never Tell.”

“This is the man I plan to entangle

Isn’t he fine?

My claim to fame was to maim and mangle

Vengeance was mine!

But I’m out of the biz

The name I made, I’ll trade for his

The only trouble is----“she paused and shook her head. “I’ll never tell.”

Anya got up and walked off.

Xander sat up in bed and began to sing.

“She is the one

She’s such wonderful fun

Such passion and grace.”

Anya returned and sat beside him to put on her slippers.

Xander fondled her knee.

“Warm in the night when I’m right in her tight---“he started and then caught himself. “Embrace! Tight embrace!”

He hugged her.

“I’ll never let her go.

The love we’ve known can only grow

There’s just one thing that----no

I’ll never tell.”

She put her slippers on.

“’Cause there’s nothing to tell,” they both sang.

They left the bedroom, emerging into the living room.

“He snores,” she sang.

“She wheezes.”

“Say housework and he freezes.”

Xander opened the fridge.

“She eats these skeezy cheeses that I can’t describe.”

He picked up a green cheese, sniffed it, and then made an “ew” face.

“I talk, he breeze.”

“She doesn’t know what ‘please’ is.”

“His penis got diseases from a Chumash tribe!”

Xander looked annoyed and closed the fridge.

“The vibe gets kind of scary,” they both sang.

“Like she thinks I’m ordinary,” he sang.

“Like it’s all temporary.”

“Like her toes are kind of hairy.”

They gave each other fake smiles.

“But it’s all very well

‘Cause God knows, I’ll never tell,” they both sang.

Xander opened up the newspaper. The headline read

MAYHEM CAUSED. MONSTERS CERTAINLY NOT INVOLVED, OFFICIALS SAY.

“When things get rough, he just hides behind his Buffy!” she sang.

Xander gave her a look.

“Now look, he’s getting huffy

‘Cause he knows that I know.”

“She clings

She’s needy

She’s also really greedy

She nev---“ he started to sing, but she cut him off.

“His eyes are beady!”

“This is my verse, hello!

She---“

Anya began to dance in flapper style.

“Look at me! I’m dancing crazy!” she said.

Xander joined the dance and they danced together around the apartment.

“You know…” they both sang.

“You’re quite the charmer,” he sang.

“My knight in armor.”

“You’re the cutest of the Scoobies

With your lips as red as rubies

And your firm yet supple---“

He caught himself again.

“Tight embrace!”

They resumed dancing and then went to opposite sides of the dining room table and sat.

“He’s swell.”

“She’s sweller.”

“He’ll always be my feller.”

“That’s why I’ll never tell her that I’m petrified.”

She sang the next part.

“I’ve read this tale

There’s a wedding, then betrayal

I know there’ll come the day I’ll want to run and hide.”

They got up and crawled across the table toward each other.

“I lied

I said it’s easy

I’ve tried

But these fears I’ve can’t quell.”

They sat with their backs pressed against each other.

“Is she looking for a pot of gold?”

“Will I look good when I’ve gotten old?”

She stood up.

“Will our lives become too stressful if I’m never that successful?” Xander sang.

“When I get so worn and wrinkly

That I look like David Brinkley?”

They got up and resumed dancing.

“Am I crazy?” he sang.

“Am I dreamin’?” she sang.

“Am I marrying a demon?” he sang.

“We could really raise the beam

I’m making marriage a hell!” he sang.

“So, thank God, I’ll never tell!

I swear that I’ll never tell!” they sang.

They walked around the table toward the couches in the living room area.

“My lips are sealed,” he sang.

“I take the fifth.”

“Nothing to see

Move it along,” he sang.

“I’ll never tell!” they finished.

They both fell back onto the couch, clutching each other and laughing fake Hollywood-musical laughs.

The song ended.

That night, Buffy entered Spike’s crypt.

Spike emerged from his underground lair. “The sun sets and she appears.” He climbed up the rest of the way. “Come to serenade me?”

“So you know what’s going on.”

“Well, I’ve seen some damn funny things in the last two days. A six hundred pound Chirago Demon making like Yuma Sumac, that one will stay with you. I remain immune, happy to say.” He held up a bottle of whiskey. “Drink?”

“A world of no.” She sat down. “So any idea what’s causing this?”

Spike was disappointed. “Oh. So that’s all. You’ve just come to pump me for information.”

“What else would I want to pump you for?” She cringed. “I really just said that, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, well…don’t wanna bore you with the small talk.” He walked to the door, opened it, and then turned to Buffy. “Don’t know a thing.”

She frowned. “What’s up? You’re all bad moody.”

“Nothing. Glad you could stop by.”

He made a gesture toward the door. Buffy stayed seated, looking at him.

“It’s nothing,” he said defensively.

“What?”

“Rest In Peace” started.

“I died

So many years ago.”

He looked surprised to hear himself singing. Buffy rolled her eyes.

“But you can make me feel

Like it isn’t so.”

He shook his head and closed the door.

“And why you come be with me

I think I finally know

Mmm, mmm

You’re scared

Afraid what you feel.”

Buffy stopped looking at him.

“And you can’t tell the ones you love

Know they wouldn’t deal.”

She looked at him and frowned.

“Whisper in a dead man’s ear

It doesn’t make it real.”

He pointed to his head.

Buffy looked at him and then away. Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance.

“That’s great

But I don’t wanna play.”

He walked over to a coffin.

“’Cause being with you

Touches me more than I can say

But since I’m only dead to you.”

He jumped to sit on the coffin.

“I’m saying stay away.”

He layed down on the coffin and crossed his arms over his chest.

“And let me rest in peace.”

Spike jumped up and the song took on an angry rock beat for the refrain.

“Let me rest in peace

Let me get some sleep.”

He grabbed the whiskey bottle and threw it against a wall. Buffy jumped up.

“Let me take my love and bury it

In a hole six foot deep

I can lay myself down.”

He advanced on Buffy.

“But I can’t find my sweet release.”

He turned away from her with an angry gesture.

“So let me rest in peace!”

Buffy looked annoyed and turned toward the door, but Spike intercepted her.

“You know

You’ve got a willing slave.”

He got down on his knees.

“And you just love to play the part

That you might misbelieve.”

Buffy rolled her eyes.

“But ‘til you do

I’m telling you.”

He stood up.

“Stop visiting my grave

And let me rest in peace.”

Spike yanked the door open again. A group of men were carrying a coffin along in the graveyard. A few dozen yards away Spike and Buffy were walking along side-by-side.

“I know I should go

But I follow you like a man possessed

There’s a traitor here beneath my breast.”

He exchanged a look with her.

“And it hurts me more than you’ve ever guessed.”

He looked at her.

“If my heart could beat, it would break my chest.”

They stopped walking.

“But I can see you’re unimpressed.”

He angrily sang, “So leave me be.”

He jumped onto the coffin that was being carried by the men.

“And let me rest in peace

Let me get some sleep.”

The pail barriers tipped the coffin and Spike tumbled off the end of it, bouncing to his feet and shifting his game face…

“Let me take my love and bury it

In a hole six foot deep.”

He rampaged through the mourners, tossing their folding chairs aside. The people scattered.

“I could lay my body down

But I can’t find my sweet release…”

He grabbed the priest and stared at him. Buffy came up behind him, grabbed him, and turned him around.

Spike and Buffy tumbled backward into the open grave. Spike landed on his back with Buffy on top of him. He had his human face on now.

“Let me rest in peace

Why won’t you let me rest in peace?”

The song ended.

They were still on top of each other. She stared at him for a moment before getting off of him, leaping out of the grave, and running off. Spike poked his head up out of the grave to watch her go.

“So…you’re not saying then?”

Later that night, Sweet’s minions captured Dawn. She woke up on the pool table in the Bronze. Sweet and his minions started tap dancing.

“Why’d you run away

Don’t you like my…style?” Sweet sang, starting “That’s What It’s All About.”

“Why don’t you come and play? I guarantee a…”

He reached up to his face, pulled off his mouth and held the disembodied mouth in Dawn’s face. She stared in shock as it continued to sing.

“…great big smile.”

The mouth disappeared from his hand and reappeared in its normal place.

“I come from the imagination

And I’m strictly by your invocation.” He held up a scroll covered with writing.

“So what do you say?

Why don’t we dance awhile?”

He danced over to Dawn, gestured at her, and then danced away again.

“I’m the hot swing

I’m the twist and shout.”

He tap danced.

“When you gotta sing

When you gotta…let it out

You call me and I come a running.”

He danced back toward Dawn.

“I turn the music on

I bring the fun in

Now we’re partyin’

That’s what it’s all about.”

He chuckled.

“’Cause I know…what you feel, girl. I know just how what you feel, girl.”

“So…you’re like a good demon? Bringing the fun in?” she asked.

He laughed and shook his head “no.”

“All these melodies

They go too long

Then that energy

Starts to come on way too strong

All those hearts laid open, that must sting

Plus, some customers just start combusting.”

He opened the door and a charred smoking corpse fell through it. Dawn stared in horror.

“That’s the penalty,” he sang, dancing back over to her.

“When life’s but a song

You brought me down into this town

So, when we blow this scene

Back we will go to my kingdom below

And you will be my queen

‘Cause I know what you feel, girl.”

“No,” Dawn sang. “You see

You and me

Wouldn’t be regal.”

“I’ll make it real girl,” he sang.

“What I mean

I’m fifteen

So this queen thing’s illegal,” she sang

“I can bring whole cities to ruin

And still have time to get a soft shoe in.”

“Well, that’s great,” she sang.

“But I’m late

And I’d hate to delay her.”

“Something’s cooking, I’m at the griddle,” he sang.

“I bought Nero his very first fiddle.”

“She’ll be pissed,” she sang.

If I’m missed

See, my sister’s the Slayer.”

The song ended.

“The Slayer?”

“Yuh-huh.”

Sweet looked at his minions. “Find her. Tell her…tell her everything. Just get her here. I want to see the Slayer burn.”

Dawn looked alarmed.

“Now we’re partying. That’s what it’s all about.”

Buffy and Giles were in the workout room. She kicked a piece of wood in two.

Giles started singing “Standing In The Way.”

“You’re not ready for the world outside

You keep pretending

But you can’t hide.”

He picked something up from the weapons case.

“I know I said I’d be by your side.”

He walked towards Buffy.

“But I…”

Giles threw a small knife at Buffy. She leaned backward and let it fly past her.

“Your path’s unbeaten and it’s all uphill.”

He threw another at her and she deflected it with a hand.

“And you can meet it

But you never will.”

He walked back toward the weapons.

“And I’m the reason that you’re standing still.”

He looked at her as she stood waiting.

“But I…”

He walked back, threw another, and Buffy kicked it aside in slow-motion.

“I wish I could say the right words

To lead you through this land.”

Buffy was still kicking in slo-mo.

“Wish I could play the father

And take you by the hand.”

He reached out his hand and then pulled it back.

“Wish I could stay here

But now I understand.”

He walked closer to her as she did a handspring and then split in slo-mo.

“I’m standing in the way

The cries around you

You don’t hear at all

‘Cause you know I’m here

To take that call

So you just lie there

When you should be standing tall

But I…

I wish I could layer your arms down

And let you rest at last

Wish I could slay the demons

But now that time is passed

Wish I could stay here

Your statwart

Standing fast

But I’ve been standing in the way

I’m just standing…in the way.”

The song ended.

She returned to regular speed.

“Did you just say something?” she asked.

Tara was looking through a book and holding the “Forgetting” herb in her hand in the loft. She began to sing “Wish I could stay” in the same melody as the previous song.

“I’m under your spell

God, how can this be?

Playing with my memory

You know I’ve been through hell

Willow, don’t you see?

There’ll be nothing left of me

You made me believe.”

Giles came from the back, overlapping Tara’s last word.

“Believe me, I don’t wanna go,” he sang.

And it’ll grieve me

‘Cause I love you so,” they both sang the last verse.

“But we both know,” they sang again.

Tara came down the stairs and Giles sat at the table as they sang. As they sang together, they overlapped each other.

Giles: Wish I could

Tara: Wish I could trust

Giles: Say the right

Tara: That it was just

Giles: words

Tara: This once

Giles: to lead you

Tara: But I must do

Giles: through this

Tara: what I must

Giles: land

Tara: I can’t adjust to

Giles: wish I could

Tara: this disgust

Giles: play the

Tara: we’re done and I

Giles: father

Tara: just

Giles: and take you by the hand

“Wish I could stay,” they sang at once.

Giles stood up.

“Wish I could stay

Wish I could stay,” Giles sang.

They both walked toward the front of the store.

“Wish I could stay…” they ended.

Anya and Xander were having another fight at their apartment.

Cordy was trying to ignore them, as she flipped through a Glamor magazine. It made her remember her fights with Xander, as she sat on the couch.

“Moron!” Anya yelled.

“I’m not a moron!” he yelled back.

“Yes you are! You want to be married, but with no kids! How am I supposed to live without kids!?”

“You’ll manage it!”

“Right! Like you can manage to not go all googly eyes on Cordelia!”

“I’m a guy! It’s bound to happen!”

“And she’s your ex!”

She sighed. This had gone on long enough. She got up.

Suddenly, she staggered back under the weight of a vision.

She put a hand to her temple and blindly reached out to grab the round end table.

She screamed in pain, eyes closed.

The noise interrupted their fight in the kitchen. Anya went to the bedroom and slammed the door, while Xander rushed to his ex. It was his first time of seeing her have a vision, but Wills had told him a lot.

The table fell over on the floor along with her, so she was now on the floor while having a vision.

He grabbed her upper arm and sat her on the couch, the end table temporarily forgotten.

He knelt in front of her and waited for it to end. He grabbed a bottle of Aspirin and water from the floor where everything had fallen. He set them in front of both of them.

When it had ended, he took her hands in his.

“What did you see?” he asked gently.

“Dawn…a singing demon…they’re at the Bronze. The demon’s name is Sweet. I recognize him from one of Wesley’s books.”

He gave her a couple pills, she took them, and then she drank some water from the bottle he gave her.

“You didn’t say anything about Sweet. Why not?” he said.

“Well, it’s like, whatever I say goes unheard around here. They don’t pay attention. They keep talking like…like I’m not here at all. It’s like I don’t exist. And you two. You’re always fighting. So why say anything?”

He sat beside her.

“You don’t know where you fit in or belong anymore,” he guessed.

“Exactly. I had my place beside you when I joined. Then there was me assisting Angel in LA. And now I’m back after he fired all of us, and I don’t know my spotlight. I don’t even know why I’m still a Seer since I got fired.”

“You know something? I don’t always know my place, either. I’m useful mostly for my jokes and I’m engaged to an ex-Vengeance Demon. It gets boring after a while. I understand.”

“You haven’t lived my life. How do you understand, Xan?”

“Because I’m always on the sidelines. Nobody will ever know how much hard it is, not even Buffy, for the rest of us, Cor. I see things that nobody else sees because nobody is watching me. I’m always standing so close to the spotlight, but I never step into it.”

He stood up and she did likewise.

He kissed her forehead.

“We going?”

“Yeah,” she answered him.

Buffy was close to the Bronze a few minutes later. She saw a trash can. There was a bit of fire on it. She stood by it and started singing “Walk Through Fire.”

She held her hand out to the fire.

“I touch the fire

And it freezes me

I look into it

And it’s black

Why can’t I feel?”

She looked at her hand.

“My skin should crack and peel.”

She turned to glare the way she had come.

“I want the fire back!

Now through the smoke

She calls to me

To make my way across the flame

To save the day

Or maybe melt away

I guess it’s all the same

So I will walk---“she started walking down the street. “through the fire

‘Cause where else can I turn?

I will

Walk through the fire

And let it---“

Spike sat in an alley smoking a cigarette. He joined in.

“The torch is scorching me

Buffy’s laughing I’ve no doubt.”

He took a drag.

“I hope she fries

I’m free if that bitch dies!”

He tossed his cigarette away angrily and then jumped up.

“I better help her out.”

He started walking.

“’Cause she is drawn to the fire,” Sweet sang in the Bronze.

“Some people.”

“She will,” Spike sang.

“Never learn,” Spike and Sweet sang.

Spike was still walking down the street.

Sweet stood up in the Bronze.

“And she will

Walk through the fire

And let it---“they both sang.

Willow and Tara sat at the table in the Magik Box, not looking at each other.

Giles stood behind the counter.

“Will this do a thing to change her?

Am I leaving Dawn in danger?

Is my Slayer too far gone to care?” Giles sang.

“What if Buffy can’t defeat it?” Xander sang.

“Beady Eyes is right, we’re needed!” Anya sang. “Or we could just sit around and glare.”

She looked at Willow and Tara.

Giles came out from behind the counter and gave Willow and Tara a look, they got up, and everyone walked toward the door.

“We’ll see it though

It’s what we’re always here to do

So we will

Walk through the fire,” the gang and Cordelia sang.

Buffy walked along in an alley.

“So one by one

they turn from me

I guess my friends can’t face the cold,” the Slayer sang.

“What can’t we face…,” Tara sang.

“But why I freeze

Not one among them knows,” Buffy sang.

“If we’re together?” Tara finished.

“And never can be told,” Buffy sang.

“She came from the grave much graver,” Anya sang.

“So one by one

They turn from me,” Buffy sang.

“The distant redness as their guide,” Sweet sang.

“Going through the motions,” Buffy sang.

“First he’ll kill her

Then I’ll save her,” Spike sang.

“That single flame

Ain’t what they had in mind

It’s what they have inside,” Sweet sang.

“Walking through the part,” Buffy sang.

“Everything is turning out so dark,” Tara sang.

“No

I’ll save her

Then I’ll kill her,” Spike sang.

“I think this line’s mostly filler,” Willow sang.

“What’s it gonna take

To strike a spark?” Giles sang.

“These endless days

Are finally ending in a blaze,” Buffy sang.

“She will come to me,” Sweet sang.

“And we are caught

In the fire,” everybody except Sweet sang.

Buffy still walked down the street alone.

“The point of no return

So we will walk through the fire.”

The Scoobies and Cordy walked down the street. A fire engine went by behind them with lights flashing.

“And let it

Burn

Let it burn.”

Spike jumped over a fence in an alley.

“Let it burn

Let it burn!”

Buffy kicked down the door of the Bronze and it smashed to pieces.

“Show time!” Sweet said, chuckling.

Buffy walked in.

She looked around to see Sweet and Dawn sitting in a chair on the stage.

“I love a good entrance,” he said.

“How are you with death scenes?”

He chuckled.

Buffy walked a little closer.

“You got a name?” she asked, even though she knew from Cordelia and Xander.

“I’ve got a hundred.”

“Well, I ought to know what to call you if you’re gonna be my brother-in-law.”

“Buffy, I swear I didn’t do it.”

“Don’t worry. You’re not going anywhere,” she said. Sweet looked at Buffy. “I am,” he added.

“What?” Dawn questioned.

Sweet looked interested and sat forward.

“Deal’s this,” Buffy told him. “I can’t kill you? You take me to Hellsville in her place.”

He scoffed. “What if I kill you?”

“Trust me. Won’t help.”

“Hm. That’s gloomy!”

“That’s life.”

He chuckled. “Come now, is that really what you feel? Isn’t life a miraculous thing?”

“I think you already know.”

Buffy started to sing “Life.”

“Life's a show

And we all play our parts

And when the music starts.”

She unbuttoned her jacket and opened it.

“We open up our hearts.”

She dropped it to the floor.

“It’s all right

If some things come out wrong.”

She looked over to see the minions holding pool cues.

“We’ll sing a happy song

And you can sing along.”

The minions attacked.

“Where there’s life.” She grabbed a pool cue from a minion and hit him.

“There’s hope

Every day’s.” She elbowed the second minion. “a gift

Wishes can.” She kicked it.

“Come true

Whistle while.” She punched it.

“You work.” She made a blow with a pool cue.

“So hard.” She made another blow.

“All day.” She threw the pool cue and impaled the third minion.

“To be like others girls.”

The gang rushed in.

“To fit in this glittering world.”

Sweet watched and listened.

“Don’t give me songs,” she sang.

“She needs backup. Anya, Tara,” Giles said.

“Don’t give me songs,” she continued.

Anya and Tara took up positions behind her as her backup singers and dancers. The three of them moved in sync.

“Give me something to sing about.”

“Ahhhhh…” Anya and Tara sang.

“I need something to sing about.”

“Ahhhhh…” Anya and Tara continued.

“Life's a song

You don't get to rehearse

And every single verse

Can make it that much worst.”

Anya and Tara stopped dancing.

Buffy put up her hands as if to shield herself from her friends.

“Still my friends

Don’t know why I ignore

The million things or more

I should be dancing for

All the joy

Life sends

Family

And friends

All the twists

And bends

Know that

It ends

Well that

Depends

On if they let you go.”

She looked about the Scoobies and Cordy.

“And if they know enough to know.”

She walked up the steps to the stage.

“That when you’ve bowed

You leave the crowd.”

She walked onto the stage, looked back at the others, then at

Sweet still sitting. He made his string-pulling gesture.

Buffy walked right up to him.

“There was no pain

No fear

No doubt

‘Til they pulled me out of heaven.”

She looked back at the others.

Giles and Xander looked surprised.

“So that’s my refrain.”

Willow looked horrified.

“I live in hell.”

Xander looked horrified.

“’Cause I’ve been expelled

From Heaven

I think I was in Heaven.”

Willow looked horrified.

“So give me something to sing about.”

She whirled around to look at Sweet.

“Please

Give me something…”

Sweet shook his head.

She gave a desperate look, turned and flipped off the stage onto the floor. Buffy danced faster and faster.

Dawn watched in dismay.

Sweet leaned forward expectantly.

Buffy spun wildly round and round and round, smoke beginning to curl off her.

Suddenly Spike appeared, stopping her by grabbing her upper arms.

She gave him a desperate unhappy look.

“Life’s not a song

Life isn’t bliss

Life is just this

It’s living,” Spike sang.

He brushed her hair back from her face.

“You’ll get along.”

Dawn stood up.

“The pain that you feel

You only can heal

By living.”

She looked like she was about to cry.

“You have to go on living

So one of us is living.”

She stared at him. Dawn walked forward to the edge of the stage.

“The hardest thing in this world…is to live in it,” Dawn said.

She looked at Dawn and then back at Spike.

Tara tried to comfort Willow.

The song ended.

Sweet applauded.

“Now that was a show stopping number.”

Buffy and Spike looked at him.

“Not quite the fireworks that I was looking for,” Sweet finished.

“Get out of here,” Willow said.

“Mm, I smell power,” he said, standing. “I guess the little missus and I should be on our way.”

Dawn backed away from him in fear and sat back down.

“That’s never going to happen,” Giles said.

He chuckled. “I don’t make the rules. She summoned me.”

“He keeps saying that. I didn’t.”

“You have my talisman on, sweet thing.”

He touched the necklace she was wearing.

She cringed in fear, cowering away from him.

“Ah, but, no, I, I, um, uh, this, at, at the Magik Box, on the floor, I was, I was cleaning, and I…forgot…but…I didn’t summon anything,” Dawn said nervously.

“If it was in the shop…then one of us probably…” Giles said.

They looked around at each other.

“Xander…” Cordy said.

Everyone got the hint.

“Xander!?” Anya yelled.

“Well, I didn’t know anything was gonna happen! I just thought there were gonna be dances and songs. I just wanted us to work out. Get a happy ending.”

Sweet chuckled. “I think everything worked out just fine. Big smiles everyone. You beat the bad guys.”

He did a quick spin.

They watched as he turned into a ball of light that swirled around their hands leaving a sparkly trail.

Everyone stood around looking kind of shell-shocked excluding the ex-Cordette.

Dawn walked across the stage in foreground with the others in the background.

Dawn started singing “Where Do We Go From Here?”

“Where do we go…from here?”

She walked the steps and down.

Buffy and Spike echoed her.

“The battle’s done

And we kind of won,” Giles sang.

“So we sound our victory cheer

Where do we go from here?” Giles and Tara sang.

“Why is the path unclear

When we know home is near?” Anya, Cordy, and Xander sang.

They moved to stand in a line side-by-side.

“Understand

We’ll go hand in hand.”

They joined hands.

“But we’ll walk along in fear.”

They released their hands and walked off in different directions.

“Tell me!” Giles sang.

“Where do we go from here?

When does the end appear?” they sang.

They made dance gestures with their arms.

The middle of singing “appear”, Spike suddenly stopped, scoffed, and put his arm down.

“Bugger this,” he said.

He turned and left.

It continued without him.

“When do the trumpets cheer?

The curtains close on a kiss

And knows

We can tell the end is near.”

Buffy came out after him.

“Hey.”

“Where do we go from here?” it continued.

“You should go back inside. Finish the big group song. Get your kum-ba-yayas out.”

“I don’t want to.”

“They day you say what you do want, they’ll probably be a big parade. Seventy-six bloody trombones.”

“Spike…”

“Look, you don’t have to say anything.”

“I touch the fire and it freezes me,” she sang.

Spike looked surprised.

They walked toward each other.

They overlapped each other, as they both sang.

“I look into it and it’s black

This isn’t real

But I just want to feel,” she sang.

“So many years ago

But you can make me feel.”

They walked up to each other, as they held the last note on “feel.”

They finished the song and kissed passionately.

“Where do we go from here?” the others ended.

They continued to kiss.

The song ended.

A few minutes later, everyone but Xander and Cordelia walked out of the Bronze.

She smacked him on the arm.

“Ow!” he exclaimed.

“Sorry if I hurt you, but you know better. Don’t you know what bad luck you have with magic?”

“Yeah. I know.”

“Don’t you remember the last time you did a spell that was anything of or associated with love?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.”

Lights turned off and a couple spotlights shown on her and Xander.

She walked around, as she sang her last song.

“What’s life?

The definition of life

What is it?

Well

I reply

My life was perfect

Fabulous

I was a cheerleader captain

I was the leader of the Cordettes

I was rich and popular

A total bitch

But above all

One thing stood over all

I had my boyfriend.”

She smiled at him.

“Life was simple

Plain

Easy for me

Until I met my guy

He was always a Scooby

Then I came along

We took each other under our wing

We made each other's lives hard

But we fought like hell

And lived through hell

That was our life

Now

Our life has changed

We’ve somewhat moved on

But who cares?

We still love each other

I’m a Seer

He’s still my geek

But unlike him

Sometimes

Every night

I would cry myself to sleep

Because

Well

Life is hard without Doyle

I would think

What’s the point in living

If you can’t live?

What’s the point in forgiving?

If you can’t forget?

Life is life

That’s what life is.”

Xander walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

“What’s the point of living

When all you have is

Pain

Hurt

Sorrow

And unforgiveness

From past and present wounds?

You lost a lot

I know

I was there

Remember?

I tried

But you pushed me away

All my support

It felt

Was all for nothing

You wouldn’t heed or listen

To what I said

You didn’t even understand

That I cared

Even after that kiss

You pushed me away

It hurt

But I never showed it

I tried to explain

But you never gave in

You never let me explain,” he sang.

“I’m sorry. I hurt you so many times. I didn’t know I was pushing you away. All I knew what the life I grew up on. Will you forgive me?” she said.

“I’m sorry, too. Yes. I forgive you,” he replied.

It looked like they were going to kiss, now standing face to face, but they didn’t. They hugged, instead.

ns216.73.216.196da2

Once More, With Feeling

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