Emerald Design

Graphics Post: Icons - Multi-fandom

2008-07-16T22:41:59Z

{33} icons total, multi-fandom (BtVS, AtS, Doctor Who, Torchwood, NCIS, Bones, and Tin Man - plus a few cast photos thown in.)

*Credit.
*Coment.
*Don't Hotlink.
*Don't repost as your own.

SPOILER WARNING: The Doctor Who and Torchwood icons contain images from the finales of both shows. Aside from casting spoilers, there are a couple significant plot points portrayed in the icons. View at your own risk. (I did place them last, fyi.)

Buffy//Angel//Cast [9]

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Supernatural//Cast [4]

1. 2. 3. 4.

NCIS//Cast [2]

1. 2.

Bones//Cast [3]

1. 2. 3.

Tin Man//Cast [9]

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Doctor Who//Torchwood//Cast [6]

Remember! Spoilers!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Doctor Who Journal Sets

2008-07-09T21:02:53Z

{2} Journal Sets
{1} Tenth Doctor
{1) Martha Jones

*Credit
*Comment
*No Hotlinking
*Do not repost as your own.

SPOILER WARNING: Both of the images I used are from the series 4 finale. If you've seen the episode, then you'll probably figure out how they're spoilery. Otherwise . . . well, they're really not. They convey emotion, not plot. However, if you consider any images at all to be spoilers, DO NOT CLICK the cut below.

The Doctor:

Martha Jones:

Graphics Post: Icons and Journal Sets

2007-12-31T15:21:55Z

[3] Journal Sets
[5] Icons

Preview:

note: this batch has a very strong angel/willow vibe.

I.

II.

III.

I was going to fade the text on this one to make it less bright, but time was not on my side. Since I am rather happy with the way it turned out, however, I decided to post them anyway. However, if you would like the text a little darker, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Icons:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

You wanna Affiliate with this community?

2007-11-11T21:25:05Z

Wanted: Affiliates!

Leave a comment here with a link and preferably a button and consider yourself affliated. All I ask in return is that you link back to me using one of the buttons below.

Offsite Fic Sites welcome as well!

My buttons:

(for graphics/fic on live journal affiliation.)

And . . . (for graphics/fic outside live journal)

Graphics Dump: {{LJ Sets - Stock, Non-Fandom; 4 sets}} and {{multi-fandom and stock icons}}

2007-11-09T09:19:18Z

{4} LJ sets
{26} Multi-fandom and stock icons (I think that #'s right. . .)

*Credit emeraldswan or emerald_design; if you have an Insane Journal, and use anything there, please credit me as i_am_mary. Thank you.
*Don't hotlink. It's stealing.
*Don't repost.
*Textless icons ARE NOT bases.
*Comments are love.

Friends Only Banners will be made upon request only. Personalization upon request, also.

This post is not dial up friendly, just FYI.

Teasers:

Doctor Who Icons:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Ugly Betty Icons:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

BtVS Icons:

1. 2. 3.

Stock Icons:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Journal Sets:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Note: If you would like any of these put into a full layout, you may request that. It may take me a few days to fill such a request, but it can be done.

:) Mary

Admin: Graphics Request Thread

2007-10-15T05:51:17Z

I am taking requests for graphics. Wallpapers, lj sets, icons, fic banners, whatever. Time and talent permitting, I'll fill as many as I can. :)

Please c/p this into your comment and fill in the info needed.

Your username:
Name you like on your personalized items:
Request (person, movie, song, pairing, etc.):
*Links to specific images you want used:
*Link to story, if you want a fic banner:
Any other specifications, such as size for wallpapers or lj headers:
*Will you need coding if you're requesting a lj set?

*'s: 1) If you don't provide me with links, I'll just choose for you. 2) However, if you want a fic banner, it would be nice to have a link to the fic you want the banner for. *grins* 3) As for coding, I can do basic coding. Take a look at my personal journals {{I Am Mary}} at insane journal, emeraldswan, and - of course - emerald_design for examples. But, the themes I have coding for include Component, Flexible Squares, The Boxer, Tranquility II, and Smooth Sailing. If you want something really snazzy I'm sure we could work something out. :)

EDIT: Requests are currently closed. I'll "reopen" after Nano and the Holidays. :)

Icons: The Boondock Saints, General Movie (claimed at icons100), 1-14

2007-10-09T06:34:59Z

Subject: The Boondock Saints, General Movie
Batch # 1, icons 1-14
Themes: Green (#1), All that I am (#3), Brightness (#6), I've been bad (#8), Trouble in Paradise (#11), My drug (#12), Wicked (#13), and Snarky (#14).

*Comments are love
*Credit to emeraldswan, please.
*Do not hotlink, for it is evil.
*Do not repost or claim as your own, please.
*Enjoy!

Please note: Given the subject matter (and anyone who has seen the movie will know what I mean by that), there will be adult themes such as violence and language. Consider this your warning. :)

Teaser:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

Graphics: Doctor Who, Billie Piper, Christopher Eccleston (icons)

2007-09-11T19:23:17Z

{11} Icons

*Credit
*Comment
*Don't Hotlink

Teaser:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Graphics Post: Icons and Journal Sets

2007-08-08T21:53:27Z

*Credit (i_am_mary on insane journal and emeraldswan on live journal)
*Comment
*Don't Hotlink
*Don't repost

{2} Journal Sets
{8} Icons

Icons:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Journal Sets:

1.

2. and/or

3.

4.

5. and/or and/or

6.

Admin: New Fanfic Rule

2007-08-08T07:07:13Z

Announcement:

As of August 8, 2007, all the fanfiction I post here will be Members Only. Sorry about that, but with all the hoopla surrounding fandom these days, I feel like it's something I should do. If you want to read fic, all you have to do is join the community. Graphic posts will remain public.

Fics I'm currently (actively) working on:

*Love Me Good, whatever the next chapter is, for dragonydreams.
*Dark Seduction, whatever the next chapter is, for velvetwhip.
*Untitled Veronica/Weevil as a present for someone I won't be naming yet.

As always, on the back burner, is SKoH. I've given up trying to rush that fic. New chapters come when they're ready to, and not a moment before. I can't force it, no matter how much I'd like to.

If there is one of my WIPs you would like me to update, or a completed story/series that you would like to see a sequel to, feel free to comment here. I won't promise anything, but knowing someone wants something tends to make me want to provide it.

That said, if there is a pairing or fandom you would like to see me tackle, feel free to challenge me. *grin*

Graphics Post: Two Journal Sets

2007-07-18T05:31:00Z

*Credit
*Comment
*Don't hotlink

2 non-fandom journal sets. 1 nature, 1 art.

By emmy7792 at 2007-07-17

---

By emmy7792 at 2007-07-17

Note: If you like it more, you can snag the icon I'm using on this post to go with the second journal set. Just comment if you do. Also, the text on the first banner/icon are from Kelly Clarkson's Irvine.

Goth Icons

2007-04-07T08:01:14Z

{7} Goth Fashion
{16} Random Gothic Stuff
{5} Rob Zombie
{28} Total

*Credit emeraldswan or emerald_design.
*Comments are love.
*Hotlinking is EVIL!
*Do not repost or claim as your own anywhere. (Including other journal-type sites . . . such as xanga or myspace or greatest journal).
*Enjoy

Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. . 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

Note: All screencaps were mine. 9-14 have a white border. Images found at Corbis, mostly. Except 21 and 22. Those were made via This Doll Site. Also, to those who usually watch my community, yes, I know some of these are reposts. :D

Icons and a journal set

2007-02-20T23:15:34Z

I bring you some really random icons and an AIDS Awareness banner with matching icon. Most of you will have seen it at my live journal. :)

{4} Butterflies and Flowers
{10} Emotions
{1} Journal Set, minus FO banner (But if you really want one, let me know and I'll see about making one.)

As always. . .

*Credit is lovely.
*Hotlinking is evil.
*Do not repost.
*Comments are love.

Preview:

and

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

15.

16.

Out in the Black Updated

2006-12-17T00:11:08Z

I have added 6 new ficlets to {{Out in the Black for my Mal/Buffy claim at tth100}}. They are the conclusion of the so-called "Pregnancy Series". And, instead of spamming you with all 6 ficlets, I'm just gonna link them. :)

From the beginning of the Pregnancy Series: Good News?

And from the latest update, for those of you not needing a refresher: Five by Five by . . . Something.

Huge thanks to mara_sho and shannon730 for betaing these for me.

(x-posted (eventually) to my normal journal.)

Icons and a LJ Set

2006-11-27T07:19:04Z

{2} Sarah Michelle Gellar (from the Return)
{3} Aly Hannigan/Willow
{2} Eliza Dushku
{6} Supernatural and/or Jensen and Jared
{2} Tina Majorino
{1} Math Geek Joke (text icon)
{1} Amber Bensen journal set, with extra icon

Note: I am very sorry, but I'm being lazy tonight. Thus, I did not make thumbnails for the FO banner or the Header. Dial up users should beware, I guess.

*Comments = Love.
*Credit emeraldswan or emerald_design.
*Don't hotlink.
*Please don't repost anywhere.

Teaser:

Sarah, Aly, Eliza, and Tina:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Supernatural/The Boys:

10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Math Geek Chic:

16.

Amber Benson Journal Set:

17. 18.

FO:

Header:

The lyrics are from Prince's The Beautiful Ones.

Special note of thanks to purplefeen for creating cast_party (a community dedicated to providing high quality pics of Jossverse actors) and posting TONS of absolutely stunning high res pictures. The Amber set is from one of those pictures. {{hugs feen}}

Ficlet: The Levee's Breaking // Spike and Angel // FR15 // 1 of 1.

2006-11-22T19:54:15Z

This was written for my day of posting at fall_for_spike.

Title: The Levee is Breaking
Author: Emmy
Fandom: BtVS/Angel
Characters: Spike, Angel
Rating: FR15
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and seek no profit from this story. Joss Whedon owns the boys. The song lyrics aren't mine, either. They were written by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie.
Summary: An angsty scene that should have happened. Connor's been taken by Holtz, Angel's in pain, and Spike's close enough to feel it.
Feedback: Yes, please.

Notes: This is angsty. Not quite Spike/Angel, not quite not, either. Spoilers for Angel season 3. The song lyrics are from a song covered by several bands/singers including Led Zeppelin and A Perfect Circle. The original version was both cowritten and recorded by Memphis Minnie in 1929. :)

Thanks very much to Elisabeth for the beta. All remaining mistakes are mine.

If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay

Angel had been drunk, really drunk, and hurting for four days now. Spike could feel it in each and every cell of his body, and the pain left his demon screaming - aching - with the need to make things better. Staring up at the old hotel, Spike couldn't help but wonder if Angel even knew he was outside. It wouldn't surprise him if he didn't; Spike wouldn't have been surprised if Angel could focus on anything besides whatever was currently torturing him, unless it was right in front of him. He dropped his cigarette, stomped it out beneath his boot, and exhaled a long stream of gray smoke. He could walk away. Spike knew that. It would be so easy to walk away without even going inside, without seeing Angel.

The wave of fresh pain that washed over him at that thought sealed the decision for him, however. Angel did know he was there, and he was waiting. Sighing, the unneeded breath heavy on the air, Spike walked into the Hyperion to find his Sire. He didn't have to truly look. He just followed the trail of pain up the stairs to a door on the second floor. He paused only for a second before walking into the room. Once he had, however, Spike wished he'd hesitated a little longer. They were in a nursery. A fucking nursery. There was a crib and toys and everything. Angel was standing with his back to him, directly in front of the crib. Spike leaned against the wall and waited.

But not for long.

"Darla and I had a son. A human, Connor. He was perfect. Beautiful. Mine."

The past tense mixed with the pain in Angel's voice - the pain coming through their bond - had Spike wanting to wrap his arms around Angel, but he did not move. Angel's hands gripped the wood in front of him, and he began to speak once more. "It's impossible, us having a baby, I know. But it happened. Connor happened. And now he's gone. Wes . . ."

Angel's voice cracked then, hot and blinding anger mixing with the pain. Spike took a step toward him before Angel spoke again, stopping his forward motion. "There was a prophecy. Wes thought I was going to kill Connor. Wouldn't ever. Couldn't. He did something stupid. Gave Connor to Holtz."

Spike's demon was at the surface instantly at that name, demanding blood, and not caring for a second that Holtz should have died years ago. Nothing about this story seemed plausible, but that didn't matter to his demon. Anger poured though him, he felt Angel's anger wash over him in return, and he was moving then. The details didn't matter. They didn't matter at all. Spike's hands on Angel's shoulders, turning him around, staring into angrysadtortured eyes, and all that mattered was making things better. "So we get him back. Find your kid, make Holtz pay, and then kill this Wes person for good measure. You and me."

"Can't." There was defeat, truth, in Angel's voice so thick it hurt. "Portal. They're gone. Can't get to them. Can't save Connor. Can't . . ."

"We'll find a way," he said automatically, but knew it was most likely a lie even as he spoke.

Angel pressed himself back a little, putting pressure on Spike's hands where they remained on his shoulders. "Hurts, Spike. It hurts."

He didn't hesitate then, not at all. Spike pulled Angel into his arms and just held on. Angel clung to him, arms tight around his body, and Spike did not let go. He held strong as his Sire buried his face into the crook of his neck. It wasn't okay, and they both knew it; Spike would not waste words on false assurances. "Got you," he whispered, his voice tight. "I've got you."

And he let Angel cry.

Later, later when the emotions weren't quite so close to the surface, Angel's anger would replace the tears. Spike would hold on through that, too, despite the damage he knew his Sire would cause him. And even later, when Angel cleaned him up with gentle strokes and a warm wash cloth, Spike knew he'd take whatever was offered. Blood, sex, both, or even more tears . . . it wouldn't matter. This was family, his family, and Spike would not walk away from that.

If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break,
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay

-END-

LJ Set made for fall_for_spike

2006-11-22T18:47:41Z

From my graphic contribution to fall_for_spike today, I bring you one journal set and one wallpaper.

*Comments are love.
*Credit either emeraldswan or emerald_design.
*Please don't hotlink.
*Do not repost on Xanga (or anywhere else).

The icons: and

Header:

Friends Only Banner:

Wallpaper:

Get the real thing HERE.

Enjoy! :)

Fic: Living the Lie, Willow/Angel, FRT, 1/1

2006-10-23T17:05:46Z

Last post of the day, I swear. Sorry for spamming. :)

Title: Living the Lie
Author: Emmy
Fandom/Pairing: BtVS, Willow/Angel (with mentions of Willow/Angelus and Angel/Buffy)
Disclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story. All the characters and recognizable situations belong to Joss Whedon, et. al.
Rating: FRT, I guess.
Summary: They were all they had left, and that had to be enough.
Words: 1120
Feedback: Yes, please.

Notes: Written from a prompt that velvetwhip gave me. The prompt was Willow/Angelus, sky. This kinda warped from that. Takes place early in the third season of Buffy. Oh, and this isn't fluffy.

Thanks to Gabrielle for betaing this for me.

Enjoy!

She was naked except for the robe she'd grabbed before walking outside, and he was still asleep in her bed. Her parents were gone again, out of town until the end of the month. It made things easier for them to get together, sure, but Willow kinda wished her parents would at least call to check on her. It would be nice to feel like she was actually wanted by someone again. She sighed softly and leaned against the railing of the balcony as she heard him begin to move around back inside. The bed creaked, the floor settled; he would be leaving soon.

He would be leaving. That alone was all the proof she needed that he was not who she wanted him to be. Angelus never wanted to leave her, never wanted her to leave him. He had allowed her to go to school, had allowed her to keep up appearances with her friends, but he had expected her to be walking into the mansion no later than midnight every single night. And she had gone willingly, eagerly, right up to the bitter end.

I can do this.

Willow could still hear those words coming out of her mouth. She could still hear herself insist on trying to work the spell that would once again banish Angelus. As plain as day, she could hear those words, and they cut into her more sharply than any knife ever could. She'd known what she was doing. She'd known that giving Angleus back his soul would mean that he would be gone, that Angel would be back. And yet, she'd still done it. She'd had to. He was going to end the world.

Her hand instantly lifted to touch the tiny scar on her forehead then. The scar Drusilla had left her with. Willow's eyes closed against the memory of Drusilla's anger. The vampire had apparently not seen it coming . . . had not known it was Willow trying to give Angelus back his soul. Dru's fury had been hot, brutal, and it had crashed into her with an intensity Willow had never before experienced. Drusilla's anger had felt alive. But Willow did understand why Dru was angry. It had to be done, though. Angelus had to be stopped.

Spike had understood that.

The two of them had not gotten a chance to talk about it, hadn't even seen each other since that last night at the mansion . . . and maybe that was for the best, Willow had to admit. They weren't friends, and they most likely never would be. Their only connection -- their only bond -- had been Angelus, and he was gone. Spike had sent her a postcard, though. From Brazil, of all places. He'd told her that he and Dru were fine, and not to worry about them. He also told her that he understood, that he knew why she'd done what she did. He'd worked with Buffy for the same reason. Willow had not heard from Spike since then. She wondered sometimes if she would ever see him again, would ever see Dru. Part of her did not want to find out how they would react to seeing her again. Part of her did not want to find out how she would react to seeing them. Their connected past was just too painful. They knew too much about each other.

Willow sighed again and stared up at the stars. It would be so easy to leave, to graduate early, to enroll in college somewhere for the spring semester. It would be so easy to go away, to put Sunnydale and all the pain of her past behind her. Sometimes she wanted to do that, wanted to pack up her things and just go. Being able to stop living a lie might even be worth the pain of leaving her friends behind. Because she was so very tired of living a lie.

Every day was the same . . . she pretended to miss Oz, pretended to be happy for Buffy now that Angel was back, pretended that she did not know every single inch of Angel's skin. And he pretended that he did not know her. He pretended that he could not feel her breathing, even though she knew he could. They both pretended that they had nothing in common but Buffy, and no one was the wiser. Willow was just so sick of it! Sick of how easily she lied to her friends, how easily she let Angel into her home -- her bed -- every night . . . she was sick of the pain she always felt when he once again reminded her that he was not Angelus anymore, and she was not Buffy.

"Wishing yourself away to some far off place won't change things. Leaving would just . . . it would be painful for us both, Willow."

"I know," she said softly.

The bond between them was strong. Angelus had seen to that. They could feel each other. Physically, she knew where he was at all times, just like he could always find her. And emotionally . . . that was probably the hardest part for them both; they knew what the other was feeling. It was hell, pure and simple. To be so very close to someone you did not want to be close to. To be that close to someone who was not who you truly wanted. It was hell. A tear slipped down her cheek, but Willow made no effort to wipe it away. "The sun will be up soon."

He moved behind her, his arms automatically wrapping around her. "I know."

He looked like Angelus. He sounded like Angelus. He even tasted like Angelus. But he was not the vampire she had grown to love. He was not Angelus. Angelus had claimed her. He had made her his own. Angelus had sentenced them to this . . . life. It was the ultimate revenge for giving him back his soul, even if he'd never intended it to happen. Leaning her head back against Angel's chest, she closed her eyes as his hands moved up and down her arms.

He would take her again before he left, and Willow knew she would let him. He was the closest thing she had to Angelus now, and she was the closest thing to love Angel could touch. Buffy was as off-limits to him as his demon was to her. They were together in this lie, and that was why Willow knew she would never actually leave. Neither one of them was happy, neither one of them ever left satisfied.

But . . . at least they were not alone.

End

Ficlet: Life's a Bowl of (Embarrassing) Cherries! - Willow, Angel - Any Age - 1/1

2006-10-23T17:01:54Z

Title: Life's a Bowl of (Embarrassing) Cherries!
Author: Emmy
Fandom: BtVS
Characters: Angel, Willow, Wesley, assorted others.
Rating: Any Age
Summary: Willow's mouth gets her into an embarrassing situation. Wesley sputters, Angel laughs, but Willow's question is eventually answered.
Disclaimer: I own nothing and seek no profit from this story. The characters and any recognizable situations belong to Joss Whedon, et. al.
Words: 900
Feedback: Yes, please.

Notes: Takes place in the third season, toward the end of the school year. Written for velvetwhip and her Willow/Angel prompt, Cherry, and for aaronlisa's prompt of putting Angel and Willow in an embarrassing situation.

Thanks to Gabrielle for the beta!

Enjoy!

Her question was completely random. Absolutely out of the blue. Willow had no idea whatsoever why the universe had allowed it to happen, either. She had no clue why she had been allowed to utter such a . . . horrible question. Since the universe had allowed her to ask the question, however, Willow thought that the least it could do was swallow her up now. It could hide her away, let this be over . . . let the hellmouth open, something - anything - so long as she could be somewhere else instead of here. But was the universe being that nice? Of course not. She was not being swallowed up, no rock under which she could hide was being presented, and she was reasonably sure that her face was now as red as her hair.

And Wesley was sputtering. A lot. Normally that would have amused her, but not this time. No, this time his sputtering was the direct result of her question. At least Giles, thank all that was good and holy, had not gotten back from the faculty meeting yet. And, in another stroke of good luck, Buffy and Xander weren't back with the pizza. Oz had practice and Cordelia hadn't shown up at all. Willow was very well aware that things could be much worse.

Not that it wasn't bad enough. Because it wasn't just Wesley and his sputtering she had to deal with. No, Angel was right there. Most likely staring at her in horror. Or amusement. It was entirely possible, she realized, that Angel was laughing at her. Not that she blamed him. After all, she'd be laughing herself if it had been someone else's question. But it hadn't been. It was her question.

Willow blinked rapidly. "Um . . . let's just forget I ever asked that, okay?"

The sound of a throat clearing alerted her to the fact that Wesley was attempting to stop sputtering. After several tries, he finally managed it. "Yes, quite right. Do excuse me . . . there's a book I need to locate. Rather important information, you see."

Willow's head flopped down onto the book in front of her as Wesley rushed off. Angel had yet to say anything, and Willow refused to look at him. It was just too mortifying. She heard him moving around though. Heard him pull the chair out and sit down right across from her. But she would not look up. Nope. Not ever again, if she could help it.

"Willow."

"Hmm?"

"Look at me."

"No."

He chuckled then, actually chuckled, and Willow chanced a glance. He was almost smiling and there was amusement in his eyes. But no ridicule. No spite. Just . . . humor. She relaxed a little when she realized he wasn't laughing *at* her, and she lifted her head slowly. She still refused to meet his eyes, though. She couldn't do that yet.

"Do you really not know?"

Shaking her head and blushing brightly again, she watched him reach out and pluck a cherry from the bowl sitting in front of her. The evil bowl of cherries, as she was calling it in her head. They'd been a gift from Ms. Summers. Something about fruit being brain food. Willow would never, ever believe that again. Brain food. Yeah right. Eating them made her brain go numb for about twenty seconds, allowing her mouth to run wild. She wanted to hide her face once more, wanted to bang her head on the book in front of her, but she couldn't take her eyes off the cherry in Angel's hand. She watched him raise it to his lips, watched him bite it, and then watched him lower the remaining fruit back down.

"Look closely."

That was all he said. Willow tried not to look. She really did. She couldn't stop herself in the end, though. Blinking, she looked at the fruit in his hand. Suddenly, everything was oh, so very clear. Her question was answered, her embarrassment was back three-fold, and Angel was still very amused. Why is it called 'popping someone's cherry' when a woman has sex for the first time? Because a cherry, Willow knew now, after half of it was sliced away, looked like a . . .

"Oh." She was blushing again.

"Uh huh."

She looked at Angel once more when he spoke. He arched an eyebrow and smiled a little. Willow bit her lip, trying to remember how mortified she was, but it wasn't working anymore. Her eyes darted back to the demonstration cherry and she just couldn't help it. She giggled. Then giggled again. And Angel smiled then, really smiled.

She grinned at him, and leaned over the table a little. "I made Wesley sputter."

His smile widened. "I know. Do it again and I'll give you a cookie."

"Deal!" Willow said cheerfully.

It was funny how bonding over lewd humor could change everything and nothing at the same time. Angel stopped sitting by her when Buffy got back. Their little moment was all but forgotten as they were swept up in researching the Ascension once more. But Willow knew the moment had happened. And she also knew that the universe owed her one. The universe would just have to present her with a golden opportunity sometime in the near future. She would make Wesley sputter again.

And then . . . then she would get her cookie.

End

11 Spike Icons

2006-10-23T16:52:00Z

Made for fall_for_spike

{11} total

*Comments are shiny.
*Credit emerald_design (my icon/fic community) or emeraldswan, please.
*No hotlinking, 'cause it's really very rude.
*Do not repost as your own, please, here or on any other site . . . like Xanga.

Preview:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Fic: Eventual Eternity, Spike/Willow, FR15, 1/1

2006-10-23T16:48:40Z

This was written for fall_for_spike.

Title: Eventual Eternity
Author: Emmy
Fandom: BtVS
Pairing: Willow/Spike-ish
Rating: FR15
Disclaimer: Joss owns 'em. I don't. I seek no profit from this story.
Summary: It'll be the two of them in the end, and they both know it. Until then, they'd just have to take what they could get.
Warnings: Major character death, and a lot of it.
Words: 878
Distribution: fall_for_spike, emerald_design , My site. No where else.
Feedback: Yes, please. It's all shiny and stuff.

Notes: This is angsty, but I think it's sweet at the same time. Thanks to Gabrielle for the beta; she went way above and beyond.

The world was ending, and probably for real this time. Willow could feel it when she meditated, could feel the differences in the way the earth moved all the way down to her bones. She could feel the core of the world shifting, sinking, pulling away. It was as if the Earth itself was trying to get as far away from the hellmouth as possible. It was even worse than what she'd felt during the last days of Sunnydale, and that alone told her how bad things were.

The Old Ones were returning.

Illyria had been quick to switch sides; the draw of regaining her full power proved too much for to resist. That's when everything truly began going downhill. Illyria killed Angel when he tried to stop her, and then Buffy when the Slayer threw herself at the demi-god in a revenge-tinged rage. And after that . . . well, after that, people just started dropping like the flies that feasted on their remains. Kennedy, Robin Wood, Andrew, Giles, and nearly half the Slayers fell in the first three weeks. Xander was killed soon after that, and Willow's heart hurt to think of the way he'd shoved her out of the way of a demon three seconds before he died, saving her life by giving his. They'd lost so, so much, and it seemed like they would lose so much more before the end finally arrived.

Not that they didn't still have a few big guns left alive. Spike, Faith, a handful of Slayers, and Connor . . . that was a good start. Plus, she and Dawn were no lightweights, either. Dawn had come a good long way in the magick department, Willow had to admit. Together, as hard as it was to accept, she and Dawn were as good as she and Tara had ever been. But, even with their remaining fighters, even with all the magick she and Dawn tried to come up with, Willow knew it would prove pointless in the end. Their foe was simply too powerful this time. They'd been reduced to running and hiding already, as the demons of the world flocked to Cleveland, the only remaining active hellmouth. They had long stopped fighting the demons off; that did no good, and just proved to kill more of their number off. But, despite their admittedly hopeless state, none of them were ready to give up.

We'll go down with the bloody sinking ship, we will. Spike had said that not long after Angel's death, and Willow couldn't help but think of how true his words were turning out to be.

"You're thinking too much."

She did not look up. "I can't get my brain to be quiet."

Spike sat down on the sofa beside her. "Yeah, Red, I know."

Willow knew he did. Neither one of them spoke again for a long time, and the silence expanded around them. Everyone else was asleep; the wards on the house were solid, and no one was attacking them just then. Things were as peaceful as they ever got anymore. Willow gradually moved closer to him and eventually leaned in to place her head on his shoulder. Spike wrapped an arm around her, pulled her even closer, and she just breathed. They did not have to talk about the future because they knew what was going to happen. They did not have to talk about the past because they'd already lived it. They did not have to talk at all. That's why Willow liked this time of day best. They could just be for a while.

She moved first, or he did . . . neither one of them really cared. All that mattered was that his lips were on hers, his hands were moving over her back, and her hands were fisting in his hair. This was not desperation or distraction. This was not coping. This was living. This was touching and tasting and feeling. This was him and her and finally giving in, finally taking what they'd both secretly wanted for years. This was them. They moved together, clinging to each other for as long as they could, drawing out their pleasure. And, for a little while, nothing mattered but the two of them.

They were still sitting together on the couch when the sun set. Their hands were joined and Willow's head was back on his shoulder. They talked quietly until everyone had come downstairs, but they did not move as Faith talked about the ways they would all attempt to stay alive for one more night. They did not move as the others set out to find some food. In fact, they did not move at all until one of the Slayers announced that there was a demon prowling around the backyard. Then Spike kissed her gently, held her close for a moment longer, and they both got back to business.

No matter what, they both understood that it would be the two of them in the end, together. Some way, somehow, they would be together and they'd have all the time in the universe to love each other. For now, though, they had to take what they could get. They would have eternity eventually, after all.

End