Title: “Shared Lifetimes.”
Chapter: 1-2-3/?
Author: A.M. Glass
Copyright: April, 2000- not completed.
Rating: PG-13-R
E-Mail: glasswrks@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: The characters from “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer,” belong to Joss Whedon, et al. No copyright infringement is really meant or intended. All new characters are the sole intellectual property of the author… yeah, like anyone would want to borrow them anyway. This is a NON-profit excursion into fan fiction.
SPOILERS: Hmm, well, this story takes place during the fourth season, which means that both Riley and Tara are here. I do mention aspects of certain episodes, but not enough to give the entire episode away. This story does depart from the show, inasmuch as what took place in “New Moon Rising” hasn’t occurred. So, although Oz has left, he hasn’t come back.
Author’s Note: As you can tell by the date, I’ve been working on this little epic off and on for a little over a year. The reason why it’s taken so long is another story in and of itself. I actually started writing this for a friend of mine who was/is touched that I would do that for her. I’d like to hope that she would enjoy the story, but due to circumstances beyond my control I won’t know. But, just in case, ‘B’ this is for you. Oh, quick note, you may notice that some chapters are longer than others. I have a tendency to just ‘end’ a chapter at a certain part, because there’s something inside of me that says, stop here. Just thought I’d let you know in advance.
Feedback: Is up to you, but I’d really like to know what you think.
Special Thanks: Go to my beta readers, and I had three of them. SO… any mistakes belong to me, as I wouldn’t know whom to blame… hehe. Just kidding. Mel, Cathy, Allaine, thank you very much for putting up with me. And even though they helped, they won’t know until they’ve read the final version whose suggestions I took. I may even surprise them.
Angst Warning: Yes there is. And perhaps even a hanky warning. I should let you know that I mention some issues that I generally don’t write about, but I felt they had to be in the story in order for it to work.
Chapter 1-Reality Check
Willow put down the book she had been reading, and clasped her hands together, in an attempt to calm their tremors. She couldn't believe that it had ended the way it did.
She didn't want it to.
But, she'd have to admit to herself that part of her did.
After all, how could she have gone to high school over a Hellmouth, fought along side Buffy; The Vampire Slayer, and not believe. She had given some serious thought about showing the book to Giles; perhaps there was a way he could find out if what she had read was actually true. She knew that the book had stated in the forward that it was a true story but...
'It can't be true... it can't,' she kept telling herself.
Her hands roamed over the leather material of the book; she knew it was what had originally caught her eye just before leaving the estate sale she had gone to with Giles, as she slowly brought it to her chest and hugged it while closing her eyes.
She didn't think that the book would take up as much time as it did. She found herself reading it every chance she could; it was as if she had felt compelled to find out what was going to happen next, how it would end. And now that she knew, she wished she'd never bought the book in the first place.
Putting it down, she got up and walked over to the mini-fridge she and Buffy shared, taking out a bottle of water. She walked back to her bed after twisting the cap open and taking a long sip.
As she got back, she looked over and stared at Buffy's bed.
It was empty.
And in an odd way; one she really couldn't explain, she felt relieved that Buffy wasn't here. That she was spending some much needed time with Riley. She knew that if things were different...
'No, I'm not going there,' she told herself.
She refused to think about what ifs anymore. She knew she needed time to put her thoughts together about the book and the feelings it generated before she could talk to anyone.
She also realized that halfway through the book, she had begun to project herself onto one of the characters. Especially the one called Brin. Perhaps it was the simple fact that she physically resembled Brin, the red hair, and pale complexion among other things.
Of course, that didn't explain away her growing feelings towards the other character, Hannah.
'Hannah,' she thought to herself. She was surprised to feel a sudden onset of rage fill her body when she thought of what had happened...
What she couldn't stop from happening to Hannah.
“Whoa!” she said out-loud. “Okay Rosenberg, get a grip. Hannah's not real she's just a character in a book. And... and even if it turns out she was real, you didn't know her. It's impossible, she lived hundreds of years ago.”
Placing the water bottle down on the nightstand, she lay down, and closed her eyes. She noticed that her right hand had sought out the book, and that only after bringing it closer to her body did she feel better.
The last thing she could recall before falling to sleep, was the word...
Hannah.
Chapter 2-Perchance To Dream
The ocean waves lashed at the rocks, sending tendrils of water up in the air, as if reaching for freedom, before continuing their journey lapping against the shore as they had done so for eons.
Seagulls filled the sky; their cries echoing across the beach, as they were disturbed.
Thundering hooves galloped across the beach, kicking up clumps of sand, only to be trampled by the horses that quickly followed behind them.
“Come on... we have to hurry,” Brin urged Hannah, pulling her along as they ran. She came to a sudden stop when Hannah stumbled.
“Leave me here. I... I can't go on,” Hannah replied, struggling to catch her breath and to get back to her feet.
“What are you asking me?” she said looking behind her. She knew they would catch up to them if they didn't keep going.
“Brin... you know how I feel about you, don't you?”
Confused by the statement, she answered, “Of course I do. But Hannah, we don't have time for this.” She could see the horses they were getting closer by the moment.
“Brin... Brin! Look at me!” the fair-haired girl pleaded, grabbing her by the arm.
“What?” she replied, turning around to face the woman who managed to find her way into her heart. Something she never expected.
“Take this... take it,” Hannah said.
“Hannah, what are you doing?” Brin asked, looking into the palm of her hand and seeing the cameo she had given the other girl for her birthday. “I... I don't understand.”
“I know.”
Before Brin realized what was happening, Hannah had reached out and kissed her. She knew she should stop it. They didn't have time… yet she could not deny the feelings she had. The way Hannah's lips felt on hers, how she wanted to get lost in the sensation. Her body began to respond to the stimulation generated by the kiss as she brought Hannah closer.
Just as suddenly as the kiss began, she felt herself being pushed away. She lost her balance and fell to the sand. Opening her eyes, her heart lurched in her chest as she saw Hannah running in the direction of their pursuers.
“Hannah!!! Come back!!!” she shouted as she got to her feet.
“Save yourself Brin. I'll find you somehow, I promise!!” she answered. “I love you... never forget that... I love you!!!” she cried out.
“NO!!!”
* * * * * *
Willow woke up gasping for air and felt an ache in her heart, the likes she had hoped never to feel again. The intensity of it both shocked and frightened her. She quickly looked towards Buffy's bed before remembering that she was with Riley. She envied her friend at the moment as she took deep breaths trying to calm her nerves.
'Damn these dreams,' she told herself.
They had begun shortly after she had started reading the book, and they had steadily become more realistic each time she had one.
She could smell the salt in the air, could still hear the plaintive cries of the seagulls, and as she touched her lips, she could still feel the kiss.
The pounding of her heart reaffirmed the terror she felt as she watched Hannah running from her. She shook her head. It was clear to her that she had been placing herself in Brin's shoes. It was the only way she could explain the emotions she felt.
Willow got up from bed and left the room. She didn't think she could handle being in there another moment longer, she felt repressed for some reason.
Walking downstairs, she sat on one of the couches that were in the break room. She tried to fight the chills that swept through her body over and over again.
Looking back, she thought about how peacefully the dreams had begun. How they had come to her in fragments, images that seemed to burn their way into her mind. At least, that was the way they had started. The longer she had them, the more detailed they'd become.
She could recall seeing a large house, a manor of sorts. It was located on a hillside, with lush green grass as far as the eye could see. There was a stone fence that seemed to stretch out forever.
She felt as if she had stepped back in time.
And that she was no longer in America...
If it even existed.
She walked down the pathway that led to the house. She could see many people moving quickly, attending to some tasks she had no idea about. What she did know was that she felt that she belonged there in some way. She had tried to remember what was being said to her and each time she woke up, the words drifted from her.
The second time she had the dream, she had seen more. She could recall spotting a girl approaching her in the distance and something inside of her made her want to cover the gap between them. The odd thing was, that the closer she got, the less her features came into focus.
Willow had wanted to talk to Buffy about the dreams, then thought better of it. After all, they were only happening because she had been reading the book and nothing else. Granted, it felt as if she was experiencing other things than what she had read.
With each passing moment, the dreams seemed to reveal more of itself to her. After a week had passed she awoke from what she had believed to be the most realistic one she'd had...
***
“Brin... hurry, you'll be late,” a young woman urged and she felt herself being dragged into the manor.
***
Willow felt as if she had known who this woman was, but she couldn't place her for some reason.
***
“Where is Brin!?” A yell echoed throughout the house.
“You sent for me, m'lord?”
***
Her response wasn't in English.
She knew sitting in the silence of the break room, that she wasn't Willow in the dreams. She had stopped being herself as soon as they started. She was only deluding herself. She shook her head as she remembered...
***
“Where is Brin!?” A yell echoed throughout the house.
“You sent for me, m'lord?”
“That I did. I hope I wasn't keeping you from anything?” he asked.
“I beg your forgiveness sir. It won't happen again,” she replied, having heard the sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“You say that all the time. Yet, you continue to disobey me. Argus... Greer, take her to my chambers. It's about time I showed Brin who is the master and who is the servant.”
“I beg you m'lord, have mercy on her,” came a voice from the background.
“Ah... Hannah, isn't it?” Lord Germaine said.
“Yes m'lord,” came the reply.
“You... wish 'me' to have mercy on Brin?” Lord Germaine asked as he stepped away from his desk. “I should... spare her? Is that what you're asking me? Hmm... pet?”
Brin watched as Hannah bent her head downward, as if to avoid his stare.
“Ye... yes m'lord,” she answered quietly.
“I'll tell you what,” Germaine said as he began to walk around Hannah. Brin could see how his eyes were drifting up and down Hannah's body. For some reason, it made her blood boil. “I'll show Brin... mercy... if...”
“Yes m'lord.”
“You take her place.”
“No... Hannah, you mustn't!” Brin called out, heedless of her own safety. She watched as Germaine gestured to Argus, who promptly punched her in the stomach, leaving her gasping for air.
“Take her away,” he told the men.
“Why did you have to be late Brin?” Argus asked her, as she was being taken down the hall and led into the 'room'. She had been to this room more times than she could remember. “You know I can't cover for you anymore.”
“Brin, for the love of God, don't make him look for you,” Greer told her as he opened the door while Argus held on to her as she caught her breath.
“You didn't have to hit me so hard you big ox,” she replied, hitting Argus on the shoulder.
“If I didn't... he would have known for sure,” he answered shaking his head. “Why do you do this to yourself?” he asked. She watched as he pulled out a wineskin from his tunic and passed it to her. “And don't be spouting that talk about things being different. Where there are no masters and such.”
“You'll see, mark my words Argus Conner, it'll happen. What about Hannah?” she asked him after taking a long drink of warm wine, then gave it back to him.
“We'll do what we can...” Greer said, looking down the hall they had traversed.
“She has a kind heart,” she said about the fair-haired girl she had grown to like. Hannah was the newest member of the household and they had become... friends. She thought that the word really didn't exactly define what they were, but it was the closest thing she could think of.
“Yes... that she does. And one day, it'll be her downfall if she's not careful,” Argus told her as they entered the dark chamber.
“Brin... you know what we have to do...” Greer asked as he walked over to her.
“Yes... be quick about it,” she sighed. “Gus...”
“Yes Brin,” he replied as he and Greer snapped heavy shackles around her wrists.
“Don't... don't let anything happen to Hannah, please. I beg you.” She watched as he shook his head.
“I'll try... you have my word. Keep your chin up... don't let him break you. I'm not sure what I'd do without you...” he faltered.
“Same here Gus. Same here. Now... be off with you both. Leave me to my misery.” she told him. She watched as they left her and then she looked up. She'd have to be careful with her hands; the shackles had bits of metal on the inside that would rub against her wrists as she moved. 'Be safe Hannah... please.' she told herself as she waited.
***
She woke up after that, feeling exhausted and drained.
'They looked like... nah. It couldn't be,' she had thought to herself as she had run her fingers through her hair. She remembered stopping suddenly and bringing her hands up in front of her face, she had blinked a few times. 'No... no. I'm not seeing this,' she'd told herself as she looked at the redness circling her wrists.
She knew she couldn't do anything about the situation at the moment. So, she got up and headed back up to her room. Her thoughts drifted to Tara. She hoped she was feeling better.
Chapter 3-Who's Dream Is It Anyway?
Tara tossed and turned in bed, struggling to stop the nightmare that had invaded her sleep. She could 'see' a young woman being assaulted in front of her and she knew she had to do something to stop what was happening.
She watched as two men who resembled Xander and Riley dragged the girl away. She couldn't make out what the other girl looked liked, there was something keeping her features hidden from view.
She heard a voice asking her, “Now... where were we?”
She turned in the direction and was surprised to see Spike of all people standing a few feet away from her...
In front of a window...
In direct sunlight...
And not bursting into flames.
Something was wrong here.
Very wrong.
He moved closer to her and repeated his question.
“Now... where were we?”
“I would not presume to know how to answer that question m'lord,” she heard herself saying.
“Come now Hannah... don't tell me you've forgotten? I spare that good for nothing Brin... and...”
“I... I take her place. Nn... no. I haven't forgotten m'lord.”
“Well then Hannah. I think it's time. Don't you?”
“As... as you wish,” she replied. She watched as he smirked before walking up to her. He took her by the arm and pushed her in the direction of what she believed was his bedroom. She felt her stomach churn and she hoped she wouldn't get sick...
She prayed for strength.
i've been reading this over on willtara and as i mentioned there i really like the fic. cant wait to see how everything is sorted out in the end. (dont want to say too much right now cause i'm a bit ahead of these chapters psoted here but let me say i like the end to chapter 13 A LOT! 
great story! can't wait to see what happens next! and loved myself chapter 13!!!!! 
even without being a vampire, so i guess his soul has never been pure anyway 
) and I am just amazed. This is wonderful and I really do admit to being quite intrigued by how this will all play out. So here's me waiting ever so patiently for an update 
is gonna figure this out!
