DISCLAIMER: It doesn't belong to me.
SUMMARY: Takes place after Writer's Block Bliss. How does Buffy end hernovel?
DISTRIBUTION: Ask and you will most likely receive. I just want to knowwhere it's going.
FEEBACK: Of course! Is there a 12-step program for this kind ofaddiction? Tell me if you like this idea of Buffy writing a book onthis, cuz my next 2 or 3 will be based on this idea of her writing anovel and what happens when it gets published.
CHARACTERS: None really. Janna and David are mine, the oraclesaren't.but Janna and David are actually Buffy and Angel.it's confusingunless you read it.
SPOILERS: Strong ones for IWRU. Not really set anywhere in theBlissverse.
RATING: PG?
NOTE: I realize that the part in IWRU is pretty much exactly ashappened, and after 6 or so years, the memory would have gotten a littlehazy ( but remember, Buffy just remembered the day a year ago.so itslike it just happened.and I'm sure with such a good day she would havetried to remember everything.) And then let's pretend that I did a muchbetter job trying to rewrite this as Buffy would have written it.

Janna paced the floor of David's apartment, the long flowery dressswishing around her ankles. The noise of steps on the floorboards ofthe office above had her looking up, and then to the stairs as thefootsteps came down. She studied David's face, revealing in thefamiliar planes of his angular face, then noted the saddened look hetried to hide from her. "I'm guessing that expression isn't becausethey were all out of fresh OJ at the deli. What happened?"

David sobered. "Nothing happened. I just."

"Where have you been?"

"I went to see the Oracles. I asked them to turn me back."

She stiffened in fear. "What? Why?"

He clasped his hands, and lowered his head, and as he spoke, his voicewas soft, and full of tortured love. "Because more than ever I know howmuch I love you."

Janna felt fear and anger, pain, and a whole myriad of emotions thatpassed through her so fast she was unable to identify them all. Sheback away from him, vehemently denying what he had just told her. "No.No, you didn't."

David followed her path, anguish clear on his face. "And if I stayedmortal one of us would end up dead, maybe both of us. You heard whatMohra said."

"Mohra is dead. We killed him."

"He said other's would come."

"They always come. And they always will. But that's my problem now,not yours remember?"

David shook his head firmly. "No, I won't just stand by and let youfight, maybe die, alone."

"Then we fight together."

"You saw what happened last night. If anything I'm a liability toyou. You take chances to protect me, and that's not just bad for you,it's bad for the people we where meant to help."

Janna stood firm, her chin set. Her next words were colored withmocking. "So what? You just took a whole 24 hours to weigh the ups anddowns of being a regular Joe and decided it was more fun being a superhero?"

David stepped closer to her stiff form. "You know that's not it. Howcan we be together if the cost is your life, or the lives of others?"Janna stared at him, and he stepped even closer, wrapping his armsaround her. "I know, I couldn't tell you. I wasn't sure.if I could doit if I woke up with you one more morning."

Janna sniffled as she answered. "I understand. So what happens now?"

"The Oracles are giving us back the day, turning back time, so I cankill Mohra before his blood makes me mortal."

"When?" her voice sounded strange to her.

He looked at the clock. "Another minute."

"A minute?" She began to cry, tears beginning to fall. No. No, it'snot enough time!"

"We don't have a choice. It's done."

She looked up at him, her face twisted in grief. "How am I supposed togo on with my life knowing what we had? What we could have had?"

"You won't. No one will know but me."

"Everything we did."

"It never happened."

Janna shook her head. "It did. It did. I know it did!" She put herhand on his chest, feeling his heart beating. "I felt your heart beat."

"Janna."

Their lips meet, clinging, putting all their pain and love into thesmall embrace. Trying to make the moment last longer. As it breaks,Janna turns to the clock, seeing that the time was almost up.

"No! Oh God. It's not enough time." She buries her head in hisshoulder, her tears wetting his shirt. His arms tighten around her, andhe began to cry as well.

"Please, please."

Janna shook her head weakly against him. "No. I'll never forget.I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget."

A bright white light enveloped the couple, and they froze in a flash.

The female Oracle turned from the globe floating in the air between herand her brother. She pinned him with a look. "Does this prove to you?He is not a lower being."

Her brother waved it away with a flick of his blue tinged hand. "It'sa matter of love. As I said before, it is not of our concern."

"He is one of our strongest warriors. Together with the Slayer theyare a formidable force."

"It is done."

"It is not done. The fold has not yet occurred. The warrior iswilling to give up his mortal life to protect her."

The male looked at his sister, then the globe. "The deal has beenmade."

"But not followed through."

"The Powers would not appreciate interference."

"The Powers have had one Warrior taken away today. If you have two contented Warriors, won't they just fight that much harder?"

"Do what you will. I will take no responsibility." The male crossedhis arms, as the female deigned to smile. The globe disappeared in apop of light like a bubble bursting, and then the couple appeared infront of them, clinging to each other.

Janna lifted her head from David's shoulder, and looked aroundconfused. She stepped from his embrace, her body falling into adefensive pose. David looked around, and recognizing theirsurroundings, placed a restraining and comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Welcome Warriors."

"What's going on? Who are you?"

"Janna, these are the Oracles." David's voice was soft, curious. "Whyhaven't we been returned?"

"The deal has been rescinded. You shall not be returned." She haltedhis protest by silencing look. "Instead, the day shall be kept intact,and you shall be given back your strength."

A wondering look was given as he spoke. "I don't understand."

"You shall be privy to all the attendant pains, and pleasures of mortal men. But your warrior nature will be retained."

Janna spoke, "I don't understand. You were getting your warriorback. Why step in?"

"Is not a happy warrior a better asset than an unhappy one? The two ofyou are the light's strongest. In the coming days, you're combinedstrength will be needed. Better strengthened with love and happinessthan weakened with discord."

"So he stays mortal, heartbeat and all."

"Yet I will have my vampiric abilities?"

"Live well and fight strong warriors. Do not return, we have done asmuch as our powers will allow."

Another flash of light engulfed them, returning Janna and David to hisbasement apartment. They stood for a moment, unbelieving, readjustingtheir minds to comprehend what had just happened.

Janna slid a glance at her love, her soulmate, who would now neverleave her. In the space of a blink, she was in his arms, her armswrapped around his neck, her legs finding purchase around his waist.Her lips touched with his, and they gave into a soft kiss before Jannabroke it off, leaning her forehead against his. "You almost left metoday."

David sighed, carefully balancing her with one arm to allow the otherto trace her cheek. "I'm so sorry for that. I thought it was the bestfor us, for everyone."

She shook her head gently. "I told you I understood. You don't needto apologize. And anyway, it doesn't matter, it didn't happen. You'rehuman, with your certain vampire pluses. I'm not sure it could get anybetter."

David captured her lips, fueling their passion, and he maneuvered hisway to the bedroom. "I think I could possibly change your mind."

Janna smiled, her eye's widening. "Mmm, I'm looking forward to it."

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