Alright, this is a 'what if' scenario, so to speak. What if, during those firsts episodes, Jesse hadn't been the one to be killed? What if it had been Willow instead? But fear not, Kittens, Willow is dead, yes, but it will all work out in the end. It's a W/T fic, after all, and happy endings are a must. Oh yeah, and it's a crossover. A Charmed crossover. Are you getting where I'm going with this yet?
This story will be focused mainly on Willow and Tara, how they met, fell in love, etc. But I will work up to that. No instant gratification, I'm afraid. The Charmed gang and the Scoobies will have big parts, and Willow's death will cause ripples on both universes. But you'll find all about that soon enough. But be warned, though, a lot of things will be changed.
Have fun reading and don’t forget to feedback!
Title: Angels
Author: hivemind a.k.a. Anna
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This fic contains character death, angst, mentions of child abuse and alcohol. It takes place on the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, after the second episode, The Harvest, after that it’s AU. Events of Charmed should be considered only in the most basic ways, as the fic portrays a time before the show.
Feedback: Yes, please! Feed the bard! Even if it’s to say how much it sucks, I’d love to know your opinions. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Summary: Willow Rosenberg is killed not long after meeting the Slayer and finding out about the supernatural. But Death, it seems, is not the end for her.
Notes: I’d like to warn you beforehand, English is not my mother language. I’ll try not shred it to pieces with awful mistakes, but I’ll surely commit some, so bear with me, will you? Point them out to me, and I’ll happily correct them. Please and thank you!
Chapter One: Living In White Lights
It hadn’t been as bad as one would have imagined. She’d been terrified, of course. Who wouldn’t be when surrounded by vampires? But after the sharp, stinging pain in her neck, the world quickly faded away. The pain stopped and she found herself floating in nothingness, numb. When her eyes opened again there was an unfamiliar hand on her line of vision. She looked up at the black clad man, whose dark eyes seemed ageless, and without a second thought grasped the offered hand. It felt right. The man helped her to her feet and she suddenly noticed the vampires still in the room.
“They can’t see us.” Came the man’s gravelly voice.
Willow blinked slowly and glanced down at her body on the ground, taking in the deathly parlor and puncture wounds on its neck. “I’m dead.”
“Yes.” The man - Death himself, she figured - stated simply.
She nodded, feeling no sorrow, just a sort of detachment. It didn’t matter any more. “What now?”
“Now we go. You’re wanted elsewhere.”
And they disappeared.
The next thing Willow knew, she was in a huge white room before an old man in stark white robes. Death was nowhere to be seen and the redhead could feel the numbness dissipating. The weight of what happened hit her like a ton of bricks and her thought immediately went to her friends. Xander, Jesse… Buffy! The vampires! Oh God, are they alright?
“I assure you, young one, your friends are perfectly fine. Or they will be, eventually, once they are allowed to grieve your death.” The old man squeezed her shoulder carefully.
“I’m dead!” Willow blurted out, looking around dazedly. “Is this… is this Heaven or something? Or, or will I got to Hell? Oh God, I knew I shouldn’t have hacked into those government databases. I’m going to Hell! Is-”
“Calm down, young Willow.” The old man smiled amusedly. “This isn’t Heaven, no, but rest assured, you’re not meant for the Nether Realm.”
Willow sighed in relief and her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, that’s good, very good. But what’s going on? Where am I? And who are you? What will-” She abruptly cut herself off, blushing. Can dead people even blush? I feel like I am, but that shouldn’t be possible, right? No body, no blood… God, this is confusing. “Sorry, babbling again. I do that a lot when I’m nervous or excited. I didn’t mean to offend you or anything.”
“Don’t worry, you didn’t. It’s alright to be nervous. We’re In Between, so to speak. It’s a limbo between planes. And I am a Higher Being of sorts. My-”
“Are you God?!” Willow squeaked.
This time the man laughed. “No, no. I’m far from being the Creator. I’m Elder Ramus, one of the chief Whitelighters.”
“Whitelighters? As in angels? Like Gabriel and Michael?” Willow’s eyes widened. “Am I being Judged?”
“Like angels, yes, but with different purposes. And you’ve already been Judged, young one. Long before the Angel of Death brought you here.”
“I, I have?” Willow gulped.
Elder Ramus smiled kindly. “You are a pure soul, Willow, destined to do great Good.”
Willow smiled back hesitantly. “But I’m dead, aren’t I? How can I do any Good?”
“Ah, but Death is not the end, young one. No, it’s only the beginning of a new Path. You were destined to die young, but there’s still much you can do.”
“How?”
“By becoming a Whitelighter.”
She gaped at him incredulously for several moments. “Me? A Whitelighter? Oh no, I’m not angel material, sir. I’m Willow, just plain old Willow. Nothing special about me.”
“I tend to disagree with that. You have a lot of potential for Good, Willow. We’ve been watching you. Your intelligence, your determination, your unshakeable loyalty to those you care about. All of that tells me what a remarkable individual you are. You have a great light inside you, there’s no doubt in my mind that you would make a great Whitelighter.” Elder Ramus looked at her seriously. “But that is your decision alone, Willow. You do have a choice, you know. Free Will and all that. You can become a Whitelighter, a messenger and protector, or you can spend your afterlife in Heaven until you are ready to move on. It’s your choice.”
“Do… Do I have to decide now? I mean, can I think about it? It’s a big decision and everything.” Willow asked tentatively.
“Of course.” Elder Ramus nodded kindly. “Take all the time you need. Meanwhile, I believe someone wishes to talk to you.”
Willow’s eyebrows shot up, her curiosity picked. “Who?”
“You’ll see.” Elder Ramus waved a hand and suddenly the white room became a beautiful meadow. “When you’re ready, just call my name and I’ll come.”
And he disappeared in a shower of blue lights.
“Wow.” Willow muttered to herself. She looked around, amazed by the beauty around her. “Maybe this is Heaven.”
“‘Fraid not, this is just an image of the place you would be most comfortable in. I’m impressed.” Said a vaguely familiar voice and Willow spun around.
Before her was a woman with wavy dark hair. Her smile was amused and her piercing green eyes showed a cunning intelligence. Willow frowned. She knew that woman, but couldn’t remember who she was. It was there, on the edge of her mind.
“Did you figure it out yet, pipsqueak?”
Pipsqueak? Why does that sound familiar? Where… Realization hit Willow like lightning and her eyes widened. Her green eyes, the mirror image of the woman’s before her. “Aunt Danielle?” She whispered, suddenly remembering the woman - her mother’s younger sister - who used to visit her all the time, who played with her and Xander… Who died when I was seven.
“Bingo.” Danielle grinned happily.
Willow promptly threw herself in the woman’s arms, squeezing her hard as tears rolled down her face. She burrowed herself in the warm embrace of the woman who had been more of a mother to her than her own mother.
“Shhh, don’t cry, pipsqueak.” Danielle run her fingers throw Willow’s hair, whispering calming words to the distraught girl.
“I m-missed you so m-much. Why did you leave me?” Willow sobbed.
“Oh, baby, I never left you.” Danielle cupped her face, gently wiping away her tears. “I’ve been watching over you all this time. I watched as you grew from my little pipsqueak into a beautiful, intelligent young woman. You have no idea how proud I am of you.”
They hugged each other again, basking in the close bond they always shared. Danielle then led Willow to a convenient fallen log and they both sat down. She knew Willow had a lot of questions and smiled encouragingly.
“You…” Willow paused and took a deep breath. “Auntie, are you a Whitelighter?”
“That’s a good question.” Danielle chuckled. “But no, I’m not. That’s not my Path.”
“Is it mine?” Willow asked in a small voice.
“And that’s the crux of the problem, isn’t it?” Danielle stroked Willow’s cheek. “Baby, I can’t tell you what to do. It’s not my place to do so. I can, however, tell you what I See.”
Willow frowned. “Huh?”
“I’m a Seer, Willow. I have the power to See beyond what is. Neat, huh?” She chuckled half-heartedly.
“Oh.” Willow stared at her aunt for a long time. Why did you take that plane then? If you knew what was going to happen, why didn’t you prevent it?
Danielle sighed as Willow teared up again; she knew what she was thinking. “Oh, baby, it doesn’t work that way. I couldn’t use my powers like that, pipsqueak. I’ve been blessed with these powers to help innocents, they can’t be used for personal gain.”
“But why did you have to die?” Willow whimpered.
Danielle drew the redhead into her arms. “It was just my time.”
“You died so young…”
“Death is not such a bad thing, pipsqueak. It’s not like I ceased to exist, is it? I still have a long Path ahead of me. You died young yourself, much younger than I was. Sometimes that happens, not because Death is cruel, it’s just Fate. Our deaths weren’t senseless. Everything happens for a reason.”
Willow sighed. She did understand, but it still hurt. “What do I do now, Auntie?”
“That’s for you to decide, Willow. You have two Paths ahead of you. One as a Whitelighter, healer and protector of witches. It’s a difficult Path and should you choose to walk it, you will see and suffer much sadness. You will also help to save countless lives. You will touch people’s souls in such a way that your light will fill many hearts.” Danielle intoned. “The other Path leads to the afterlife, to Heaven, where you will be in peace, as you very much deserve. You will watch over you loved ones and greet them when they cross over. And, eventually, you will move on, back to the corporeal plane, to a new life. Each of these Paths will have far reaching consequences, some of them I See, but most are known only to the Fates.”
The redhead was silent for a long moment. Then, resolve face firmly in place, she nodded. She’d made her choice.
Danielle locked eyes with her niece and couldn’t help grinning. Resolve face Willow. Some things never change, though the Seer. “You’re so cute.” She pinched her cheek playfully.
Willow blushed furiously and batted her hand away. “Stop that!” She giggled.
“Are you ready, then?” Danielle threw an arm around Willow’s shoulder in support.
“Yeah. Will you be with be?” The redhead leaned on her aunt.
“Always. No matter what you choose, I’ll be with you as much as I’m allowed. Either we’ll both be in Heaven or you’ll be able to come and see me as a Whitelighter. Can’t go wrong with that.” Danielle winked.
“Alrighty then.” Willow took a deep breath, as if bracing herself. “Elder Ramus? I’m ready.”
Then, in a shower of blue lights, Elder Ramus reappeared on the meadow.
“Blue lights. If the lights are blue, why do they call themselves Whitelighters?” Willow muttered to herself. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Danielle almost choked on her tongue trying not to laugh. She cleared her throat. “Hello, Elder.”
“Danielle.” He nodded at her before turning his attention to the young redhead. “Have you made your decision then, Willow?”
Willow looked right into the Elder’s eyes and nodded firmly. “I want to be a Whitelighter.”
Elder Ramus returned her stare just as seriously. “Are you absolutely sure?”
“Yes. You said I could help people, didn’t you? I want to do that, to be useful.”
The Elder raised an eyebrow. “A Whitelighter’s duty isn’t easy, you know? There are rules to be followed. You can’t do as you please.”
Willow looked down. “I won’t be able to see my friends, will I?”
“I’m sorry, but no. If you did, they wouldn’t be able to move on, they’d never let go of you. You died, Willow. They need to grieve and move on with their lives.”
The redhead sighed, she’d expected that. She renewed her resolve. “I still want to do it. I want to be a Whitelighter.”
“Then so be it.” Elder Ramus motioned for her to stand. When she did, he drew a symbol on her forehead with his finger.
Danielle watched, awed, as her niece’s body was enveloped in tiny blue orbs until she was nothing but light. The orbs clashed together with a bright flash, and she had to close her eyes. When she was able to open them again, Willow was once more standing there, now wearing long white robes similar to Elder Ramus’s.
“Wow!” Willow exclaimed, looking down at herself. “That was just, wow! I feel so weird! Like I’m not alone, which I’m not, but I feel like there are a lot more people out there. People like me.”
“You’re sensing the other Whitelighters. All Whitelighters are linked, even the Elders.” Elder Ramus explained.
“That’s so cool. So, is there like some big Whitelighter meeting so I can meet the others?” Willow asked excitedly.
“You’ll meet them as you go. But firstly,” Elder Ramus looked down and called: “Leo!”
Willow looked at the ground too, not knowing what to expect. An increasingly familiar cloud of blue lights appeared and condensed into the form of a sandy-haired man. The newcomer looked at Willow and gave her an wide smile. The redhead blushed, but smiled back readily, if a little quizzically.
“Willow, this is Leo, a fellow Whitelighter. He will teach you what you need to know to prepare you for your first assignment.” Said Elder Ramus as a way of introduction.
“Hey, Willow.”
“Hi.”
“Well, I think it’s time for me to go back now.” Danielle interrupted, getting off the log.
“Back? But, but…” Willow sputtered in a panic. She didn’t want to be alone now.
“We’ll see each other later, pipsqueak.” Danielle squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “You have your Whitelighter gig now, and I have other souls to bother.”
Willow gave a shaky smile. “I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be.” Danielle kissed her forehead. “You’ll be a great Whitelighter.”
“If you say so…”
“I do.” Danielle hugged her tight before turning to Leo. “And you take care of my niece, will you?”
“Don’t worry, I will.” Leo put a hand on Willow’s shoulder.
“Good.” Danielle walked up to Elder Ramus, who was observing the interaction with a satisfied look. “I’m ready to go, Elder.”
“Alright, let’s go. Good luck with your training, Willow.”
“Bye.” Willow waved at them, and they disappeared in blue lights.
“Come on, Willow, you have a lot to learn.” Leo touched her hand. “First lesson: orbing.”
And they, too, disappeared.
TBC in Chapter Two: Willow’s First Charge.
Well, that’s it for the first chapter. How did I go? I hope I’m not skewering too much either universe. Gawd, I think I need a more original title, but I’m simply terrible with such things. *sigh* Suggestions?
I’m starting on the second chapter tomorrow, as soon as I get back from my classes. Kudos for the first one that figures out who will be Willow’s first charge. No, it’s not who you’re thinking about. I’m not that obvious.
Toodles!
real soon. I can't wait to read more.
