Set of 4, for open_on_sunday challenge #76 - Faith

[darkhavens]

Author: darkhavens
Title: You Gotta Have Faith
Rating: G
Pairing: S/X
Spoilers/Squicks/Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be. No harm, no foul, no money made.



Belief

Xander had faith that they would one day find a way to disable or destroy the Initiative chip. He knew that once it had been done they’d have to leave the town he’d lived in all his life, but that in no way undermined his determination to restore his love’s ability to fight, to bite, to kill.

He knew the others didn’t understand, could not believe they’d still be living, breathing, human beings and not dead, or maybe worse, when William the Bloody was back in business, so to speak.

But Xander’s trust was absolute. And so was Spike’s love.





Trust

Spike’s faith in Xander never wavered. Each time they found a new approach he’d do whatever needed to be done. He’d suffer gladly if it meant the leash was gone and he could hold his head up high once more

He trusted Xan to keep him safe while he recovered from whatever pain and damage was inflicted by the surgery, spell or chip, and even, once or twice, a combination of all three.

Each time he lay, unable to react, as vampire healing did its thing, he knew that nothing would be allowed to cause him harm while Xander lived.





Longing

They finally found their Holy Grail in Cleveland. The Chaos mage they’d hunted for a year had been living like a king upon the Hellmouth, and was supremely unsurprised to find them waiting at his door.

Ethan Rayne invited them both in and politely let them clarify their plight. They weren’t to know he’d do the job for free, just for the glee of telling Ripper that he’d put his pseudo-son in mortal peril at the Scourge of Europe’s hands.

He had faith that his arch-nemesis would soon be at his door demanding answers. Even hate was preferable to indifference.





Love

They did go back to Sunnydale, eventually, to be greeted by a slew of dis-invite spells.

Xander showed his faith and proved his love and his ‘still breathing here’ humanity by walking into Casa Giles with the Scoobies sat in residence, and turning to announce, ‘You’re welcome here, Spike’.

Once the dust had settled and they made it plain they’d not be staying long, Giles made them accept an Orb of Thessula, and Willow scribbled out the required spell. Buffy made her feelings plain with muttered threats, then at the door she broke and hugged them both. Love conquers all.

Comments

[txrabbit.livejournal.com]

Sweet look at their lives. Love that Ethan was one to finally fix it. Wonderful as always!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :o)

I don't know why, but I really like the idea of Ethan being the one to remove or disable the chip. I'm sure he'd be eager to do it just to get Giles all Rippery. Hee!

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

I love the way you can connect these so perfectly, so that they're each a separate feeling but come together so well. Loved the "slew of dis-invite spells" line. Oh, and your new website? Bibble. Yay!!!

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And thank you. And thank you! Bibble, eh? ::is chuffed::

I was all ready to post them when I realised they didn't have titles, and the feelings just jumped out at me so I went with them. Still not sure how I ended up with a George Michael title though. *g*

[crazydiamondsue.livejournal.com]

George Michael title. Heh. Don't feel bad, I've got an S/X story with a Johnny Cash song for a title. But then again, I am writing angst, and country music is the music of pain...

[theiax.livejournal.com]

Really enjoyed these. Cleverly done. Beautifully written. How do you make it all look so effortless.

I, too, am glad that Ethan was the one to fix Spike. I'd agree with anything just as long as it annoys the hell out of Rupes!

And what exactly is wrong with basing the whole thing around George Michael's Faith. I happen to like him and the song! Mind you, I liked him a lot better in the 80s in those tight little shorts he used to wear! LOL

[willshenilshe.livejournal.com]

Wonderfulness! I love it when you do linked drabbles like this. And so neat that it was Ethan Rayne to disable the chip. :-)

[nashmaveric.livejournal.com]

I loved the end. The Scoobies' response was damn near perfect ::sappy smile::

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I really like the idea of Ethan being the one to set Spike free, even if it is only so he can wind Ripper up. *g*

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Effortless? Hah! not quite. *g* The first two flowed pretty easily, but the last two were rather stubborn. ;o)

And, yeah, Georgie boy in those shorts. Hee! The title came after the drabbles though. It popped into my head so I used it. ;o)

[darkhavens.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I knew what Giles and Willow would do, but Buffy was a problem. She wanted to be waving Mr Pointy. Hee!