The Gingerbread Man-attempt at Horror/Romance

[BurningWhiteRose]

Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: PG-13 for now, but it will probably go up

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

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

Outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia- 1880



The stars shone brightly, and the moon was full as two women, and a man walked up the driveway of a large ex-plantation. They looked tired and beaten, finally free from a long day (and nearly a night) of work on the crops and animals. Now they were headed home, in hope of a long and relaxing bath, followed by what was left of a good nights sleep. At daybreak, they would begin the day again.

Elizabeth Maclay stepped out of the small shack that was her home to greet her husband, Donald Maclay. A long time family friend of the Davies’, the Maclay’s had been allowed to occupy the shack, a former slave home, when the Maclay’s home had been burned during the War. For the moment, it was enough. Atlanta had suffered great losses, and the Maclay’s were lucky to have a home, even if it was just a cramped one room.

Donald, or Donnie as he was better known, waved goodbye to his sister and Faith Davies, as they turned and walked across the drive to another shack. Tara Maclay shared a home with her father, a drunken ex-soldier with a shotgun and a hatred of anyone different. When he had come home after the war to find his wife dead and house destroyed, he had been consumed by alcohol and hatred. He was an emotionally dead person and physically ailing to add to his pain. His daughter was all he had left of his wife, but he was drunk so often he failed to notice. All Tara was to Joseph Maclay was a beating post. He blamed her for her mother’s death, he blamed her if his bath water was cold, he blamed her for stale coffee, and moldy bread. Hell, blamed her for the War, if he was so inclined to. But that would be giving her too much credit.

Faith looked at her friend with worry, as the woman disrobed and climbed into the small tin basin for washing.

“Tara, you really should just come and live up at the house. He wouldn’t notice.”

“You know I would Faith. But I am disinclined to desert him. If anyone needs help, it’s that man.”

“For the sake of the Lord Tara! Don’t be a martyr. You deserve better than this. Sure, the main house isn’t a far run from the shacks, but it is better.”

Tara finished scrubbing her hair, before totally submerging herself into the water. When she reappeared, rubbing the dirt and water off of her face, she smiled.

“Faith, you are my best friend, and I love you. But I cannot accept your offer. This may seem crazy, but I don’t hate him. I can’t love him, but I don’t hate him.”

With that, she began to rub the soap across her body, cleaning the day’s dirt off of her. Faith sighed, before sitting down on an old crate next to the basin and fixing a cigarette. The two sat in silence, watching the smoke waft upwards from Faith’s cigarette. Eventually, Tara stood, water cascading down her naked body. Faith tossed her a towel.

“Watch it T, your gonna put out my cig.”

Tara chuckled, before stepping out of the basin and onto the straw mat next to it. She then proceeded to dry off. When she was done, Faith dropped the butt of her cigarette and began to strip, intending on not wasting water. Tara clothed herself and took Faith’s spot on the crate. The two struck up a conversation about the crops, wondering which would be the most valuable this year. It lasted long enough for Faith to bathe and don clothing, before Tara made a bad joke that shot the whole conversation. The two stood together in an awkward silence, an uncommon occurrence between the two.

The silence only lasted for moments, as hooves were heard coming up the drive.

Faith groaned.

“I bet you anything it’s those damned crop stealers again.”

Tara looked thoughtful.

“Faith, those guys never come at night, and if they do they don’t come on horseback.”

Faith frowned, then looked scared.

“Oh god Tara…you don’t think its…”

Tara covered Faith’s mouth and pulled her behind the house. She then let go, and sat on one of the many crates that were littered around the shack. Faith sat next to her, completely silent and listening hard. The hooves came closer, before stopping.

The Davies farm had never been as silent as it was in that moment.

Faith nudged her friend, and the two slowly took a look around the corner. When they saw nothing, they looked at each other in confusion. Faith was the first to regain her senses. She grabbed Tara by the forearm and pulled her along the side of the house, crouching beneath the only window in the shack. Tara regained her senses crouched beneath that window, and pulled her arm away from Faith. Faith vaguely acknowledged the movement, before moving forward with a curious look on her face. When she glanced around the front of the shack, seeing only a large black stallion, she panicked.

The two minutes that followed were the most earth shattering moments in her life.

Tara’s scream brought Faith back, and the dark haired woman rushed to her companion’s side, just in time to witness Joseph Maclay’s murder. A cloaked figure stood, pistol poised at the dead man’s head. The head of the figure moved quickly. Red eyes met ebony and sapphire. The figure then stood tall and aimed towards the window.

Registering the threat, Tara knocked Faith to the ground, just in time to miss the bullet. The two were, however, showered in broken glass. Tara scrambled to her feet, helping Faith to do likewise. The two then ran as fast as they could across the lane, bullets hot on their heels. Tara tripped on a rock, falling hard and busting her lip, but missing a bullet aimed at her head. Faith dove to the ground next to her friend, just as the figure mounted the stallion.

The figure stared at the two women.

“Consider yourselves lucky ladies, Im out of bullets. But what you’ve seen won’t be retold. You’ll try to tell, but your blood runs cold. The serpent bit the shepherd’s heel, only then was the serpent killed.”

The stallion neighed, before bucking in fear of a shotgun it saw held in Donald Maclay’s skilled hands.

“If any of ye acquire forked tongue, ye shall crawl on ye belly just like the snake has always done. The snake will bite his heel, but the heel will crush his skull.”

Donnie let off a shot.

“Run, run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”



With that, the horse took off down the drive at breakneck speed.



Tara met Faith’s eyes, and knew that her worst fears had been made real.

Edited by: maudmac  at: 6/23/04 5:29 pm

[amazonaa]

this is really interesting.



i like it. please continue.







brittney

Quote:

---

Kiss this axe, bitch!---Tara "Bargaining part 2"

---

[mxgirl314]

This is tight. I saw the title and knew I was gonna love it. Can't wait for more

[BurningWhiteRose]

Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: PG-13 for now, but it will probably go up

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated



Thanks to all reviewers, I would personalize it, but I'm half asleep, and just needed to get this down. I'll personalize next time!

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

After you pass a certain point going westward, its all grass and trees. It flies by in an endless stream of green, like watching a river flow downstream. Wild buffalo can sometimes be seen, even wild horses. Nature is just an endless thing, swirling together in beauty.



Or at least that’s how it seems when you’re not fighting to stay alive.



To William Madison silent moments like that, just watching the world, were the most comforting moments he had. Even if he couldn’t watch it from a suitable viewpoint it was the most pleasant memory he could hold onto. There were other happy memories, but they were usually of his childhood. Playing with his father, helping his mother and sister in the kitchen, haggling over the price of an item to get better deal; carefree memories of a not so carefree time.



William looked around the small, empty train car, checking on his fellow runaways. Anya Jenkins, a tactless blonde from New York had been with him the longest. They had met at the train station in Boston, William’s hometown. Anya had run away from what would have been an arranged marriage. She had gotten tired of her fiancé, Olaf, drinking and cheating on her. So she gathered her things in a trunk, stole her parent’s money, and headed off to Boston to catch the first train west.



William had simply taken any clothing and food that he could steal and jumped onto the first train west.



Once again watching nature, William sank into a reverie of how he got here.



It had all started when the house had mysteriously caught on fire. He had been coming home with the newspaper and some groceries, when his beloved sister Drusilla had come running towards him at speed he had no idea she could maintain. She fell at his feet and sobbed. William gathered only that the house had burned down and that their parents had gone down with it. But what she said after that hit him the hardest. She simply said that something was after her, something she might never escape.



And on that note, she ran away, leaving only a family photo in her wake.



All he had left of her was a picture with the word Sunnydale scribbled on its back.



The scent of cigarette smoke knocked William out of his reverie. Faith Davies sat opposite of him, blowing the smoke out the open door of the train car. He frowned slightly, before taking out his pack of cards and beginning to shuffle them. He kept doing so for a good five minutes, until a soft hand stopped him. He looked up to see Tara Maclay raising an eyebrow at him.



Now there was a story worth telling.



Tara and Faith had boarded the train with William and Anya at the first station the northerners had stopped at. It was a large boarding station (in god knows where, he certainly hadn’t been paying attention). Tara and William had first met at the stations small saloon, where people could freshen up before getting back on the train. Tara had been the first person in ages to beat Will at poker. The two hit it off fairly well after that. Tara taught William a few tricks, and Will bought Tara a few drinks. When the train to Sunnydale was announced, and they both stood up, they knew it was the beginning of a good partnership. They introduced each other to Faith and Anya. Then Faith and Anya introduced each other to the other.



And Anya, being the blunt and tactless person that she was, asked immediately why the two women were heading to Sunnydale.



Tara explained patiently the events that had taken place at Faith’s family farm nearly a year ago. She explained about how the people of Atlanta blamed her and Faith for the murder of Joseph Maclay. She explained how they had avoiding all sorts of mobs and assassins for about three months, before finally realizing they would have to leave Georgia.



She explained how her and Faith were the only known living witnesses to a Gingerbread Man murder.

       

At this, Anya had burst out laughing. William, on the other hand, took Tara seriously. He had heard rumors about the Gingerbread Man. Apparently the ruthless murderer would kill a person in front of others, stalk the witnesses, and murder them. The chilling thing about the Gingerbread man, the thing that set him apart, was the rhyme he said after the first murder. It was the same thing every person you ask.

       

William had always suspected that the fire in his house was no coincidence. However, until he met Tara and Faith he had never even considered that the Gingerbread Man might have had anything to do with it. But once he had even the faintest thoughts that it might be it that had murdered his parents, terrified his sister, William Madison became Spike.

       

And Spike intended to show no mercy.



He slowly dealt Tara five cards. The two began to play a game of poker, non gambling because they had nothing to gamble. It was essential, however, that they kept their skills up. In a few days, the four would finally arrive in Sunnydale California. Once they were there, they would make their move in stopping the most wanted criminal in all the US, and finally clear their names.



Spike looked briefly out at nature, watching the greenery swirling together like a river.

       

[onyxsundrops]

I like that they're all slowly coming together. Great beginning and great update. I'll be looking forward to the next update. Thanks.



Yvonne

[mxgirl314]

Awsome update, can't wait till the next. I love ur fic.

[BurningWhiteRose]

Reviews: If someone read this story and told me it sucked, I would thank them for taking the time to read it. When people say its good? Well, then people like Brittney, mxgirl314, and Yvonne get a much needed and a YOU GUYS ROCK MY SOCKS!



Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: PG-13 for now, but it will probably go up

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated

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

Sunnydale, CA



        Sunnydale California could be described as a small town that only existed because of its location. It could also be described as a tourist town, because of it being one of the few remaining boomtowns. By most, Sunnydale was considered to be the last stop.



        To Willow Rosenberg, however, Sunnydale was simply a home.



        Ever since her grandfather David Rosenberg had come with his 5-year-old son Ira in search of gold, Sunnydale had been home to the Rosenbergs. Grandpa David had fallen in love with the land that surrounded Sunnydale. When the Gold Rush died down, David had been one of the few who stayed in Sunnydale, along with his son. The two built a large house on the outskirts of the city, and that home had since housed the Rosenbergs. When Ira turned 17, he went back to the east and went to college. There, he chose to become a doctor, and fell in love with Sheila Dennies. Sheila had been taught since she was a little girl the art of healing. The two had waited until Ira graduated at age 21 to get married. They had then gone back to Sunnydale, turning down many offers to act as doctors in a town. They wanted to start a family, and Ira wanted to return to Sunnydale. It was a good thing he did, because if he hadn’t, Ira would have more than likely have played a role in the War.



        In 1859, at age 23, Ira Rosenberg had been given the gift of Willow Rosenberg, his only daughter.



        21 years later, Willow had become a beautiful woman. She had her mother’s fiery red hair, and her Grandpa David’s sparkling emerald eyes. Her body was well shaped, semi-toned by the work she did around the house. Her beauty had stunned many a man in the town of Sunnydale, but the red head had never returned their affection.



        At the moment, the beautiful redhead was walking along the streets of Sunnydale with her good friends Jesse Owens, and Alexander Harris. The three were headed towards Sunnydale’s only café for lunch. It was their usual Saturday afternoon routine: lunch at the café, afternoon at the Summers home, and night at the Bulls Eye Saloon.



        The three arrived at Rupert’s Café and Confectionary at the same time as Buffy and Dawn Summers. Dawn instantly ran and gave Willow a hug.



“Willow! It seems like forever since I’ve last layed eyes on you!”



        Buffy reprimanded her sister by stating, “It has been one day Dawn. I would wager that I could be gone for a month, and you would miss me half as much as you miss Willow in one day.”



        Willow mocked hurt. “Why Buffy, am I unworthy of being missed? Oh, I get it, your jealous!”



        The blonde feigned shock, before beginning a playful banter that was interrupted only by Xander’s growling stomach.



        The group of five began laughing, before finally heading into the café to order their lunch.

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

        Rupert Giles had always prided himself on quality food and service. However, his small café attracted mostly children who wanted a handful of candy. He supposed that was to be expected, his store was the only confectionary in Sunnydale. It was also the only café. Not many people came for the café though. His best customers were the Summers girls. Their mother gave them a bit of money every week so they could buy lunch once a week from his shop. Their mother was an artist, yet she worked at the town’s bank. She was usually gone, but when the woman was home, she was one of the best parental figures in Sunnydale.



        Enough about Joyce though.



        The moment he thought that, Buffy Summers entered the café alongside her best friend Willow Rosenberg. The two 21 year olds were considered to be the most beautiful women in all of Sunnydale. Of course, there was very little competition in their age level. There were other women their age, but most of them had left Sunnydale in search of a career. Willow and Buffy had stayed, having no intent on leaving. They were happy to stay in the city, working at the local saloon.



        Rupert had offered the two a job at the café, but they had raised their eyebrows, asking what the pay would be. After that, he had dropped the idea. At least at the saloon they could learn how to defend themselves. Xander Harris and Jesse Owens both worked around their homes. The only way they got change was by gambling with the tourists.        

        Dropping his internal conversation, Rupert made a show of readying the group’s usual meals.

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

        All his life, Liam McCarthy had wanted nothing more than to protect the small town of Sunnydale with his life, even if his life wasn’t really needed to protect the town.



        He sat on the porch of the Sunnydale prison, smoking a cigarette. Charles Gunn and Wesley Wyndam-Price sat on either side of him, Charles drinking a beer, and Wesley cleaning his shotgun. The three of them protected Sunnydale whenever it needed protection, which was usually when Mr. Harris drank too much and started a fight. That man had a dedicated cell in the prison. Liam kept it ready for the next time Harris did something idiotic while intoxicated.



        But today was Saturday, so it was ok to suspect that nothing was going happen until after sundown.



        Leaning back in his chair, Liam let his thoughts drift to Buffy Summers. The woman had gained his interest when she had been arrested for disturbing the peace. It had been the Rosenbergs who had reported her. Willow had been furious, of course, that her best friend had been arrested due to her parents. But that was beside the point. The point was that Buffy Summers was a short, blonde pistol with hazel eyes that could see right through you. She was intelligent and strong, and Liam loved that in a woman. Her physical attributes were just something else to admire.



        Footsteps in the sand made the three Sheriffs look up.



        A young woman stood in front of them, dusty and ragged. She must have had black hair, but it was so dirty it looked brown. Her clothing was torn, her shoes falling apart, and she smelled like someone who had dove into a sewer.



        Wesley rose from his chair and carefully aimed his gun at her. It was Liam, however, who broke the silence.



        “Who are you, and what do you want?”



        When the woman just looked at them, Wesley cocked the shotgun. Liam repeated his question. This time the woman replied.



        “The star whispers to you, but you can not hear it. Can you hear it? It tells you its secrets, but will you listen? It says they wont save you, but you thing you’re alright. Shiny noise makers wont save you this time.”       



        By the time she finished her sentence, Liam had determined she was crazy. He jumped at the woman, surprised when she moved away. The next thing he knew, Liam was eating a four coarse meal of dirt.



        “It wants you to save it! You try to murder it, DIRTY DIRTY! Dirty, filthy little MURDERER!”



        People were beginning to gather around to watch the display. Liam grabbed the woman, and all hell broke loose.



        “IT COMES FOR YOU! THE MOON WILL DEVOUR YOUR SOUL! NOISY TOYS CAN’T SAVE YOU NOW!”



        The woman jumped free of Liam’s hold screaming

senseless phrases at anyone who cared to watch. Liam tried to catch her, but she somehow evaded each move. Finally he signaled at Wesley to let of a shot.



        The woman went rigid at the noise, before falling to the ground and releasing a blood-curdling scream.



        “HE COMES!!!!!! HE COMES!!! THE MOON WILL FALL AND DEVOUR YOU ALL!!! HE COMES!!!”



        When Liam grabbed her and shoved her to the ground, she made no move to resist. But she kept screaming. She kept ranting.



        “YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANT HIDE. IT SEES THROUGH WALLS. IT KNOWS YOUR EVERY WEAKNESS. THE BRITISH ARE COMING, THE BRITISH ARE COMING!! BUT THIS TIME YOU WON’T HEAR!!!! YOU’LL ALL DIE!!!!!”



        She began to sob, and Liam loosened his grip. She fell limply in a ball at his feet. For a moment, Liam felt sorry for her. But only for a moment. He then pulled her to her feet. She looked at him with piercing blue eyes. As Liam pulled her inside the jailhouse, she said one last thing, and it chilled Liam to the bone.



        “Pretty dolls sit on a shelf, dusty and rotting with time. Save them mommy don’t let them die. But mommy’s gone, rotting like the dolls. The fire devoured her like the sun devours the moon. Now the dark is complete. Are you afraid of the dark?



        It makes you afraid of the dark.”

[mxgirl314]

Great update Can't wait till the next update.

[onyxsundrops]

Of course crazy Dru would be making an appearance. And she is quite the lunatic so far. Wonderful update.



Yvonne

[BurningWhiteRose]

Reviews: Once upon a time, Edgar Allen Poe wrote a poem for his best friends mother. The woman loved the boy's skills, and encouraged him to continue. She was his first love. To Yvonne and mxgirl314, thanks for the great reviews.



Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: PG-13 for now, but it will probably go up

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated

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

Spike had never been one to take an insult lightly. Tara liked to say that it was because he was a hard core Bostonian. Spike would always laugh at that comment. Tara said the word ‘Bostonian’ in her best attempt at a Jersey accent. Being the southern girl she was, it never came out right. But Spike really didn’t mind. Tara had a way of calming him down. She was a truly remarkable woman. Yet she was such a mystery. When he had first met her, Spike had sworn to figure her out.



Not that he fancied her or anything like that. Not that she wasn’t a looker. More that she just wasn’t his type. More like he really didn’t have a type.



When the group had arrived in Sunnydale, they had immediately gone in search of a bath. They had then gone many separate ways, needing to get away from each other after traveling together for about a month. Tara had found a store that sold guns, dynamite, and weapons in general; Faith had reserved a room at the Inn; Anya had gotten the food, and Spike?



Spike had just walked around the city, taking in the sights in the sunset.



When he finally arrived at Sunnydale’s only Inn and saloon, he was ready to get some money and buy some drinks. Tara had already made plenty off of the amateurs. That was something else she was good at: finding people who stank at poker, and robbing them blind. It was always loaded men who thought highly of themselves and couldn’t accept that a girl could beat them. She smiled at Spike as he passed, tossing him some cash to get started with. He tipped his hat at her, before pocketing the money.



The master gave one servant some cash, asking him to hold it for him. The servant spread the cash around, tripling its worth. When the master returned, he got a lot more than what he had left behind…



…Or something to that effect.



Spike sat at a table, drinking a few shots of double X. Faith was next to him, being his ‘bank’. In other words, she was counting his money and drinking with him. Anya was off somewhere ‘mating like a bunny’, as she called it, and Tara had gone up to the room to settle in what few belongings the group had. So Spike was free to say what he wanted, since Faith never cared how much he lied and cheated, so long as she got booze and cigarette materials.



Naturally, Spike had been winning all night.



Until the kids came along. The first one he had played was a short black haired boy, who was totally and completely full of himself. Spike really didn’t mind though. Just another loaded idiot, or a really poor idiot who would give bet all he owned…only to lose it. Dru would have called the boy daft, if she had been there. She called everyone who played Spike daft.



Spike refilled his glass. One game for Dru.



Now, Spike had always thought boasting was foolish. All it said about someone was that they weren’t actually good at what they said they were good at. This kid was boasting left and right. About how women naturally flocked to him. How he had lived here longer than everyone else. How smart he was. How he was going to get rich in LA. Spike chose to ignore it, internally wishing that the idiot would just play the game.



But the kid just had to say the word Drusilla.



Spike’s head had shot up at the mention of his sister’s name. The boy just went on to tell his friend, a tall dark haired man named ‘Xander’, about the crazy chick in town. How she had gone on and on about something that was coming. It was when the boy came out and called Drusilla ‘a crazy wench’, that Spike jumped into action.



He had never been one to take an insult lightly.



The boy had been relatively easy to take. He was very scrawny and weak on top of that. Before he could protest, the boy was against a wall getting beaten in the stomach viciously. His friend, Xander, had tried to get Spike off, but Faith had quickly intercepted him. The way she saw it, Spike deserved to beat the kid. She pushed the man down, and was about to make sure he didn’t get up, when a red head punched her in the side. It was a weak punch, but it distracted Faith for a few crucial seconds.



The saloon was in chaos when a gunshot was heard. Tara stood on the bottom step, smoking pistol in hand. Everyone was silent, save Faith and the red head, who were still struggling. Tara walked over to them calmly. When Faith noticed the blonde, she quickly pulled back. The red head was about to attack again, but Tara intercepted. Before she knew it, the red head had been lifted into the air, and sat down in chair. By the time she had realized why, the place had erupted into laughter. Tara smiled apologetically at the red head, before turning to Spike.



Being the Good Samaritan he was, Spike kicked the kid one last time, before letting him run away. The one called Xander helped the red head, who was blushing the color of her hair, and the three walked towards the doors. A blonde woman and a brunette joined them, and they all left together.



That had been about an hour ago. At the moment, Spike was watching Faith torture Tara about the encounter with the red head. Tara’s face was covered by her hair, and she was downing shots at a quick pace. The blonde had been beating herself up over the embarrassment she caused the woman for quite some time. Spike on the other hand, thought she was over reacting. But then again, Tara had literally sat the girl down like a child. Everyone has an ego. Being sat down like your five is embarrassing.



        However, that was far from the main thing on Spike’s mind.

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

The Bulls Eye Inn/Saloon always had a large crowd on Saturday. Saturday was the day that the last train came through Sunnydale. Usually the people on that train would come to the Bulls Eye for either fun, or a room. The cigarette smoke was thicker on Saturdays, the music always louder. There were always some new people to talk to, to sack. Poker always had the highest bidders on Saturday.



And even with the afternoon’s events, today had been no exception.



The sun had set nearly 4 hour ago, and the customers from the last train were beginning to thin out. There was the usual crowd, the ones heading to LA to see family or take care of business. They all stated that they had to get some sleep if they wanted to be on their best. This week there was even some people who were just visiting Sunnydale. That crowd usually stayed the latest. They always seemed to want to see the sights, and the Bulls Eye was definitely one of the most popular sights in Sunnydale. So most of them were staying the night at the Bulls Eye for much needed gambling and fun.



As long as there was business, gossip, or people to do, no one complained.



Or at least, that’s how it had been explained to Jesse Owens.



Until he hit 15, Jesse really hadn’t understood that explanation. However, the moment he did he had immediately become one of the Bulls Eye’s few regulars. Every Saturday for about 6 years he had come to the Saloon, alongside Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Summers, and Xander Harris, for women and poker. For 6 years, that was what he had received. 4 years ago, Dawn Summers had been allowed to go to the Bulls Eye once a week. She became the 5th official regular at the Bulls Eye, accepting the only rule there was:



“Stay till 12, then hurry home.”



That rule was frequently broken. You see, what could possibly be better than getting all hot and sweaty, then going for a late night swim? It was a rule-breaking rule:



“Hot and Sweaty? Nighttime swim!”



That was where the group was heading now; hot, sweaty, aching, and embarrased. Jesse was in the lead, graphically boasting about the game of poker and how he had won the fight. The Summers girls looked annoyed, Willow was somewhere different altogether, and Xander only shook his head.



“Hate to break it to you Jesse, but you didn’t win. That blonde guy was about to kill you. What happened was you got saved by a beautiful woman who happened to be that man’s friend.”



“That is winning Harris. I won a gorgeous woman’s heart!”



It was then that Willow decided to interject.



“Oh please. Jesse, whoever she was, she was only stopping a fight. She could have cared less whether you lived or died.”



Buffy’s eyebrow shot into her head at Willow’s tone.



“I thought you said she had embarrassed you Will."



Buffy then smiled grandly, eyes twinkling with mischeif.



"Well, well, well, It seems that little Miss Rosenberg fancies someone. Now Im really sorry I missed the fight. How can I tease Will without knowing what her ‘interest’ looks like?”



Willow blushed profusely, earning laughs from everyone. She mumbled something about how the woman had embarrassed her too, before quickly trying to turn the conversation. She asked why the man had gotten so mad at Jesse in the first place. Jesse scratched his head before replying.



“I don’t really know. I was talking smack about that Drusilla woman, you know, the crazy one. The guy just went off on me.”



The five walked for a while in silence, pondering the events of the day. Crazy woman, crazy man...haughty brunette, gorgeous blonde...They were soon so totally engrossed in their thoughts, that they didn’t notice how dark it had gotten. The moon had gone behind some clouds, and the stars seemed to be less vibrant. The wind had picked up, and leaves were falling from all around.



Willow shivered slightly, before moving closer to Dawn for warmth.



A cloaked figure sat on a horse, watching the group walk in silence.

[mxgirl314]

Uh oh, does that mean hes gonna strike again? I wonder who its gonna be. Great update can't wait till the next.

[veiled isis moon]

Wow, i totally love this story, it's so original and detailed, and i like the setting and pace of the story too. I like how you've included Jesse into the group of friends, i'm guessing it's Jesse from season 1 who got changed into a vampire, yes?? And if so i'm thinking his luck might run out this time too when the Gingerbread Man comes to get him. The scooby group need to somehow realise what's happening around them with the murders, and what better way than to have them all together to witness a murder by the scary talked-about Gingerbread Man. I can't see you killing off any of the core group, so i guess that's where Jesse comes in?? Am i right or have i just babbled on about stuff that's irrelevant??



I'm curious about Anya. We have a lot of information about the rest of the two groups. Why they've come along to Sunnydale, or what they do in Sunnydale, where they live and stuff, but not a great deal involving Anya. Why did she decide to come to Sunnydale?



I like that some of the Angel cast are in this fic, i wonder if any more faces will be popping up??



Ooooh, and i love Tara in this fic. She's so smart and cool and sexy and everyone listens to her and takes notice when she's around. Mmmmmmmm



Amazing fic, hope you update soon.



Michelle.x

[onyxsundrops]

I'm with VIM, I really like Tara in this story. She's like an equal balance of shyness and assertiveness. Call me crazy, but that's just plain sexy. Wonderful update.



Yvonne

[BurningWhiteRose]

Reviews: Ive got a lovely bunch of coconuts. Here they are a lined up in a row.

mxgirl314: Strike he will...

michelle: Stop being so smart...I was hoping the plot wasnt that easy. And you'll hear more from Anya soon!

and

Yvonne: The reason I gave her that personality is because its sexy.



Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: PG-13 for now, but it will probably go up

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated



Bear with me, Dru is a hard character...

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

Mummy always told me not to kill the spiders. She said that spiders were the only kind of murderers that were good. They purge the world of those not fit to live in it. So never kill the spiders. They help us.



Blonde is spider.



London is cold in the winter. Gentlemen walking along in cloaks, going about their business. They never cover their faces. Its bad to cover your face. But the little boy has covered his face. What’s wrong with the butcher’s son? He walks in darkness, seeking no light. Daddy killed his friends. Makes him go to chapel. Repent and be Baptized, every one of you. Cats have nine lives and nine tails. What’s wrong with the Butcher’s son? Father killed his friends. London is cold in the winter. Gentlemen walking along in cloaks, going about their business. They never cover their faces. Its bad to cover your face. But the man has covered his face. What’s wrong with the butcher’s son?

       

Blood is life. When blood runs cold, life slips away. Goodbye Mummy, Goodbye Daddy. Everyone who sees watches themself bleed.

       

What’s wrong with the butcher’s son?



Drusilla sat up in her jail cell. She glanced around, soaking in her surroundings. The sheriffs were nowhere to be seen. She stood slowly, and walked to the window. A small amount of moonlight went behind the clouds.



        “He comes.”

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

The small river fed pond in the middle of Sunnydale’s woods had always been a favorite hangout of Willow Rosenberg. She had first discovered the pond when her and Xander had decided to run away from home at age 10. The two had gotten lost in the woods, and had been wondering all day when they came across the pond. They had decided that this would be their new home.

       

Of course, they spent one night there before the search party found them and took them home.



Since then, they had come here to swim every week, unless it was cold. When Buffy and Dawn had moved to Sunnydale from LA, they had begun coming with them. It was one of the highlights of Willow’s week. Today shouldn’t have been any different, but it was. Somehow, Willow couldn’t see the fun in stripping to her underwear and jumping in the water.



It was just as Jesse threw his pants down, that she realized it was cold.



The wind began to pick up. Hooves were heard pounding in the distance. Willow looked to Buffy. The blonde was in the middle of untying her dress, when she felt what Willow had felt. Willow walked over to Buffy. They began talking in hushed tones, as Xander, Jesse, and Dawn started swimming.



“Do you feel that Buff?”



“Its cold. But that’s not what Im worried about. Do you hear that? That’s a horse Will.”



The red head nodded.



“Hey Wills, Buff, hurry up!”



Buffy looked at her sister and frowned.



“What?”

       

Dawn tilted her head slightly. When she did, she heard the horse. Xander looked curious when she pulled herself out of the water, and ran towards her clothes.



“What’s wrong Dawn?”



Buffy ran to Xander and pulled him out of the water. Still oblivious, Xander pulled on his pants. Jesse didn’t seem to notice anything until he realized that he was alone in the water.

       

“Guys?”



Climbing into his clothes, Jesse tried not to scream when he was pulled into the bushes by Willow. The red head gave him a threatening look. The dark haired boy pouted, but shut up immediately.



Silence had never sounded louder.



Willow looked around the bush. Buffy met her eyes from a bush across the clearing, and nodded slightly. Willow smiled in return. She stood and brushed off her clothes, before walking out from behind the bush. Buffy met her halfway, alongside Xander and Dawn. They burst out laughing at the idiocy of the moment.



They didn’t stop until they heard Jesse scream.



Willow spun around, only to see a dark figure pointing a gun at her head.

[RageMore7]

can we have more????



i love this story!!



sionan

[mxgirl314]

omg omg omg omg omg what happens???? Can not wait until the next update.

[veiled isis moon]

Sorry Just hit me over the head with a stick, that way i won't know who i am let alone the plot of your story! It's because it's such a wicked story my imagination is running all over the place! I wonder what happens next...................



Michelle.x

[onyxsundrops]

What the... (you can guess). That was a horrible cliffhanger, but it's okay. Just keeps me wanting more. Also, I liked how you wrote Dru's rambling thoughts and so on. Thanks.



Yvonne

[BurningWhiteRose]

Reviews: Oh wow...I think I got someone's first review! Ive been honored! sionan I hope I dont dissapoint! The next chapter is a little rough on Willow...And to the wonderful Michelle, Im . Great review! Yvonne Im sorry to say that this chapter has a bit of a cliffy also...but its not as bad. mxgirl314 no need to wait! Here you go!



Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: R, just for safety. It'll be PG-13 again soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated



Again I state, this chapter is rough on our beautiful readhead Willow.

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

There are moments in life when time slows down. Like a boy covered in snow, trying to move, but getting nowhere. And he’s thinking that if he could just do something, if he could make the snow melt, that everything would be ok. If he could just get home to his mother, who was waiting with a steaming cup of tea, he could be safe. Yet as he stands there, his blood beginning to flow slower, he realizes what he has missed his whole life. He closes his eyes, the last thoughts in his head comforting him as he slips from the cold.



        It would never be ok.

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

Dawn screamed in fear and agony as a bullet stung the side of her arm. Jesse had knocked Willow to the ground, just as the figure had fired his first shot. Buffy and Xander were scrambling around, trying to avoid getting shot while helping Dawn. Shot after shot rang through the silence of the night. To an onlooker, it would seem that those three were the only ones living. Red hair was splayed across the grass, and the body of a boy was on top of its owner.



The figure gave out a whoop, before putting the gun away, pulling a knife, and slipping off of his horse.



Willow just lay there, looking into the eyes of a corpse. She willed her eyes to close, but they refused her request. She had always admired Jesse’s eyes. They were a light shade of blue with a twinge of green. Like the ocean in the afternoon. But now, they were just haunting her. She opened her mouth to let out a silent scream. She pushed the body off of her before scrambling to her feet.

       

She watched as the figure turned towards her.

       

Before she knew it, she was being held in a headlock, a knife pressing painfully into her throat. Buffy, Xander, and Dawn looked on. Buffy’s face was scratched, Xander’s leg bloody, and Dawn’s arm bleeding slightly from where a bullet had grazed it. Yet none of them seemed to notice the pain, as the figure pulled Willow to its chest. Something pressed into her lower back, and she realized that the attacker was a man.



It took all her will power to fight back the bile.



He began to speak, his voice deep and gravelly. His words were poetic, part of them scripture.



“What you’ve seen won’t be retold. You’ll try to tell, but your blood runs cold. The serpent bit the shepherd’s heel, only then was the serpent killed.”



As he said this, the sounds of hooves were heard. He looked around, angered that he would be interrupted. To compensate, he lowered the knife to Willow’s lower stomach. The red head let out a whimper as he lightly pierced her flesh.



“If any of ye acquire forked tongue, ye shall crawl on ye belly just like the snake has always done. The snake will bite his heel, but the heel will crush his skull.”



He put the knife back into his cloak as the hooves grew louder. He then spun Willow around. Taking to top of her dress, he pulled. Ripping through two layers, he laughed. Drawing his knife, he slashed Willow’s right breast. He then tossed her to the ground and mounted his horse.



Sheriff Liam came into the alcove, pistol loaded and aimed.



“Run, run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man!”



The black horse bucked, before charging towards the Sheriff. Liam let off all the shots in his pistol, before being knocked off his horse. Almost as soon as the cloaked man turned to leave the small alcove, he was no where to be seen.



Willow looked at the sky, watching the moon emerge from the clouds and the stars twinkling softly, before falling into unconsciousness.

[Cherry Avenger]

like my subject line suggests, im just lovin' this story, keep up the awesome work



Sabrina

[mxgirl314]

Great update but aww poor jesse. How did I know it was gonna be him. Poor Willow, maybe Tara will come to her rescue next time. Can't wait till the next update.

[veiled isis moon]

Noooooooooooo!! i so didn't see that coming, so poor old Jesse saved Wilow's life with his own, bless him. See, i'm not that smart!

That update was slightly disturbing, im scared The way she clued he was a man, descriptive, but very well written. Is it naughty of me to ask for more updates..............nowish?????? No, well, come on then!!

[BurningWhiteRose]

Reviews: Holy Guacamole! Sabrina, author of Stepford Wives, an awesome fic, has reviewed me. I am honored. And Michelle I think thats why I wrote it like that. For unpredictability...if thats a word. mxgirl314, you my dear, are awesome. A review to every chapter! to all my wonderful Reviewers! Heres the next part. Sorry its not long!



Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: R, just for safety. It'll be PG-13 again soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Summary: Life was always simple in Sunnydale for Willow and her friends Xander, Buffy, Dawn, and Jesse. Their parents ignored them, save Buffy and Dawn's mother Joyce, and they usually hung out in Rupert's Cafe and Confectionary. But life changes one night, when they are witnesses to a murder that seals them to death. Or at least, It would try to seal them to death. Willow Rosenberg and company got lucky...they recieved 4 guardian angels.

Feedback: Greatly appreciated

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

Tara shivered slightly as a slight breeze enveloped her body. She pulled her coat closer around her, before looking to the stars. A dark cloud was slowly drifting away from the moon. She smiled lightly at the memory of watching stars with her mother. Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to remember.



Amaura Maclay had been a very beautiful woman. Her light blonde hair had fallen to her waist, but was usually kept in a single braid. Her almond shaped cerulean eyes always sparkled; sometimes with sorrow, sometimes with glee. She always had a smile saved up for when she felt you were sad, angry, or afraid. And she always knew. She had this way of just looking at you, and knowing that you needed her to comfort you. It was one of her greatest qualities.



During the War, Amara had raised three children and a southern belle.



Evelyn Davies had no experience what so ever in tending to a farm. Her slaves had always tended to that. And her husband, Thomas Davies, would always deal with them. However, when word got out about the events at Fort Sumter, Thomas had packed his gun and left. Without her husband, Evelyn knew nothing. She tried to control the slaves, but it was no use. She let them go, saying she didn’t need them.

Only when she had run out of money and food, when her house began to fall apart and her daughter ran away, did she realize otherwise.



Amara had been there for Evelyn. She, Donnie, and Tara had come over to her home, fresh baked bread and Faith in their arms. The Maclays taught Evelyn how to farm and garden. Eventually, Evelyn began to understand. She worked hard alongside Amara and Donnie, with Tara and Faith watching from the crudely made crib set up for them. The three got along exceptionally well, taking the morning and some of the afternoon to tend to the Davies farm, then taking the rest of the day tending the Maclay farm. This had just become a routine, when the March to the Sea hit home.



Tara sank slowly to the ground, taking a deep drag from her cigarette.



She would never forget the day that a group of about 25 Union soldiers knocked on their door. She had answered it. A tall man with dirty blonde hair had smiled at her, asked her what her name was. She had no clue what was going on, so she had told him. Donnie had run up to her, pulling her away just as she said ‘Maclay’. The man turned to the others, and nodded. Another man stepped forward and threw a burning cloth through a window. Tara screamed, running into the kitchen for her mother. The group turned and walked away, amidst Tara’s cries and Donnie’s useless threats.



But Amara Maclay was strong. She broke down the door that had trapped her in the burning room, grabbed her children, and ran for the fields. The 3 collapsed after running the mile to the gate of the farm. They sat there, watching their home go up in flames. Tara had been 5, Donnie 15. On his mother’s orders, Donnie had gone to the Davies farm to fetch them. Tara had stayed with her mother, each one holding the other and crying. Evelyn and Faith arrived sometime in the late afternoon, bearing bread and fruit. Donnie was right behind them with a bucket of water. Faith sat down with Tara, allowing the blonde to cry, while Evelyn discussed living arrangements with Amara.



Two years later, in 1866, Amara Maclay had died of lung cancer.



Tara looked at her cigarette. A look of disgust crept onto her face, and she tossed it into the street. 5 minutes in a burning room, 20 years with a smoking father…that was what had killed her mother. But ever since she turned 13 and her father had come home, she had been blamed for it. Faith tried to assure Tara that it hadn’t been her fault, but the blonde really didn’t care. If she blamed herself, it felt easier. Because if she blamed herself, there would be no questions. It was her fault. She killed her mother. Not some guys who had no reason to. By age 16 she had gotten used to the hatred of her father. She stopped caring about the alcohol. She took care of her father, relentless to his protest. She started working on the farm and learning how to hunt. In 5 years, she had progressed impressively into a good shot. She was strong, like her mother.



The sound of wheels startled Tara out of her reverie. A large wagon, pulled by 2 very strong looking horses was heading towards the Saloon at an alarming speed. Raising an eyebrow, Tara stood. When the wagon came into eyesight, she noticed the badges on the drivers’ chests. In the back of the wagon was the group of kids who had left with the red head. From her spot, the blond noted that one of the dark haired boys was missing. The one who had fought with ‘Spike’.



When the wagon had disappeared from her line of sight, Tara realized what had happened. If anyone had watched her, they would have been frightened. Her eyes turned cold, and her fists clenched. Her long black cloak flowed out around her ankles with the wind. If you didn’t know her, you could have passed her off for a murderer. And if you could read thoughts, you would have passed her off even easier.



Because all she knew, all she could think, was that he was going to pay this time.



With his life.

[RageMore7]

oooooooooo





sionan

[psimetis]

...you do the 'steely eyed heroine' with tara and i *have* to delurk finally and say hello.

i've really been enjoying your ff. you're doing old fashioned historical gothic horror/(maybe)romance with a nice touch of pulp fiction aggression and even throwing in the modern archetype of the gang of unsuspecting young protagonists. i love all your characterizations, from william becoming 'spike', to tara's steely weariness, liam's protector self-image, and wil and buf being independant, but as yet, untried heroines. with just a sentence i totally get anya (when she laughed loudly at the 'gingerbread man' story tara told them on the train). you did a very good job with dru too. i like how little you've managed to write in order to get the characters across, and how you utilize an appearance--like dru's--to give us necessary plot info, and frankly, i just like the simple, direct pacing of this story. this is good entertainment!



a person could nitpick about your not being hardcore enough with this period setting (attention to clothing, social habits of the time--all of which requires way too much research), but i kind of see any 'faux pas' as this being a very low budget production with some really great young actors (working for free), running around in rental costume and the moment amber benson has to do her steely eyed 'remembering the civil war' scene, an airplane flies overhead, blinking its night lights.



lots of fun! looking forward to more to come,

best,

~elizabeth!

[veiled isis moon]

Oh wow! Tara means business, with her stern look and her resolved face, i'd definetly be scared................and maybe a little...........excited...................sorry , anyway...........cool update, and that Gingerbread Man better be very, very afraid.



Michelle.x

[onyxsundrops]

I really don't see how you can update so fast, but I'm not complaining. Wonderful updates (I think I missed one). As usual, I'm lovin' Tara's characterization. I'm not used to seeing (reading) her as 'cold' and somewhat distant, but I'm enjoying it. Thanks.



Yvonne

[mxgirl314]

Bum bum bummmm. Great update. I liked the last part its like shes a super hero at the end of an episode still looking for redemtion don't really know where that came from. But anyway awsome update always good to know what happened in the past. Can't wait till the next. Oh and how could I not respond to every update, its such a great fic

Edited by: mxgirl314 at: 6/26/04 10:51 pm

[BurningWhiteRose]

Sionan & mxgirl314: . Thank you, thank you very much!

Elizabeth: The images you have implanted in my mind...god bless the visual.

Michelle: Oh, Take charge Tara? Definately hot.

Yvonne: You jinxed me. I couldnt write for like...three days. But thanks for the review!

*

Title: The Gingerbread Man

Rating: R, just for safety. It'll be PG-13 again soon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is really all of the charachters, save...well, you'll see, if you care to read.

Chapter Summary: Tara talks to Liam

Feedback: Greatly appreciated

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

The police station in Sunnydale was a comfortable looking place from the outside. It was an old looking building, the paint peeling in choice places, with a small porch and railing. Leaning on the railing, visible only because of the moon, was a tall man with dark hair. He held a cigarette in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other. The look on his face suggested that he was having internal conflicts about something.



Deciding she had nothing to lose, Tara approached him quietly.

He looked up when the bottom step creaked under her weight. Noting the bags under his bloodshot eyes, she smiled sadly, before taking the rest of the steps. She then took a few steps towards him and leaned on the railing.



“Beautiful night, isn’t it Sheriff.”



The man looked at Tara reproachfully.



“You might say that. However, I might disagree.”



Tara nodded slightly. She slowly drew a bottle of XX from her coat pocket. As she opened it, she replied.



“And why, Mr…”



“McCarthy.”



“Mr. McCarthy, what seems so wrong about this night?”



Taking a sip, Tara raised an eyebrow. The man laughed slightly at the woman, unbelieving that she had not heard.



“You mean to say that you do not listen to gossip?”



“Do I seem shallow to you sir?”



“Not at all. I meant only to say that most women in this town, shallow or brilliant, hardly ever hear anything but gossip. It is quite foolish though, to believe that you, Miss…”



“Maclay.”



“Indeed. It is quite foolish though, to believe that you Miss

Maclay believe in the gossip of this town. You are not from around here, are you?”



“No sir, I am not.”



“And where, pray tell, are you from? If it is in my power to inquire, of course.”



“Atlanta, Georgia is my native home Mr. McCarthy.”



“I see no need for formalities on your behalf Miss Maclay. Please, call me Liam.”



Tara nodded, somewhat unsure of the man.



“And as for Atlanta…I hardly believe it is my place to ask if your life has been hard.”



“You know what has become of Atlanta?”



Liam nodded.



“Sherman’s troops demolished a large chunk of your city. I will not state my political view on these events, because you seem like a polite woman, Miss Maclay. I do not wish to offend nor confuse you.”



“Dare I suggest you cannot?”



Liam raised an eyebrow.



“You are an educated woman then?”



“Have we not just been having an educated conversation?”



Not having a reply to this, Liam just smiled. Tara took a sip of her drink, and looked to the sky.



“It is a night Miss Maclay. No more unique than any other”



“If I am to call you Liam, you are to call me Tara. And I believe, Liam, that every night is unique.”

       

Liam’s smile grew, before fading almost instantly.



“It is a lovely night Tara. However, events have caused it to somewhat lose its beauty. In my eyes at least.”

       

“Would I be too bold as to inquire upon these events?”

       

“Hardly. By tomorrow, it will be no secret. Today, or rather yesterday I suppose, a group of five young adults was attacked. One was murdered. The remaining four escaped with their lives, scarred as they may now be.”

       

“Am I correct in saying that the living four were witnesses?”

       

“Yes.”

       

The two stood in silence. Liam hung his head slightly, and Tara wished she could offer him comfort. But there was no comfort that could be offered.

       

“Forgive me, Tara, but I must say this to someone. I feel as if it is my own fault. If only I had been quicker to find them. If only-“

       

“Hush. Nothing you could say will reverse the irreversible. Everyone is destined to die, Liam.”

       

“You are correct.”

       

“Would you have said anything if I was not?”       

       

Liam laughed softly. Tara smiled in satisfaction. To her, there was nothing greater than comforting others. She downed the rest of her beer, and sat the bottle on the railing. Liam dropped his cigarette and crushed it. When he did so, Tara decided it was time to wrap things up.

       

“Who are they?”

       

“Who?”

       

“The survivors. What are their names, and addresses I suppose. I wish only to make my condolences known.”

       

Liam seemed to understand this. Out of his breast pocket he drew a piece of paper. Walking towards Tara, he held it out.

       

“I know who they are. I suppose that would be the reason I feel so responsible. Because I know them. I have grown into a man alongside them. I suppose that is why it hurts.”

       

Tara reached out, and gently took the paper from his hands.

       

“You are a good, brave man Liam. If it was the old hag on the corner who died, you would feel responsible.”

       

With that, Tara put the paper in her pocket. She then pulled her coat tighter around her. Nodded slightly to signal her leaving, she turned.

       

“It really is a beautiful night Miss Maclay.”

       

Looking over her shoulder Tara nodded. Liam smiled at her one last time, before turning to head inside. Tara fingered the paper as she looked at the sky. A falling star caught her attention. She watched it for a moment, streaking across the midnight sky.

       

As it disappeared, Tara crossed her fingers, and walked away.

Edited by: BurningWhiteRose at: 6/28/04 2:52 pm

[mxgirl314]

Great update. I like how Tara kept challenging Liam. I have no idea where this fic is gonna turn next, can't wait to find out.